Sean O'Malley labels Petr Yan rematch ‘Biggest fight in bantamweight history’

Sean O'Malley is calling for a rematch with Petr Yan after scoring a knockout victory over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250, declaring that a second fight between them would represent the biggest contest in bantamweight history.

Yan currently holds the UFC bantamweight title, while former champion Merab Dvalishvili has long been expected to challenge him in a trilogy bout. However, the fight remains unbooked, and O'Malley believes injury concerns may be delaying the matchup. Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman, O'Malley suggested that Yan's back issues or other physical problems are holding up negotiations, noting that "you can't fight Merab on half-assed camps" and that the Russian needs full health to compete at that level.

O'Malley is confident a rematch with Yan would be more compelling for the UFC than seeing Yan face Dvalishvili again. "I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch, is the biggest fight in bantamweight history," he stated. "I think it's the biggest one you could possibly make right now, and the UFC would be risking it by making Merab vs. Petr."

Despite losing twice to Dvalishvili, O'Malley remains convinced he can defeat the Georgian fighter. He believes their first encounter was closer than most observers realized and maintains that a third fight would carry significant implications for his legacy. "If I go out there and beat Merab, then I'm undefeated. I'll have beaten everyone I ever fought," O'Malley said, underscoring how another Dvalishvili victory would reshape his career narrative.