Sean O’Malley seems to think that even if he wins his next fight, he might struggle to book a rematch with Petr Yan.
The pair’s 2022 fight was controversial, with the American taking a razor-close decision win in Abu Dhabi that catapulted him into title contention and eventually winning the belt. After one defence, he lost the title to Merab Dvalishvili, and after losing an immediate rematch he seemed on the division’s periphery.
But he now has a very legitimate claim to a fight with the newly-crowned champion, particularly if it means getting a rematch for one of the most disputed decisions in recent memory. He will first have to take on Song Yadong at UFC 324 next month in his first three rounder since the Yan fight.
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Petr Yan seemed uninterested in Sean O’Malley rematch after UFC 323
On Saturday night, discussion seemed to centre around a trilogy between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. They have fought before, with the Georgian winning about as comfortably the first time as his rival did the second go around.
But Sean O’Malley’s name was brought up, and Yan didn’t seem all that keen on giving his old rival the rub and a shot at the belt again.
Who should Petr Yan fight next?
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“I heard that he didn’t like the fact that I said he looks like a lady from a corner because of the way he looks and then he saw himself and said ‘oh maybe I was right’ and decided to change himself,” Yan joked when asked about the rematch after UFC 323.
“I just saw a video of him a couple of hours ago, he still looks the same! He didn’t change, what the heck do I need him for? I want people to improve themselves.”
Sean O’Malley feels Petr Yan is avoiding a rematch
In a new podcast uploaded to his YouTube channel today, O’Malley addressed what happened over the weekend and what it might mean for his future title chances. He had previously joked that he might kick out Song Yadong from UFC 324 and just go for yet another title fight.
“Tim [Welch, coach] showed me this morning they asked Petr if he would give me a rematch if I beat Song or whatever and he starts laughing,” O’Malley noted. “Every time Petr’s been asked about a rematch even before this, he’s avoided it.
What did you make of Sean O’Malley’s stunt in his face-off with Song Yadong?
Many fans were offended by his plan, were you?
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“I’m not saying Petr Yan is scared of me by any means, but he says I’m not deserving or not good enough or whatever. Wouldn’t that be a great reason to defend the belt? I fought Chito [Marlon Vera]!
“He says Merab and Umar Nurmagomedov can rematch, there’s that. But I don’t know, I just got to go and get through Song. No easy task there.”
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