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Sean O'Malley: GOAT Bid Boosted by Song's KO

2026-09-01 · Sean O'Malley · Player Focus

Sean O'Malley is back in the bantamweight title conversation, and a recent seismic upset has only strengthened his position. The American star was visibly shocked by Song Yadong's knockout win over the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, a result O'Malley believes improves his own standing after he defeated Song earlier this year.

O'Malley Sees Title Path Through Song's Victory

Video captured O'Malley's stunned reaction to Song's knockout, a pivotal moment for the 135-pound division. O'Malley himself beat Song Yadong in a recent bout, part of a two-fight win streak that also includes a victory over Aiemann Zahabi at the UFC White House event. He directly connected Song's win to his own championship aspirations. "Looking at the rankings, Song just beat the number one contender," O'Malley said, framing the upset as a boost to his own resume. This logic positions him closer to another shot at the gold he lost to Merab Dvalishvili two years ago.

O'Malley's GOAT Ambition Drives Career Resurgence

With his win streak active, O'Malley's ultimate goal is clear. He wants to be considered the greatest bantamweight of all time by the end of his career. "After it's all said and done I'd like to consider myself the GOAT," O'Malley stated in a UFC on Paramount+ interview. He laid out a potential path, pointing to the upcoming third fight between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24. If Yan wins, O'Malley targets a decisive victory over him, which would mean he has beaten two of the three fighters often in the GOAT conversation: Yan and Aljamain Sterling. Securing a rematch with Dvalishvili remains a long-term goal, but timing is everything.

O'Malley Clashes with Ian Machado Garry Over Old Comments

Not all of O'Malley's recent focus has been on the bantamweight division. In a YouTube reaction video, he took aim at welterweight title challenger Ian Machado Garry for a comment made back in 2023. Garry had claimed he was the main reason European fans woke up to watch UFC 292, an event headlined by O'Malley's title win over Sterling. "This just got personal," O'Malley fired back. "The f*ck did you just say? You think people were waking up at 5 a.m. to watch you?" O'Malley also joked about Garry's recent sponsorship with PETA and his take that women should run the world, siding with critic Uros Medic on the latter point.

Key Takeaways from O'Malley's Current Landscape

  • Title Picture: Song Yadong's knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov is seen by O'Malley as improving his case for a future championship opportunity.
  • Legacy Goal: O'Malley explicitly aims to be the bantamweight GOAT, with a plan contingent on the outcome of the Yan vs. Dvalishvili trilogy fight on October 24.
  • Active Streak: He is currently on a two-fight win streak, with victories over Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi since losing his title rematch to Merab Dvalishvili.
  • External Feud: O'Malley engaged in a war of words with Ian Machado Garry, highlighting ongoing tensions and promotional banter within the UFC roster.

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