Sean O’Malley is navigating unfamiliar waters as he struggles to recover from his rivalry with Merab Dvalishvili.
The former UFC bantamweight champion will look to get a much-needed victory when he returns to UFC 324 in Las Vegas on January 24 after losing back-to-back losses to Dvalishvili in 2024-25. Opposite him is China’s Song Yadong – a dangerous striker who O’Malley believes faces a much tougher challenge than he initially imagined.
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“I asked Ayman [Zahabi]. Give me something a little easier,” O’Malley said, tongue-in-cheek, on Tuesday’s “Ariel Helwani Show.” “But Song Yadong, I think I’m going to fight Song.
“This was supposed to be a funny little joke – I think Ayman is a great fighter. If I look at him and Song – no one has it easy. But I do ask Ayman, that one seems a little easier. Always take Uncle Char with you [Sonnen’s] The philosophy of fighting the easiest guy to get the most money. We make the same amount of money fighting these guys— [so] In my opinion, who is the easiest? “
O’Malley was hoping to return sooner after losing his rematch to Dvalishvili in June, but he believes the UFC delayed the fight in order to get him into the Paramount debut. UFC 324 marks the launch of a new partnership between the two companies, following a seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal in August.
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Regardless, O’Malley was very pleased with his final match.
“I do like Song’s game,” he said. “He’s explosive, he’s fast, he fights well, he’s experienced, he’s young, he’s hungry. It’s going to be a great win. It’s a big fight, so I’m happy with where we are right now.”
O’Malley, 31, quickly became a superstar after joining the UFC in 2017. His ascension to the bantamweight championship was equally rapid. After winning the title against Aljamain Sterling in August 2023, he defended the belt against Marlon “Chito” Vera before meeting Dvalishvili.
Despite his back-to-back losses to “The Machine” — and the belief that he should have been recognized in their first fight — O’Malley remains focused on reclaiming the gold. He will be keeping an eye on Dvalishvili as he defends his belt in another rematch with Petr Yan at UFC 323 this Saturday (December 6).
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But that doesn’t mean O’Malley doesn’t enjoy the three-bout he’s about to return to.
“Winning the belt again sounds fun, sounds exciting,” O’Malley said. “Merab was clearly in the lead. We were 1-1 so a trilogy made sense. Peter came on and won the rematch [between me and] Petr is a big fight. I want a big fight. If the title goes live, it will just add more content.
“But three rounds – I’d probably be the three-round champion. Maybe if Merab wins, he’ll be the five-round champion and I’ll be the three-round champion. That sounds disgusting to me. I might do that.”
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Along the way, O’Malley kept teasing his interest in boxing. It was never a priority, but as the UFC and TKO expand their presence in the sport, the idea remains.
Gervonta Davis is the first name O’Malley often mentions when envisioning a crossover, and he’s not opposed to the opportunity if it becomes a reality — though he’s not betting on it given Davis’ recent legal troubles.
“I always say, ‘Hey, if you guys want to throw me in.’ They don’t seem too interested in bringing in UFC guys for Zuffa [Boxing] Something, at least from my conversations. But you never know,” O’Malley said.
“I went out, beat Song, knocked Song out, it looked good, the boxing looked good, Gervonta said some interesting things when he got out of jail — things could be going up.
“So far, I don’t know if it’s generated enough interest.”
