Sean O’Malley Eyes Title Shot Against Petr Yan After Witnessing Dethroning of Merab Dvalishvili
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has expressed his renewed motivation to reclaim the title after witnessing Petr Yan’s victory over Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323. O’Malley, who is currently on a two-fight losing streak, is set to face Song Yadong at UFC 324 and is confident that a win will propel him to a title shot against Yan.
O’Malley has previously referred to himself as the “three-round champ” and believes that his skills in three-round fights will give him an edge over Yadong. With his sights set on a title shot, O’Malley is looking to prove his doubters wrong and make a statement in his upcoming fight. As he stated, “When Petr beat Merab, I got a whole new level of mental switch. I’m gonna go out there and beat Song Yadong, and me and Petr at the White House. People are saying, like, you’re coming off two losses, we don’t wanna see that fight. Tell me on January 25th that you don’t wanna see Sean vs Petr. Make your opinion after this fight.”
Despite O’Malley’s ambitions, Merab Dvalishvili is currently in line for a title rematch against Petr Yan to complete their trilogy. Dvalishvili has been urged by the UFC to recuperate after taking significant damage at UFC 323, and the fight is expected to take place when he is fully recovered. The Georgian fighter has been spotted training with Ilia Topuria, indicating that he is seeking a quick turnaround. However, his camp will want him to heal and be at 100% before entering the octagon again.
Merab Dvalishvili’s Road to Redemption
Dvalishvili’s loss to Yan at UFC 323 was a significant setback, but he is determined to regain the title. With three successful title defenses under his belt, Dvalishvili has proven himself to be a formidable opponent in the bantamweight division. His upcoming rematch against Yan is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an intense and closely contested fight. As Dvalishvili prepares for his title shot, he will be looking to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger than ever.
Expert Analysis
According to MMA experts, Dvalishvili’s road to redemption will be a challenging one. Yan’s victory over him at UFC 323 was a dominant performance, and Dvalishvili will need to make significant adjustments to his strategy if he hopes to regain the title. However, with his skills and experience, Dvalishvili remains one of the top contenders in the bantamweight division. As the UFC bantamweight title picture continues to unfold, fans can expect an exciting and unpredictable series of fights in the coming months.
With O’Malley and Dvalishvili both vying for a title shot, the bantamweight division is heating up. As the fighters prepare for their upcoming bouts, fans can expect intense and closely contested fights that will determine the future of the division. Will O’Malley be able to overcome his losing streak and claim the title, or will Dvalishvili regain his championship belt? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the UFC bantamweight division is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Sean O’Malley says a mental switch flipped after Petr beat Merab and plans to prove it against Song Yadong
“When Petr beat Merab, I got a whole new level of mental switch. I’m gonna go out there and beat Song Yadong, and me and Petr at the White House. People are saying,… pic.twitter.com/gRchrTD49i
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) December 22, 2025


