Petr Yan is anticipated to face Merab Dvalishvili next, but Sean O\u2019Malley sees that as a potentially costly move for the UFC.<\/strong><\/p>\n Fans are still awaiting confirmation of the Russian\u2019s first UFC bantamweight title defense, because it has now been over six months since he returned to the throne.<\/p>\n Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in an enormous upset last December. In doing so, \u2018No Mercy\u2019 became a two-time champion at 135 kilos and avenged his one-sided loss to the Georgian two years prior.<\/p>\n With their rivalry now level at one win apiece, a trilogy is prone to come next. \u2018Suga\u2019, nonetheless, thinks the UFC can be smart to change that course and book a special rematch.<\/p>\n ‘Suga’ ended Aiemann Zahabi’s 7-fight win streak at UFC Freedom 250.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Before Dvalishvili was unseated by Yan, he had accrued a formidable string of wins contained in the Octagon that included two triumphs over O\u2019Malley.<\/p>\n Since being submitted by \u2018The Machine\u2019 in June 2025, \u2018Suga\u2019 has been attempting to work his way back to a different title shot.<\/p>\n Most recently, O\u2019Malley knocked out Aiemann Zahabi on the White House to make it back-to-back victories in 2026, having also outpointed Song Yadong in January.<\/p>\n The Montana native seemingly has more work to do before securing a rematch with Yan, whom he beat back in 2022. But the previous champion thinks the UFC would profit from booking that fight now quite than \u2018risk\u2019 losing what he sees because the division\u2019s biggest matchup of all time.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the event that they want me vs. Petr next \u2014 I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch is the largest fight in bantamweight history,\u201d O\u2019Malley said during an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound<\/a><\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it\u2019s the largest one you might possibly make immediately, and the UFC can be risking (it by) making Merab vs. Petr,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n O\u2019Malley beat Yan at UFC 280, edging out an in depth split decision in Abu Dhabi that caused loads of debate within the MMA community.<\/p>\n \u2018No Mercy\u2019 has been open to running it back with \u2018Suga\u2019 and having his probability for revenge, but he claims the UFC was hesitant to book that fight for the White House card through fear of the American losing.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Dvalishvili will accept nothing but Yan as his next fight, having enjoyed a legendary reign before the defeat in Las Vegas six months ago.<\/p>\nWhat more does Sean O\u2019Malley must do to get a rematch with Petr Yan?<\/h3>\n
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<\/div>Sean O\u2019Malley thinks his Petr Yan rematch can be the \u2018biggest fight\u2019 in UFC bantamweight history<\/h2>\n
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