TLDR
- Sean O’Malley returns to face Song Yadong at UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas
- O’Malley says he’s entering the second chapter of his career after losing title twice to Merab Dvalishvili
- He wants a rematch with new champion Petr Yan at the White House in June if he beats Song
- O’Malley believes USA vs Russia narrative makes Yan fight the biggest possible matchup in the division
- Current record is 18-3 with plans to deliver a striking clinic to prove he deserves another title shot
Sources: LowKickMMA | Bloody Elbow
Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley returns to the octagon on January 24 at UFC 324 in Las Vegas to face Song Yadong. The matchup marks O’Malley’s first fight since losing his title and failing to reclaim it in back-to-back defeats to Merab Dvalishvili.
O’Malley has stated he is entering the second chapter of his MMA career. Despite the recent setbacks, he maintains his championship mentality and believes he remains a top contender at bantamweight.
The 28-year-old fighter says this upcoming bout feels different from all his previous fights. O’Malley plans to deliver a striking clinic against Song to prove he deserves another world title shot.
White House Title Fight Plans
O’Malley has his sights set on a rematch with current champion Petr Yan if he defeats Song. He believes a fight between himself and Yan at the White House in June would be the biggest matchup in the division.
“I think I go out there and beat Song,” O’Malley said on the “Death Row MMA” podcast. “Me vs. Petr at the White House just makes sense.”
Sean O'Malley reveals factor that has made UFC 324 return 'feel different' to all of his other fights https://t.co/0V9xQVaDUj pic.twitter.com/FR8AQvvA2N
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) January 13, 2026
The fighter emphasized the USA versus Russia narrative would make the fight compelling. With no current American-born UFC champion, O’Malley sees himself as a potential representative for the country at the White House event.
“I feel like I need to go out there and represent for the country,” O’Malley stated. He acknowledged that while Merab Dvalishvili arguably deserves the next title shot based on merit, the Yan rematch represents the biggest possible fight.
O’Malley earned a controversial split-decision victory over Yan at UFC 280 in 2022. That win propelled him to a title shot where he defeated Aljamain Sterling to claim the bantamweight championship.
He successfully defended his belt once against Marlon Vera before losing it to Dvalishvili in 2024. O’Malley attempted to regain the title in an immediate rematch but suffered a submission loss.
Current Bantamweight Landscape
The bantamweight division has undergone major changes since O’Malley’s title reign ended. Dvalishvili defended the championship three times within a year before suffering an upset loss to Yan last month.
Yan now holds the title again, making O’Malley’s desired rematch a realistic possibility. However, O’Malley must first get past Song Yadong, who enters the fight with a 22-8 record.
O’Malley’s current record stands at 18-3. He has built his reputation on his striking ability and plans to showcase those skills against Song.
The fighter believes a statement victory over Song would position him perfectly for the White House title fight. He sees the event as an opportunity to make the biggest fight possible while representing American fighters.
UFC 324 takes place on January 24 in Las Vegas with O’Malley versus Song Yadong as one of the featured bouts.
