Sean O’Malley believes the UFC has a blockbuster matchup sitting right in front of it.
Fresh off another victory at UFC White House, the former bantamweight champion is pushing for a rematch with current titleholder Petr Yan. While a trilogy fight between Yan and Merab Dvalishvili appears to be the likely next championship bout, O’Malley argues that facing him would be the division’s biggest attraction. Merab Dvalishvili said this as well.
O’Malley questions delay in Yan vs. Dvalishvili trilogy
O’Malley earned his second straight win after stopping Aiemann Zahabi in the second round at UFC White House. The performance strengthened his case as a title contender, but hetold the Pound 4 Pound podcast that he believes the championship picture has stalled because Yan may not be fully healthy.
“I’ve been hearing Petr and Merab are going to fight, the rematch is going to happen, for a long time,”
“Still nothing booked. I don’t know if it’s Merab’s nose or Petr’s back. One of those guys is obviously holding it up, and I don’t think it’s Merab. I think Merab would fight with his arm cut off. So I think Petr is probably dealing with some injuries.”
Yan and Dvalishvili split their first two meetings. Dvalishvili won their first fight in 2023 before Yan captured the bantamweight title in the rematch last December. A date for the deciding trilogy bout has yet to be announced.
Former champion wants Yan rematch first
O’Malley believes his previous victory over Yan makes a second meeting the most compelling fight available in the division.
“If they want me vs. Petr next. I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch is the biggest fight in bantamweight history,”
“I think it’s the biggest one you could possibly make right now, and the UFC would be risking making Merab vs. Petr.”
O’Malley still targeting third fight with Merab
Although O’Malley has lost twice to Dvalishvili, he remains confident he can reverse the result if they meet again.
“I know I can go out there and beat Merab, and that would be huge for my career, because then I have beat Petr Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Merab, the three greatest bantamweights of all-time.”