TLDR
- Sean O’Malley’s fight with Song Yadong was elevated to UFC 324 co-main event after Kayla Harrison withdrew
- O’Malley expressed surprise at the promotion, having recently claimed his career was in a ‘fall-off’
- Harrison pulled out to undergo neck surgery, removing her Amanda Nunes fight from the January 24 card
- UFC 324 headlines with Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for the interim lightweight title
- The event marks the UFC’s first numbered card on Paramount+ streaming service at T-Mobile Arena
Sources: Bloody Elbow | Sherdog | ESPN MMA
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley expressed surprise after learning his fight with Song Yadong was elevated to the co-main event slot at UFC 324. The promotion comes just weeks after O’Malley publicly claimed his career was experiencing a fall-off.
The card shakeup occurred when bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison withdrew from her highly anticipated bout against Amanda Nunes. Harrison announced she needs to undergo neck surgery, forcing the UFC to remove the fight from the January 24 lineup.
O’Malley’s reaction to the news highlighted his trademark humor and personality. The bantamweight fighter shared his immediate response across social media platforms, showing disbelief at the sudden change in his position on the card.
Career Comeback After Recent Struggles
The timing of the promotion is unusual given O’Malley’s recent public comments about his career trajectory. He had recently claimed to be experiencing a professional fall-off, making the co-main event slot an unexpected boost.
O’Malley lost his bantamweight title in his previous appearance inside the octagon. The former champion now faces Song Yadong in what becomes a pivotal matchup for both fighters in the 135-pound division.
Song Yadong represents a dangerous test for O’Malley as he attempts to work his way back toward title contention. The Chinese bantamweight brings a strong skill set and has been climbing the rankings himself.
UFC 324 takes place on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event marks the promotion’s first numbered card to air live on the Paramount+ streaming service.
Star-Studded Broadcast Team Announced
The UFC revealed its broadcast team for the event on Thursday. Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, and Daniel Cormier will handle cageside commentary duties, continuing their roles as the promotion’s primary announcing crew.
Former champions Michael Bisping, Dominick Cruz, and Chris Weidman will analyze fights from the host desk. Kate Scott joins the broadcast for the first time, bringing her experience from CBS and boxing coverage.
Megan Olivi returns as the roaming reporter for the event. Din Thomas will provide between-round breakdowns, while Bruce Buffer handles fighter introductions inside the cage.
The card is headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. O’Malley and Song now serve as the featured co-main event following the card restructuring.
The original Harrison versus Nunes matchup would have marked Amanda Nunes’ return to competition. The UFC has not announced whether the fight will be rescheduled or if Nunes will receive a different opponent.
O’Malley’s bout with Song Yadong was already scheduled for UFC 324 but was positioned lower on the card. The fight now receives increased attention and broadcast prominence as the evening’s second-most important matchup.
