Petr Yan’s next opponent is the question the UFC left open in Abu Dhabi. After beating Merab Dvalishvili 48-47 on all 3 cards at UFC 333, the bantamweight champion called for Song Yadong in the Octagon. Dana White says he and his matchmakers spent the night texting about 2 names: Song Yadong and Sean O’Malley. No date and no challenger have been announced.
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Key takeaways
- Petr Yan (21-5) closed his trilogy with Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision at UFC 333 and asked for Song Yadong in the Octagon.
- Dana White says the matchmakers are weighing Song Yadong and Sean O'Malley, who beat Yan by split decision at UFC 280 in 2022.
- Song knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov in August, but lost to O'Malley on points in January.
Petr Yan's next opponent: what the champion wants
A name in the Octagon
Asked by Daniel Cormier right after the decision, Yan named Song Yadong right away, then said he would face anybody who makes the weight, according to MiddleEasy. He added that the UFC picks the challenger.
A position he already held
At media day on October 21, Yan said through an interpreter that Song was “really more deserving of a title fight” than O’Malley, while repeating that he does not decide. He also accused the UFC of helping O’Malley more than once.
How he broke Dvalishvili
Dvalishvili won rounds 1 and 2 with pressure and takedowns, according to Sherdog. Yan said he knew the Georgian would “break” once his takedowns failed, and took rounds 3, 4 and 5.
Song Yadong or O'Malley: the case for each
Song Yadong
The Chinese fighter knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov with a right uppercut at 1 minute 48 of round 2 in Shanghai on August 29. It was his 2nd straight stoppage of a former title challenger. His last loss came against O’Malley, on points, at UFC 324 on January 24.
Sean O’Malley
The former champion beat Song in January, then stopped Aiemann Zahabi at 4 minutes 2 of round 2 at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. Above all, he owns a win over Yan, by split decision at UFC 280 in October 2022. On October 21, he said a Yan win would mean a fight with him.
Dana White’s word
“Me and the matchmakers were texting the entire night about Song Yadong and O’Malley,” White said at the press conference. He did not choose. Ariel Helwani, for his part, wants Yan vs O’Malley 2.
Give me Song Yadong, give me King Kong! Give me anybody!
The rest of the bantamweight picture
Dvalishvili accepts
“He beat me today, he’s the better man, he’s the winner today,” Dvalishvili said in the Octagon. He has said nothing about retirement or a change of weight class. He is now 21-6.
Other names in line
Payton Talbott also called out O’Malley after stopping Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332. Each choice the UFC makes for Yan will push someone else back.
Follow the title race
Petr Yan, Song Yadong, Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili all have their profile, record and rating in the FightHub app.
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