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Sean O'Malley Says Petr Yan Rematch Is Next, Disputes Song Yadong's Case for a Title Shot
Updated: 3 days ago
Photo: Musicmakestheworldgoround / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
The former bantamweight champion points to his victories over Yan and Song Yadong as reasons he should receive the next title shot. The UFC has not confirmed Yan's next opponent.
O'Malley Has Earned an Argument, Not a Guaranteed Title Shot
Sean O'Malley believes his next fight will be against Petr Yan for the UFC bantamweight championship, and Crazy TV believes his case deserves serious consideration. He has already beaten the current champion and one of his main rivals for the opportunity. But a convincing argument is not the same thing as an official fight announcement.
According to an October 28, 2026 report by Damon Martin for MMA Fighting, O'Malley expressed confidence during an appearance on Daniel Cormier's podcast.
The former champion argued that his victories over Yan, Song Yadong and Aimann Zahabi establish why he should receive the next opportunity.
His position is clear. He believes the results have already settled the debate.
Crazy TV agrees that those victories matter. We do not agree that they eliminate every competing argument.
A championship opportunity should be earned through performance, and the complete record deserves consideration.
Yan's Championship Victory Changed the Division
Petr Yan became the UFC bantamweight champion after defeating Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
MMA Fighting reports that Yan's performance immediately raised questions about his first title defense.
Song Yadong was present at the event, and the UFC directed attention toward him as a possible challenger.
That development created the opening for O'Malley's public response.
Crazy TV believes the championship change makes this debate more interesting than an ordinary callout.
Yan now holds the title. O'Malley has previously defeated him. Song has recently strengthened his own case.
The division has multiple fighters with documented reasons to seek the same opportunity.
That competition should not be treated as a problem. It is evidence that the championship matters.
Until the UFC announces its decision, every proposed opponent remains a candidate rather than a confirmed challenger.
O'Malley's Previous Victory Over Yan Is His Strongest Evidence
O'Malley defeated Yan in 2022.
That result is central to his argument because Yan is now the reigning champion.
Crazy TV believes a previous victory over the current titleholder deserves weight in any discussion about a championship opportunity.
It establishes that O'Malley has already succeeded against the opponent he wants to face again.
But the result also belongs to 2022. It cannot tell us exactly how a rematch would unfold in 2026.
Both fighters have continued competing since their first meeting.
Yan's recent victory over Dvalishvili is part of that changing landscape.
O'Malley's past win gives him a credible foundation. His more recent results must strengthen that foundation rather than depend entirely on it.
Song Yadong Cannot Be Dismissed Without Examining His Results
Song Yadong has a competing argument.
According to MMA Fighting, Song recently knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov.
That victory placed him in the conversation surrounding Yan's next defense.
O'Malley responded by pointing out that both he and Yan have previously defeated Song. He also noted that he beat Song earlier in 2026.
Crazy TV believes those head to head results matter. They are direct competitive evidence rather than popularity claims.
But Song's recent victory matters too.
A fighter should not become permanently excluded from championship consideration because of previous defeats.
Improvement and recent performance are part of professional competition.
The real question is how the UFC should balance head to head history against current momentum.
O'Malley favors the former because it strengthens his position. Song's recent knockout supports an argument for the latter.
Both deserve to be acknowledged.
Crazy TV gives O'Malley the stronger documented case based on the results identified in MMA Fighting's report, particularly his victories over Yan and Song.
That is an editorial judgment, not an official ranking or UFC decision.
Beating Zahabi Adds Weight to O'Malley's Claim
O'Malley's case does not rest entirely on older victories.
MMA Fighting reports that he also defeated Aimann Zahabi by knockout at the UFC White House event.
Combined with his victory over Song earlier in the year, that result gives him recent success to support his request.
Crazy TV believes this is an important distinction.
Calling for a championship fight is easy. Supporting that request with victories is harder.
O'Malley can point to actual results against named opponents.
That does not automatically make him the next challenger, but it separates his argument from a demand based solely on reputation.
The crown should reward what a fighter has accomplished, not merely how confidently he speaks.
A Major Fight Is Not Automatically the Right Fight
O'Malley also believes a rematch with Yan could become the biggest bantamweight fight in UFC history.
MMA Fighting reports that he expects the matchup to headline a major event and attract a substantial audience.
Those are O'Malley's projections, not confirmed attendance figures, sales numbers or promotional plans.
Crazy TV believes the distinction matters.
A fight's commercial potential can influence how people discuss it, but the championship should retain its sporting legitimacy.
The best promotional argument becomes stronger when supported by a credible competitive argument.
O'Malley has both a recognizable name and relevant victories. His case does not need an invented record breaking forecast to stand.
The UFC Must Make the Decision Official
At the time of MMA Fighting's October 28 report, the UFC had not announced Yan's next opponent.
No confirmed date, venue or championship rematch was established in the article.
His confidence is documented. His victories are documented. His expectation of facing Yan is documented.
The booking is not.
The next development worth watching is an official UFC announcement identifying Yan's challenger.
Crazy TV's verdict is that O'Malley has built a credible case for the next bantamweight title shot. His previous win over Yan and his victories over Song and Zahabi give his argument substance. Song's recent knockout keeps the competition legitimate, but O'Malley currently has the stronger case on the evidence reported. The championship opportunity must still be awarded, not declared into existence.
Should Petr Yan defend his UFC bantamweight title against Sean O'Malley or Song Yadong next?
Culture. On record.
Source
MMA Fighting, Damon Martin, October 28, 2026.
Crazy Press documents live culture as it happens. This article will be updated if new information emerges.
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