TLDR
- Henry Cejudo says he will stop watching MMA if Sean O’Malley receives a bantamweight title shot
- Cejudo criticized O’Malley for trying to bypass contenders like Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen
- O’Malley defeated Song Yadong at UFC 324 on January 24 in his comeback effort
- O’Malley previously held the bantamweight title but lost it to Merab Dvalishvili twice in 2024
- Petr Yan currently holds the championship after defeating Dvalishvili in December
Sources: Bloody Elbow | MMA Mania | Bloody Elbow
Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo says he will stop watching mixed martial arts if Sean O’Malley receives a bantamweight title shot after his recent victory. The threat came during Cejudo’s podcast on January 27, following O’Malley’s win over Song Yadong at UFC 324.
O’Malley defeated Song at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 24. The victory continued O’Malley’s effort to regain the bantamweight title he lost to Merab Dvalishvili in 2024.
Cejudo Questions O’Malley’s Strategy
Cejudo criticized O’Malley for what he sees as an attempt to skip ahead of other contenders. He specifically mentioned Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen as fighters who should be ahead of O’Malley in line for a title shot.
“It would be ridiculous” to give O’Malley the title shot, Cejudo said on his podcast. He accused O’Malley of believing he can bypass legitimate contenders simply by waiting.
The former Olympic wrestling champion acknowledged that the UFC is not always a meritocracy. However, he argued that giving O’Malley a title shot in this situation would cross a line.
O’Malley won the bantamweight championship by knocking out Aljamain Sterling in 2023. He lost the belt to Dvalishvili via decision later that year and was submitted by Dvalishvili in an immediate rematch last June.
Petr Yan currently holds the bantamweight title after defeating Dvalishvili in December. O’Malley holds a previous victory over Yan from a controversial 2022 decision.
O’Malley’s Recent Comments
O’Malley has been vocal about his plans for 2026. He told his YouTube channel followers in early January that he is preparing for both Song and potentially Yan.
“I’m preparing for Petr, too. That’s what’s next,” O’Malley said before his UFC 324 fight. He suggested the matchup “just makes sense” given their history.
O’Malley also hinted at possible retirement this year at age 31. “This might be the last Suga year ever,” he said, though he added he prefers to take things one fight at a time.
The bantamweight division has faced several matchmaking controversies in recent years. Cejudo himself faced Song Yadong in February 2025, losing via technical decision.
Cejudo is scheduled to compete in a wrestling match against fellow UFC veteran Urijah Faber on February 28. The event will headline Real American Freestyle’s RAF06 card at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
O’Malley’s professional record stands at 18-3, with his only losses coming to Vera in 2020 and twice to Dvalishvili. Song Yadong’s record is 22-8-1 with one no contest heading into UFC 324.
The UFC has not announced its plans for the next bantamweight title fight. O’Malley’s victory over Song keeps him in contention, but the promotion has not confirmed whether he will receive an immediate title shot.
