Sean O'Malley Sends Petr Yan a Voice Message Hoping to Run It Back
Sean O'Malley told Petr Yan he hopes to beat his ass again, and Yan fired right back.
Sean O'Malley shared a voice message he sent to former opponent Petr Yan, making it clear he wants a rematch with the Russian bantamweight.
O'Malley's message was short and direct: "Hope you beat Merab so I can beat your ass again." Yan, never one to back down, replied with his own message: "I smash Merab and you will be next." Both fighters were laughing during the exchange, per LowKick MMA.
O'Malley described Yan as a "funny little dude" and said he would prefer fighting Yan over rising contender Payton Talbott, calling Yan "a tougher fight." That comment is notable given Talbott just called O'Malley out after knocking out Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 332 last weekend.
O'Malley and Yan fought at UFC 280 in October 2022 in Abu Dhabi, where O'Malley took a razor-close split decision. That win launched O'Malley into a title shot against Aljamain Sterling, which he won to claim the bantamweight belt. He defended once before losing the title to Merab Dvalishvili.
With Yan potentially facing Dvalishvili and Talbott pushing for a shot at O'Malley, the bantamweight division has no shortage of compelling matchups heading into the end of 2026.
This is the Sean O'Malley that makes the bantamweight division fun. No press conferences, no long Instagram rants. Just a voice message to a guy he barely beat four years ago saying he wants to do it again. I respect that.
Saying he prefers Yan over Talbott is interesting. You could read it as O'Malley ducking the younger, hungrier guy, or you could read it as O'Malley genuinely wanting the tougher stylistic challenge. Knowing O'Malley, it's probably a bit of both, plus the fact that a Yan rematch has a built-in storyline from that controversial split decision.
Either way, the 135-pound division is absolutely stacked right now. Merab at the top, Talbott rising fast, O'Malley trying to work his way back, and Yan still dangerous. Get any two of those guys in a cage together and I'm clearing my schedule.
