Sean O'Malley calls Petr Yan rematch biggest bantamweight fight

Sean O'Malley believes the UFC is sitting on the biggest bantamweight fight it could make — and the promotion risks losing it by booking Petr Yan against Merab Dvalishvili instead.

Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, O'Malley said his 2022 win over Yan makes a rematch more compelling than the planned trilogy between the current champion and Dvalishvili. "I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch is the biggest fight in bantamweight history," O'Malley said, per MMA Fighting. "I think it's the biggest one you could possibly make right now, and the UFC would be risking [it by] making Merab vs. Petr."

Why Yan-Dvalishvili trilogy has stalled

O'Malley stopped Aiemann Zahabi at UFC White House in his second straight win since losing the title to Dvalishvili last December. Yan reclaimed the belt from Dvalishvili in their rematch that same month, reversing the lopsided decision Dvalishvili won in their first meeting back in 2023. But the expected trilogy has yet to be announced, and O'Malley reportedly suspects injury is the holdup. He told the podcast Dvalishvili would fight through anything, meaning Yan is likely waiting until he is fully healed. "You can't fight Merab on half-ass camps," O'Malley said. "You need to be fully healthy to fight Merab, and Petr probably knows that."

The complication for O'Malley is simple math. He has two losses to Dvalishvili, which makes a third fight unappealing if O'Malley were to win the belt back. But O'Malley insists he can beat Dvalishvili with another shot and wants that fight badly. "I know I can beat Merab, and I know if I go out there and do beat Merab, I'm undefeated," he said. "I've beat everybody I've ever fought." He added that defeating Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Dvalishvili would mean beating the three greatest bantamweights ever.

For now, O'Malley acknowledged the rematch with Dvalishvili is not what fans want to see. His path may require beating Yan first, then circling back to the champion.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Morning Report: Sean O’Malley says rematch with Petr Yan is ‘the biggest fight in bantamweight history’