O'Malley calls Yan rematch 'biggest bantamweight fight ever' after UFC Freedom 250 knockout

Sean O’Malley knocked out Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250 and wasted no time targeting the bantamweight title picture, declaring a potential rematch with reigning champion Petr Yan the most significant fight the 135-pound division could produce.

“I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch, is the biggest fight in bantamweight history,” O’Malley told Kamaru Usman on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “I think it’s the biggest one you could possibly make right now, and the UFC would be risking it by making Merab vs. Petr.”

Yan and former champion Merab Dvalishvili are widely expected to meet in a trilogy bout next, but O’Malley — who holds a win over Yan — suggested that fight has stalled. “I’ve been hearing Petr and Merab are going to fight for a long time — still nothing booked,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s Merab’s nose or Petr’s back. One of those guys is obviously holding it up, and I don’t think it’s Merab. I think Merab would fight with his arm cut off. So, I think Petr is probably just dealing with some injuries.”

O’Malley was measured about the prospect of Yan rushing back from injury to face Dvalishvili. “You can’t fight Merab on half-a**ed camps,” he said. “You need a full, full camp. You need to be fully healthy to fight Merab, and Petr probably knows that.”

Despite losing twice to Dvalishvili, O’Malley insisted he remains a live threat to the Georgian. “The first fight was closer than people think, and the second fight he got me out of there,” he said. “I know I can beat him, and it would be huge for my career. I know truly I can beat Merab — and if I go out there and beat Merab, then I’m undefeated. I’ll have beaten everyone I ever fought.”

O’Malley’s push for the Yan rematch puts him in direct competition with Dvalishvili for the next title shot, with the UFC yet to confirm either fight.