Sean O'Malley got White House 'layup' as UFC feared Yan loss

The UFC handed Sean O'Malley a soft opponent for the White House card because the promotion feared a loss to Petr Yan on American soil, according to the reigning bantamweight champion.

Yan wrote on Instagram that he gave his consent when the UFC matched O'Malley with Aiemann Zahabi instead, per Sportskeeda. O'Malley stopped Zahabi in the second round at the event earlier this week.

"The UFC were afraid for you!" Yan reportedly posted. "They needed to be sure that you would win in the White House! They didn't want you to get beaten in the White House! I gave my consent! That's why they gave you someone you can at least handle!"

Why UFC may have protected O'Malley from Yan rematch

O'Malley edged Yan by split decision at UFC 280 in late 2022, a result that has never sat well with the Russian. A White House rematch would have been an easy sell for the UFC, but the promotion may have balked at the idea of Yan celebrating a title defense on the South Lawn, according to MMA Mania. The Russian champion is known as one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies in combat sports.

Instead, O'Malley faced Zahabi, a significant step down in competition from a former champion. Yan has made clear he expects to reclaim his belt in an eventual rematch, which the UFC has not yet announced.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — UFC ‘afraid’ Sean O’Malley would lose White House fight, gave ‘Suga’ easy layup despite ‘consent’ from Petr Yan