Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has been out of the fighting scene since his loss to Merab Dvalishvili, but it seems he might return soon.
O’Malley first lost his title to Dvalishvili at UFC 306, then stepped away due to an injury and surgery for a torn labrum. After recovering, he faced Dvalishvili again in a rematch at UFC 316 but lost once more. Since then, O’Malley has stayed out of the cage, though he plans to return to the octagon before the year ends.
Although many rumors have surfaced about who O’Malley will face next, UFC matchmakers say there might be a possibility of him fighting Song Yadong.
During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O’Malley addressed the speculation about a potential fight with the surging bantamweight.
“Everyone and their grandmother is sending me the screenshots of Song Yadong vs. ‘Suga’ Dec. 6. People are saying, ‘Congrats, when does this fight camp start?,’ all this and that,” O’Malley said. “I’m assuming it started because someone sent me when the fights were in China, Song took a picture with Merab and said he’s fighting me next or whatever.
“To be honest, I don’t know what the plan is. There’s nothing official on my side. I haven’t talked to the UFC specifically on who, when, and where. Song seems like a great next opponent, though. I mean, it makes sense. I like the matchup. That seems good.”
“As far as a date goes, December, January, February, f***ing November, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go. Call me next week, and I’ll probably say that’s too short notice. But I do like the match, it makes sense. I’m healthy. I’m feeling good. I’m training like a motherf***er. Again, I like that matchup. Me vs. Song, if that’s what’s next, hell yeah!”
Yadong hasn’t fought since a technical decision win over former titleholder Henry Cejudo earlier this year at UFC Seattle. The fight ended after Cejudo was deemed unable to continue following multiple accidental eye pokes.
O’Malley, on the other hand, believes his emulation of UFC star Conor McGregor is part of the slump in his career, but he plans to move past it and restore himself.
