O'Malley Plans 2026 as Potential Final MMA Year

Former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley announced plans for a potential final year in mixed martial arts in 2026, as he prepares for his return to the octagon against Song Yadong at UFC 324 on January 24 in Las Vegas.

O'Malley, currently ranked No. 3 in the bantamweight division, faces Yadong in a three-round bout at T-Mobile Arena. The fight marks his first appearance since a third-round submission loss to Merab Dvalishvili in June 2025 at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey. That defeat extended a two-fight skid for O'Malley, who also lost his title to Dvalishvili by decision in 2024. Prior to those setbacks, O'Malley had gone unbeaten in seven consecutive bouts, including a second-round knockout of Aljamain Sterling in August 2023 to claim the bantamweight belt at UFC 292 in Boston.

In recent interviews, O'Malley outlined an ambitious path forward, targeting a rematch with Petr Yan, the current two-time UFC bantamweight champion. Yan defeated Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in December 2025 to reclaim the title. O'Malley previously beat Yan by split decision at UFC 280 in 2022, a victory that propelled him toward his first title shot. "Petr knows. That's what's next,"...