TLDR
- Sean O’Malley faces Song Yadong at UFC 324 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- O’Malley is favored at -205 to -215, with Song listed as the underdog at +164 to +170
- A win could put O’Malley back in title contention against new champion Petr Yan, who he beat in 2022
- Song Yadong addressed controversy over O’Malley wearing a face mask at their faceoff, calling it racism
- Song plans to close distance and use judo wrestling to disrupt O’Malley’s striking game
Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett
Sources: Sherdog | Bloody Elbow | MMA Fighting
Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley returns to the octagon this Saturday at UFC 324 to face surging contender Song Yadong in a fight that could reshape the title picture. The bout takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with O’Malley entering as the betting favorite at between -205 and -215.
O’Malley (18-3, 10-3 UFC) lost his title to Merab Dvalishvili in two consecutive fights. However, Petr Yan’s recent upset victory over Dvalishvili at UFC 323 has given O’Malley new hope for another championship opportunity.
The former champion can now point to his controversial 2022 win over Yan as proof he deserves a title shot. That path to gold starts with getting past Song on Saturday night.
O’Malley’s Journey Back to Title Contention
O’Malley first broke through on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017 and quickly became a promotional favorite. His early UFC career was slowed by injuries and drug testing issues that kept him out for two years.
After returning in 2020, O’Malley scored quick knockouts over Jose Quinonez and Eddie Wineland before suffering another leg injury against Marlon Vera. He rebounded with several showcase wins before his surprise decision over Yan in 2022.
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong #UFC324 #UFC pic.twitter.com/Y5qjqPouLq
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That performance earned O’Malley a title shot against Aljamain Sterling, which he won by knockout. He defended the belt once in a rematch with Vera before losing it to Dvalishvili twice in dominant fashion.
The 28-year-old Song (22-8-1, 11-3-1 UFC) presents a different challenge than the wrestler Dvalishvili. Song debuted in the UFC in 2017 at just 19 years old and showed immediate promise as an explosive striker.
Song’s Path and Recent Controversy
Song delivered a brutal knockout of Alejandro Perez in 2019 that showcased his quick reflexes and power. However, a 2021 loss to Kyler Phillips exposed his struggles against rangy fighters who deny him exchanges.
The Chinese fighter has worked to address those weaknesses while remaining one of the division’s most dangerous punchers. He recently defeated former champion Henry Cejudo and now seeks the biggest win of his career.
At Wednesday’s media day, Song addressed controversy from a recent faceoff where O’Malley wore a face mask. Some fans criticized the move as racist, though O’Malley said he meant no harm.
“I’m ok, but I think, don’t bring the racism in this sport. Just keep it sport. He already regret,” Song told reporters. “He said he’s sorry. He was trying to get inside of my head, mind games, but I don’t care.”
Song added that he’s focused only on winning the fight and expects it could earn him a title shot. “This fight is most important. If I win this fight I might be the next title challenger,” he said.
The matchup presents clear stylistic contrasts. O’Malley excels at picking apart static opponents with his length, speed, and accuracy from distance. Song needs to close the gap and force exchanges where his power gives him an advantage.
Song has recently incorporated judo and wrestling into his training camp. The grappling could help him close distance and disrupt O’Malley’s striking rhythm, similar to how Yan mixed in takedowns in their 2022 fight.
O’Malley must use footwork, feints, and angles to keep Song at range where his jabs and front kicks can accumulate damage. Song historically struggles to cut the cage effectively, which O’Malley can exploit with constant movement.
For Song, the key is trapping O’Malley against the fence using kicks and body punches to limit escape routes. If he can draw out jabs from too close, counter opportunities will present themselves for his fast hands.
UFC 324 takes place Saturday night with the O’Malley vs. Song bout serving as one of the featured fights on the card. Song is listed as the underdog at between +164 and +170 against the former champion.
