Sean O'Malley: Petr Yan landed hardest shot of my career

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley says current titleholder Petr Yan landed the hardest shot he has ever absorbed.

O'Malley, who faces Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday, told the Friends Keep Secrets podcast that Yan's left hand in the second round of their October 2022 fight at UFC 280 remains the most damaging strike of his career. According to Sherdog, O'Malley had just hurt Yan badly with an uppercut and was pursuing a finish when the tables turned. "Petr Yan, the guy that's the champ right now. When I fought him in Abu Dhabi, second round, I came out, cracked him hard, rocked him, hit him with a right hand, dropped him. Fast forward 45 seconds, we're both standing there, and he hits me with a left hand, you see my head completely turn all the way around. That was probably the hardest I've been hit," O'Malley said.

From title win to comeback mode

O'Malley won that fight via narrow split decision in what some considered a controversial verdict. The victory earned him an immediate title shot against Aljamain Sterling, whom he stopped to claim the belt. O'Malley defended once before losing to Merab Dvalishvili and failing to reclaim the strap in their rematch.

The 31-year-old returned to winning form in January with a unanimous decision over Song Yadong. He now meets Zahabi on the UFC White House card June 14.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Sean O’Malley reveals the hardest shot he’s ever taken