O'Malley On Yan Rematch Making Most Sense For UFC

Sean O'Malley believes a rematch with bantamweight champion Petr Yan should take priority over potential title shots for Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong.

The two contenders meet this weekend at UFC Shanghai, with both fighters expecting a title opportunity with a win. But O'Malley told UFC on Paramount that fan demand should drive the division's direction. "If they want to see me against Petr rematch, I think that's the fight that makes most sense," he said, per MMA Junkie.

O'Malley Dismisses Song Yadong Threat After January Win

O'Malley stopped Song by unanimous decision at UFC 324 in January and said he watched the fight back recently with fresh eyes. "I was very happy with how it played out," he told the broadcast. "I showed up. I was very focused, I did what I needed to do against a very dangerous opponent and I'm not counting Song out of the Umar fight."

Yan holds wins over both O'Malley and former champion Merab Dvalishvili, setting up potential rematches with either fighter. O'Malley has called a second meeting with Yan the biggest fight in bantamweight history, though his stock has fallen after back-to-back lopsided losses to Dvalishvili.

UFC Shanghai takes place Saturday in China with the Nurmagomedov-Song bout headlining the card.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Bad news for Yadong (and Umar) — Sean O’Malley vs. Petr Yan rematch ‘makes most sense’ for UFC