Sean O’Malley said UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan views a potential matchup with him as a different stylistic challenge.
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UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley believes he poses the biggest threat to champion Petr Yan, arguing that Yan recognizes he presents a different fight than other challengers.
Yan retained his title by outlasting Merab Dvalishvili in Saturday’s UFC 333 co-main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, improving to a bantamweight champion’s standing of 21-5 MMA and 13-4 UFC as cited in the report.
O’Malley took issue with the broadcast’s framing of Song Yadong as a potential next challenger, and he continued to push for a title fight against Yan. He said Yan remembers their previous close encounter and has improved alongside him.
“I don't think Petr Yan is scared of 'Suga' Sean O'Malley by any means,” O’Malley said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “But I do think he looks at that fight – he remembers. That last fight, it was a close fight, it was a tough fight, and he's gotten a lot better, I've gotten a lot better.”
O’Malley also said he believes Yan understands the matchup presents specific matchup problems, including height and size differences. “I think I'm a tough stylistic matchup for Petr Yan. I do think he knows that; he recognizes that,” O’Malley said. “I don't think he's scared, I don't think he will duck me or any of that, but I do think in his little Russian head that he's like, 'Ah, f*ck.' It's a different fight. I'm not 5'5. I'm not like Song or Merab. I'm not this little ball. I'm 6'3. I'm a big guy.”
O’Malley pointed to his Fight of the Night battle with Yan at UFC 280 in October 2022, and referenced Yan’s win over Song Yadong at UFC 299. He also said he believes his two straight wins over Song and Aiemann Zahabi make him the rightful No. 1 contender.
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