Is Sean O’Malley vs. Song Yadong next?
The former UFC Bantamweight Champion is coming off another loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. For the first time in Sean’s career, he’s currently in the middle of a two-fight skid. The rumors started circulating that the UFC star could be gearing up to fight Sing Ya Dong next.
Apparently, that’s not the case. At least for now. Sean O’Malley addressed the rumors and though he’s not in talks to fight the fellow bantamweight, he isn’t down on the idea of facing the California native.
“Everyone and their grandmother is sending me screenshots of ‘Song Yadong vs. Suga, Dec. 6,’” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “People are saying, ‘Congrats, when does fight camp start?’ All this and that, and I’m assuming it started because … when the fights were in China, Song took a picture with Merab and said he’s fighting me next, or whatever.
To be honest, I don’t know what the plan is. There’s nothing official on my side. I haven’t talked to the UFC specifically on who, when, and where. Song seems like a great next opponent though. It makes sense. I like the matchup. That seems good.”
December might be too short notice for Sean, but O’Malley says he’s feeling good and healthy, so he’s ready to go.
“As far as the date goes, December, January, February, f*cking November, I’m ready to go,” O’Malley said. “I’m ready to go. Call me next week and I’ll probably say that’s too short notice, but I do like the matchup. Makes sense. I’m healthy, I’m feeling good, I’m training like a motherf*cker. I like that matchup a lot, so me vs. Song, if that’s what’s next, hell yeah.”
It’s doubtful that Yadong would have a problem fighting O'Malley next since he did call out the former UFC Bantamweight Champion following his win over Henry Cejudo back in February. Yadong is ranked at number five. O’Malley is currently at number one within the division. If the former can get a win over O’Malley (if the fight does happen) then that will definitely skyrocket him to contendership status.
Hopefully, the UFC brass is listening as this sounds like a great match-up on paper. Though given that Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan, and Umar Nurmagomedov are above him, he may not get that golden opportunity just yet. We'll just have to wait and see what happens next.