Sean O’Malley seems to think that even when 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 instantaneous rematch he seemed on the division’s periphery.
But he now has a really legitimate claim to a fight with the newly-crowned champion, particularly if it means getting a rematch for one of the vital disputed decisions in recent memory. He’ll first must tackle Song Yadong at UFC 324 next month in his first three rounder because the Yan fight.
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Petr Yan seemed bored with Sean O’Malley rematch after UFC 323
On Saturday night, discussion appeared to centre around a trilogy between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. They’ve fought before, with the Georgian winning about as comfortably the primary 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 on the belt again.
Who should Petr Yan fight next?
“I heard that he didn’t just like the undeniable fact that I said he looks like a girl from a corner due to the best way he looks after which he saw himself and said ‘oh possibly I used to be right’ and decided to vary himself,” Yan joked when asked concerning the rematch after UFC 323.
“I just saw a video of him a few hours ago, he still looks the identical! He didn’t change, what the heck do I want him for? I would like people to enhance themselves.”
Sean O’Malley feels Petr Yan is avoiding a rematch
In a brand new podcast uploaded to his YouTube channel today, O’Malley addressed what happened over the weekend and what it would mean for his future title possibilities. He had previously joked that he might kick out Song Yadong from UFC 324 and just go for yet one more 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. “Each time Petr’s been asked a couple of 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 frightened of me by any means, but he says I’m not deserving or not adequate or whatever. Wouldn’t that be an excellent 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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