Sean O’Malley is confident he will get the next shot at Petr Yan’s UFC bantamweight title after the champion defeated Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.
Yan defended his 135-pound title in the co-main event against Dvalishvili, putting himself in a strong position for another title defense. Before the fight, O’Malley believed a Yan victory would set up a rematch between the two former opponents.
However, Song Yadong’s presence at UFC 333 sparked discussions about a potential title shot for the Chinese fighter. O’Malley, who was absent from the event, believes the bantamweight title picture is clear despite the push for Yadong.
Speaking to Daniel Cormier on his YouTube channel, O’Malley insisted that he remains the clear No. 1 contender and expects the UFC to book him against Yan next.
“Petr beat Song when I was defending my title in Miami, so Petr already beat Song, I already beat Song,” O’Malley said. “I don’t really think it’s a debate or an argument.
“Song was in the building [at UFC 333]; they’re in your ear, it makes sense. I’m not there. Song’s there. I don’t really feel like I have to push for it or argue for it or try to do anything crazy for it. Me versus Petr is happening next. It just is. I refuse to believe otherwise.”
O’Malley could have faced a different situation if Dvalishvili had beaten Yan in Abu Dhabi. The Georgian has defeated O’Malley twice, making a third fight less appealing as a potential title matchup.
Yan’s victory, however, puts O’Malley in a stronger position to challenge for the belt again. The pair first met in 2022, when O’Malley secured a controversial split-decision victory.
The former champion also believes a rematch with Yan could become the biggest bantamweight fight in UFC history. O’Malley pointed to the matchup’s potential appeal beyond the MMA community and expects it to headline a major event.
“Hands down it will be [the biggest bantamweight fight of all time],” O’Malley said. “I don’t think of Petr Yan as a superstar. He’s not going to walk down the street and get mobbed. In the MMA community, he’s one of the most respected fighters, and I think the promotion will really get to the wider audience. We’re not going to be the co-main event. We’re going to be the main event. It’s going to be a massive card.
“I think me versus Chito [Vera], number-wise, was the biggest bantamweight fight of all-time as of now, but I do think me versus Petr is going to be bigger.”
The UFC has yet to announce Yan’s next opponent, leaving the title picture open for now. However, O’Malley remains convinced that the promotion will give him the opportunity to reclaim the bantamweight championship.
With a previous victory over Yan and a clear desire to settle their rivalry, O’Malley believes he has a strong case for the next title shot. Whether the UFC agrees remains to be seen.
