TLDR
- Sean O’Malley opens as -220 favorite against Song Yadong (+168) in UFC 324 co-main event
- Fight takes place January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- O’Malley holds UFC bantamweight record for striking accuracy at 61.2%
- Song Yadong has won three of his last four fights but struggled against elite strikers
- Bout was promoted to co-main event after Nunes vs Harrison cancellation
Odds
- Sean O’Malley: -220
- Song Yadong: +168
Full UFC 324 Fight Card Odds
- Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje (Main Event)
- Jean Silva vs Arnold Allen
- Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo
- Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Cortes-Acosta
Fight Time Information
The UFC 324 event takes place on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Main card coverage begins on Paramount+.
Sean O’Malley vs Song Yadong: Bantamweight Strikers Collide at UFC 324
The UFC 324 co-main event features former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley facing Chinese contender Song Yadong in a pure striking matchup. O’Malley enters as the betting favorite at -220, while Yadong stands at +168 odds.
This fight was elevated to co-main event status following the cancellation of Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison. The matchup takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 24, 2026.
O’Malley comes into this bout after a third-round submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili in a rematch at UFC 323. The 31-year-old held the bantamweight title and defended it once before losing to Dvalishvili in September 2024. O’Malley’s record stands at 18-3.
Yadong, 28, brings a 22-8-1 record into the octagon. He has won three of his last four fights, including victories over Ricky Simon, Chris Gutierrez, and Henry Cejudo. His losses in that stretch came against Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan.
The betting line opened with O’Malley around -185 but has moved past -200 as fight night approaches. O’Malley has closed as the favorite in 10 of his 13 UFC fights. His current -215 line marks his shortest price since facing Marlon Vera in 2024.
Physical Advantages and Striking Stats
O’Malley stands 5’11” with a 72-inch reach, while Yadong measures 5’8″ with a 67-inch reach. O’Malley holds the UFC bantamweight record for striking accuracy at 61.2 percent. He lands 6.3 strikes per minute.
Yadong throws 4.58 strikes per minute with a finishing rate of 55 percent. Both fighters are tied with six career knockdowns landed. O’Malley’s finishing rate reaches 72 percent across his career.
Tactical Matchup
O’Malley blends feints, stance switches, and long-range weapons to control distance. His game plan relies on maintaining space with jabs, kicks, and straight counters. He excels at sticking and moving while using angles to avoid extended exchanges.
Yadong fights out of Team Alpha Male and throws tight boxing combinations. He carries power in his hands and looks to slip inside longer fighters’ reach. His success depends on cutting the cage and forcing close-range exchanges.
Wrestling plays a minimal role in this matchup. Yadong attempts fewer than one takedown per 15 minutes. O’Malley’s scrambling ability keeps him upright against non-specialist wrestlers.
Yadong has developed his range tools like the jab and calf kick to deal with opponents who avoid boxing exchanges. He has trained in Judo and wrestling recently, which could factor into his approach.
O’Malley performed well at UFC 323 despite his loss. A victory here would position him for another title shot. Yadong seeks his first UFC title shot after years as a ranked contender.
