Rematch! Petr Yan insists Sean O’Malley ‘definitely proved he is the next one’ after UFC 333 title d

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 22: (L-R) Petr Yan of Russia and Sean O'Malley talk after their bantamweight fight during the UFC 280 event at Etihad Arena on October 22, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley have unfinished business.

“No Mercy” dropped a controversial decision to “Sugar” at UFC 280 back in late 2022, a fight that sent O’Malley into a title shot and subsequent title reign. But whether or not a rematch takes place may depend on the outcome of the UFC 333 co-main event this weekend in Abu Dhabi, where Yan competes his trilogy with former bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili.

“Why not?” Yan (20-5) told MMA Fighting. “We have history, so why wouldn’t that be the fight? He’s obviously winning. He’s doing a great job. He’s moving forward and he’s definitely proved that he is the next one, or one of the next ones who should be good to fight for the title. But it’s not that I’m watching it, and I’m impressed by it, just he’s on the right trajectory.”

That would require O’Malley to leapfrog No. 2-ranked Song Yadong (24-9-1, 1 NC), who lost to Yan at UFC 299 and O’Malley at UFC 324.

“If Merab wins, it sounds like you have to give Song the title shot,” O’Malley previously said on YouTube. “If not, if Petr wins, I get the title shot. Mario (Bautista) is right there, too. The division is on fire right now.”

O’Malley (20-3, 1 NC) was already defeated by Dvalishvili in back-to-back fights, so any chance of getting another crack at the 135-pound crown requires a Yan victory at UFC 333. That said, he may also fight Yan if “No Mercy” loses, unless the promotion pairs him with Bautista or Umar Nurmagomedov.

A lot on the line at UFC 333 this weekend in Abu Dhabi.