Sean O’Malley doesn’t mind waiting, as long as the payoff is Petr Yan.
O’Malley picked up his second straight win at UFC White House, stopping Aiemann Zahabi in the second round and planting himself right back in the bantamweight title mix. He already holds a win over reigning champion Yan, but Yan has unfinished business with Merab Dvalishvili, and a trilogy fight between the two looks inevitable. If that’s the play, O’Malley says he’ll sit tight.
Petr’s the champ. If I don’t get that next, I wait. If Petr beats Merab, me vs. Petr. How do you not make that fight?,” he told MMA Fighting.
O’Malley beat Yan in a controversial split decision at UFC 280 in 2022, a win that launched him toward the title. He believes a rematch with the belt on the line would be the biggest fight the division has ever seen, topping even his own record-setting bout with Marlon Vera.
I would love to hear someone’s argument. I think me vs. Chito is the biggest fight as of now. As far as numbers, gate, that was the biggest bantamweight fight in history. I think me vs. Petr would beat that.
First, Yan and Dvalishvili have to settle up. The champion has been out since December after back surgery, though the trilogy is expected to happen before the end of the year.
