Sean O'Malley Eyes Title Path, GOAT Status After Wins

Sean O'Malley is making his case for the next bantamweight title shot, and his path depends entirely on the result of the UFC 333 co-main event on October 24. The former champion is pulling for Petr Yan to retain his title against Merab Dvalishvili in Abu Dhabi, a result that would likely grant O'Malley the rematch he has been seeking.

Who does Sean O'Malley want to win at UFC 333?

O'Malley's preference is clear. He wants Petr Yan to defeat Merab Dvalishvili in their trilogy fight at UFC 333 on October 24. A Yan victory sets up a lucrative title rematch for O'Malley, who beat the Russian in a controversial 2022 bout. But if Dvalishvili wins, O'Malley admits his own title hopes dim due to his two prior losses to the Georgian. He told UFC on Paramount a Yan win would be a 'great birthday present' and that beating the Russian is a tough task for anyone.

What is O'Malley's reaction to Song Yadong's big win?

The former champion was among those stunned by Song Yadong's second-round knockout of the highly-touted Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. O'Malley believes that massive upset has reshaped the title picture. He sees Song as a major stylistic threat to Dvalishvili and is now publicly advocating for a specific matchup should the Georgian become champion again.

Does O'Malley think Song Yadong deserves a title shot?

Absolutely. Following Song's knockout win, O'Malley stated the Chinese fighter has earned a championship opportunity. He took to Instagram to say, 'I want to see Song vs. Merab.' O'Malley has long believed Song's skills pose a unique problem for Dvalishvili's wrestling-heavy style. He argues that if Dvalishvili wins the belt at UFC 333, his first defense should be against Song. O'Malley holds a recent win over Song himself, a unanimous decision victory this past January.

Can Sean O'Malley still become the bantamweight GOAT?

Despite losing his title two years ago at UFC 306, O'Malley still has grand ambitions for his legacy. He has rebounded with consecutive wins over Song Yadong and, most recently, Aiemann Zahabi at the UFC Freedom 250 event in June. In a UFC on Paramount+ interview, O'Malley laid out his case. He noted that he has already beaten two fighters often in the GOAT conversation: Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan. To solidify his own claim, he believes he needs a clear victory over Yan in a rematch and, eventually, a chance to avenge his losses to Dvalishvili. 'After it's all said and done I'd like to consider myself the GOAT,' O'Malley said.

• O'Malley is 2-0 in his comeback, with wins over Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi since losing the title.
• He is rooting for Petr Yan at UFC 333 on October 24 to set up a title rematch.
• He believes Song Yadong should fight for the title next if Merab Dvalishvili becomes champion.
• O'Malley aims to enter the bantamweight GOAT debate by securing key wins over top rivals.

O'Malley's immediate future hinges on the result in Abu Dhabi. A Yan win opens the door for a major title fight that could redefine his career, while a Dvalishvili victory forces him to look at other compelling matchups in a stacked division.