Sean O’Malley swings for the fences.
O’Malley faces the greatest test in his career at UFC 280, when he takes on former bantamweight champion Petr Yang. It’s a massive step up in competition for O’Malley, but one he believes has very little downside and could potentially establish him as a transcendent star in the sport.
“It’s hard not to look at it like that,” O’Malley told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. O’Malley said that he didn’t want this to be his mindset when he entered the fight. “Well, if I lose, then I lose to No. 1 guy.’ That’s what it is though. But I just believe in creating these powerful moments, these magical moments, and I think this is how superstars are created. It’s huge. I get out there to starch Petr Yan in Oct. Abu Dhabi. That is how superstars are born and I just feel like this is a perfect, perfect fight in my career. Perfect time, perfect opponent. It’s just my time to go out there. …
” I am just excited for the chance, and I think I will take advantage of it. The more I fight higher-level guys, the better my ‘Sugas’ will be. I’ve not been able to show my true MMA skills inside the octagon. Pedro [Munhoz] seemed like the man to get it from me. It wasn’t, obviously. That went how it went, but I think Petr is the guy to see how good I really am.”
O’Malley is already one of the most popular young fighters in the UFC, but he has yet to have in-cage success commensurate to his stardom. After O’Malley’s eye exam, “Suga” lost his chance to face Pedro Munhoz at UFC 276,. The bout was canceled. Given that, some fans were surprised at the booking, and UFC President Dana White even admits to thinking the fight was a terrible idea until matchmaker Sean Shelby convinced him otherwise. O’Malley will reward Shelby’s belief in him at fight night.
“Once I faceplant Petr in the canvas, Dana will be like, ‘Okay, that was a good fight,'” O’Malley said. “Regardless, me versus Petr is an epic fight. If I have to guess, it’s sweet and sweet kickboxing. Two very high level strikers, two very high level MMA fighters. This will be an exciting fight, and I think I’m ready to take Petr’s light out .”
While O’Malley might have much to gain from the matchup, Yan is in an opposite position. The former bantamweight champion is coming off a split-decision loss to Aljamain Sterling for the title at UFC 273, and is currently the No. 2-ranked 135 pounder in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, where O’Malley is unranked.
That’s a lot of risk for Yan, and O’Malley said he wasn’t sure “No Mercy” would be interested. But he thinks ultimately Yan recognized him as more important than rankings might suggest.
” I wasn’t expecting him accept it to have an honest conversation,” O’Malley stated. “It’s a risky fight for Petr. He is not stupid. He might be. He is a top-level boxer and a top-level MMA fighter. I need to be able to see that my skills are legitimate. I’m not really in the ‘Top-10’ but I think in his mind a win over me’s a huge win. Although Chito claimed he beat me, he was fighting Jose Aldo in a title bout. So a win over me isn’t nothing. He won the fight because I am the largest bantamweight fighter in my division. Stylistically, we get to see how that plays out Oct. 22.”
UFC 280 will take place October. 22 will be held at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena.
