The bantamweight championship will be contested at UFC 333 on October 24, featuring the highly anticipated trilogy bout between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili. In their first matchup earlier this year, Dvalishvili defeated Yan, but the Russian fighter avenged that loss at UFC 323 last December, ending the Georgian’s impressive 14-fight winning streak.
Sean O’Malley, who has won his last two fights—against Song Yadong at UFC 324 and Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250—will be watching the co-main event with keen interest. Known as “Suga,” O’Malley holds a history with both Yan and Dvalishvili, recently revealing private Instagram conversations with Yan that hint at his ambitions to reclaim the bantamweight crown.
During a recent appearance on MMA Guru, O’Malley shared a playful back-and-forth from Instagram with Yan, where both hinted at a possible rematch should Yan overcome Dvalishvili at UFC 333. O’Malley recounted sending Yan a voice message saying, “Petr, what’s up, buddy? Hope you’re doing well. Hope you beat Merab so I can beat your ass again.” Yan promptly responded, “Sure, hello. Coming to Abu Dhabi. I smash Merab up, and you will be next.” Their exchange ended with laughter, and O’Malley humorously mocked Yan’s laugh, affectionately calling him “little Petr.”
For reference, O’Malley and Yan initially fought at UFC 280 in October 2022 in Abu Dhabi, where O’Malley earned a controversial split decision victory—a result many thought favored Yan. This win propelled O’Malley to a title shot against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, where he finished Sterling in under two rounds to claim the 135-pound championship.
Looking ahead, O’Malley could be gearing up for another title run, but he has faced criticism for allegedly dodging rising contender Payton Talbott after Talbott’s knockout win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332. O’Malley denied these claims, clarifying that the UFC never offered him a fight against Talbott at UFC Freedom 250 and expressing his openness to face the newcomer.
He stated, “I swear on my family, I did not get offered Payton Talbott at the White House… He called me out, and that sounds good.” O’Malley then explained how Yan’s upcoming fight could determine his next move: if Yan loses, O’Malley would be interested in fighting Talbott; if Yan wins, he’s prioritizing a tougher challenge by facing Yan again, emphasizing that he’s already fought some of the best bantamweights, including Yan, Aljamain Sterling, and Dvalishvili.
Yan’s victory at UFC 333 could set up the much-anticipated rematch between him and O’Malley, giving the former champion a shot at regaining the belt. Conversely, if Dvalishvili wins, O’Malley may have to reconsider his options, especially since he has suffered two losses to the Georgian.
With the bantamweight title hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on UFC 333 to see who emerges as champion and whether O’Malley gets his desired rematch or turns his attention to settling the score with Talbott.
Fan Take: This showdown is crucial for fight fans as it could either reignite one of the sport’s hottest rivalries or introduce a fresh contender into the title picture, shaking up the division’s hierarchy. The outcome at UFC 333 will significantly influence the matchmaking landscape and could set the stage for some of the most exciting bantamweight bouts in recent memory.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
