Sean O’Malley (18-3, 1 NC MMA, 10-3, 1 NC UFC,) currently the No. 3 contender at bantamweight and formerly the UFC Bantamweight Champion, is looking ahead to the evening of Jan. 24. That night, he’ll travel to T-Mobile Arena in Enterprise, NV, the host venue of UFC 324 on Paramount Plus.
During UFC 324, Sean O’Malley, nicknamed “Suga,” will be fighting No. 5 contender Song Yadong (22-8-1, 1 NC MMA, 11-3-1 UFC) in a three-round fight at five minutes per round. The Jan. 24 fight in Enterprise will be O’Malley’s first appearance inside the fabled UFC Octagon since June 7 of last year.
Seven months ago, he traveled to Newark, NJ and Prudential Center for UFC 316. Merab Dvalishvili (21-5 MMA, 14-3 UFC) served as the now-former champion’s adversary that late spring night. Although the fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili progressed to the third round of a scheduled five, it was the latter who would emerge victorious thanks to a north south choke submission.
Sean O’Malley Eyeing Petr Yan Bantamweight Championship Fight Later On This Year
On Monday, Sean O’Malley took to YouTube to discuss a variety of topics. Among items mentioned is a contest versus No. 6 pound-for-pound contender Petr Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC.) Yan fought just last month inside the same T-Mobile Arena in UFC 323, defeating Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision after five rounds for the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
He’d like to fight Petr Yan for his second appearance inside the fabled UFC Octagon in 2026.
“Honestly, I’m getting ready for Petr still, too,” Sean O’Malley told his YouTube audience Monday. “I can’t look past Song, which I’m not, Song’s (expletive deleted) dangerous! He’s got power in both hands, he’s fast. I’m preparing for him. We’re preparing for Petr, too.”
Sean O’Malley Thinking of Ending Fighting Career in 2026
If all goes well, Sean O’Malley is considering making 2026 the final year of his career as an MMA fighter. He discussed the possibility of putting his gloves in the center of the Octagon later on this year, as well.
“He knows,” O’Malley said. “Petr knows. That’s what’s next. I’m going to go out there, take care of Song [Yadong,] and that’s what’s next. 2026 is going to be lit, go out there, take care of Song. Take care of Petr. DoingWell’s going to blow up. I’m going to retire. This might be the last ‘Suga’ year ever.”
O’Malley also mentioned that it’s impossible for him to pinpoint where he’ll be in the future.
“I just take it one fight at a time,” he said. “[If] I go out there and lose and lose, I’m done with this. Ideally, I go out there, win. I don’t care if Merab retires. I still know I can beat [him.] Ideally, I take care of Song and go get that Petr fight. The Petr fight [happens,] then we’ll just go from there, see what life throws at me.”
Sean O’Malley: Looking Back on Recent Run in UFC
Sean O’Malley has been a streaky fighter of late in the UFC. There have been times where “Suga” has been sweet to watch and other times where he’s hit some sour notes.
Going into UFC 324 later on this month, he’s dropped two fights in a row, both to Merab Dvalishvili with the bantamweight championship on the line, most recently last June in New Jersey. This losing skid follows up a run where Sean O’Malley went unbeaten in seven consecutive fights between March of 2021 and March of 2024.
Among the highlights during Sean O’Malley’s unbeaten streak was a thunderous second-round knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in August of 2023 to take the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the main event of UFC 292 in Boston.
Final Thoughts
Sean O’Malley has more than earned the right to call the shots as to how his professional life will go at this point in his career. No matter what else happens in his time as a fighter, there’s one certainty:
Watching Sean O’Malley inside the cage has been a joy to behold. When the day comes for him to retire, he’ll certainly be missed on fight night.
