Sean O’Malley reminded the bantamweight division he’s still very much a factor on Saturday night, snapping a two-fight skid with a victory over Song Yadong at UFC 324 and thrusting himself back into the heart of the title conversation.
“Yeah I felt like I took winning for granted for a while. Feel like I just never lost, never lost, never lost, now coming off two losses it’s like man. It really feels good to win,” O’Malley told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“I don’t usually get like that. Usually after a win I just kind of, you know, I just feel like I was always going to win. Coming off those losses I was definitely…felt good.”
O’Malley (19-3) circled the Octagon after the fight with the calm confidence of a man who believed the result was already his. He raised his hands to the crowd as if to punctuate the point before the scorecards were even read.
“I feel like the first two rounds he took me down at the end of both of them, but he didn’t really do anything. I didn’t even know I got hit. Tim (Welch) said there was a video he hit me with like a left hook, but I just feel like I didn’t even take any damage,” he said.
“Other than inflicting damage on myself from kicking him and stuff.”
It’s no secret O’Malley wants a rematch with reigning champion Petr Yan, but he isn’t under any illusion that it will come easy. With the division stacked with contenders, he knows he’ll have to show up as the best version of himself to have a chance.
“He looked really good. I’m gonna have to show up ready to go five rounds, focused, improve outside of camp. Petr Yan is the champ for a reason. He’s one of my favorite fighters to watch so I’d love to compete against him again,” he said.
“I’d have to have a really good camp and show up, and put on an O.G. Suga performance.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Sean O’Malley above.
