O'Malley On Yan Rematch: 'It Just Is'

Sean O'Malley says his rematch with Petr Yan is a done deal, no matter who the UFC put in front of cameras at UFC 333.

After Yan reclaimed the bantamweight title by beating Merab Dvalishvili this past weekend in Abu Dhabi, the promotion immediately spotlighted Song Yadong, who was cageside fresh off a knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov. But O'Malley, who beat Yan in 2022 and defeated Song earlier this year, told Daniel Cormier on his podcast that the matchmaking decision is obvious.

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O'Malley's Case For Yan Title Shot

"Petr beat Song when I was defending my title in Miami, so Petr already beat Song, I already beat Song," O'Malley said, per MMA Fighting. "I don't really think it's a debate or an argument. Me versus Petr is happening next. It just is. I refuse to believe otherwise."

O'Malley dismissed the Abu Dhabi optics as logistical convenience. Song was in the building, he reasoned, so the UFC put him on camera. That does not make him the rightful challenger.

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The former champion believes a rematch with Yan would break records for the bantamweight division. He called their 2022 bout one of that year's best fights and expects the title version to land as the main event on a major card, not buried in the co-main slot. O'Malley predicted it would eclipse his title defense against Marlon Vera as the biggest bantamweight fight in UFC history.

The UFC has not announced Yan's first defense. O'Malley expects his phone to ring soon.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Sean O’Malley: There’s no ‘debate or an argument,’ rematch against Petr Yan is next