Sean O’Malley thinks the people calling his win over Petr Yan a robbery are just hating.
At UFC 280, O’Malley took home a split decision win over Yan, in a result that had many calling the outcome a robbery, and raised rumors that Yan wants to move on from the UFC. O’Malley is now UFC’s No. 1-ranked bantamweight, it was just a damn good fight.
” Woke up this morning and was ranked No. 1 in the world! [*************************************************************************************************************************************] in the world! “It does feel good. It’s crazy. People would be more respectful of me if I had lost the fight. ‘Damn, he lost but that motherf*****’s good.’ Now it’s like, ‘He won?! He won?! He won! Like, ‘Sean’s lucky it’s not five rounds.’ Well, my best round was my third round…
“Round one I thought was a close round. I definitely did more damage. He got a couple takedowns, didn’t really do anything with the takedowns. You can talk about taking down takedowns by getting a takedown after the round. He was downed to his knees and he scored two more points. So if you guys want to talk about takedowns, why is nobody talking about my takedown? I didn’t do s*** with it but he didn’t do s*** with his either, really. I definitely did more damage…Round one, I definitely can see how people gave me the round. Close round, for sure.
“Round 2 was close. He cracked me, and I cracked him back. I can see how you’d give him the round, for sure though… And then round three was definitely my best round. Round three did more harm than round one
The fight was undoubtedly close, with O’Malley out-landing Yan statistically but giving up a considerable amount of control time to the former champion. Although many fighters and fans were upset by the outcome, O’Malley insists that no one is claiming “robbery”.
“You wanted me to lose in the first place,” O’Malley said. “A robbery? How is it [a robbery]? He won the third round. I was victorious in round 2. The first round was tight and I caused more damage. It’s not really a robbery, it was a close fight. It was a close fight. It was a close fight. Like, ‘Yeah, I could see that.’ But since it’s me and people f****** hate me because I’m 6’6″, 220, pure chocolate, and ranked No. 1 bantamweight in the f****** world, b****!”
Robbery, or not. O’Malley now holds the title of bantamweight champion, although it is unclear what happens next. Champion Aljamain Sterling threw out several possible names for his next opponent, including O’Malley, and UFC President Dana White suggested Henry Cejudo may be next in line for a title shot. O’Malley himself isn’t quite willing to demand one next, but “Sugar” does believe he’s in position to make his 2023 championship prediction come true.
“I said I was going to be champ 2023, and we’re damn near there boys,” O’Malley said. We’re pretty close.
” It all depends on the new contract that I sign. Let’s see if I can make three rounds and earn as much as money, then let’s go for it. [But] no, I think a title shot is inevitable. That’s my opinion. It doesn’t matter if it happens in six or five months. Dude, I’m not sure. I might get that itch. I’m a competitor. I love to fight, [but] the last thing you want to do is go out there and risk your title shot. I could be the f****** world champ next fight, or I could take this risky fight, lose, and then have to win two more. It’s tricky. I think a lot is going to matter when I sit down with the UFC, have a conversation with them, see where their head is at, go back and forth, and then we’ll see.”
TOP STORIES
Rankings. Islam Makhachev, Sean O’Malley turn rankings upside down with massive wins at UFC 280.
Praise. Joe Rogan praises Sean O’Malley for UFC 280 performance, but believes Petr Yan won.
KO. Anderson Silva: I ‘misspoke,’ was never knocked out in sparring.
Homecoming. Islam Makhachev receives hero’s welcome in return to Dagestan following UFC 280.
Depression. Uriah Hall reveals post-MMA struggle with depression: ‘At one point, I looked at my firearm.’
VIDEO STEW
Open exercises for Jake Paul and Anderson Silva.
Calvin Kattar and Arnold Allen pre-fight pressers.
MixedMollyWhoppery on Jake Paul vs. MMA.
LISTEN UP
No Bets Barred. Breaking down the best bets for UFC Vegas 63.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Teaching the youth.
Young man please don’t try and spread rumors that were simply bad English. You and Jake are such an inspiration to the youth. Build together. Don’t burn. https://t.co/5MYvJaGBcw
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) October 26, 2022
Victory lap.
Can we make NFT out of this? legendary one pic.twitter.com/lvM2ljq6BA
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) October 26, 2022
Insecurities.
What’s fascinating to me is that all you media outlets truly feel had his shoulder not dislocate from my initial TD, or if it was healthy, that it would’ve changed anything.
He would’ve kicked.
I would’ve caught it.
Game over.
He might’ve been more reckless and made it easier https://t.co/y2KLdMWgrS— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) October 26, 2022
Homer Simpson?
I predict the future it holds gold and doh
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 27, 2022
Alternate opinion.
Rewatched the O’Malley yan fight 3 times and I think that at the end of the day Conor sucks snd wont win another fight
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) October 26, 2022
Pitbull.
It’s time for the great challenges, champions against champions, promotions facing each other, only then we will know who is king! The real cross promotion era has started. @rizin_pr and @bellatormma, thank you for taking this big step. The sport thanks you, the fans thank you. https://t.co/aBCUknpOeW
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) October 27, 2022
Arjan Bhullar trying to get traded.
Well they could get 1. 6 billion viewers with an Indian athlete coming over @aaronbronsteter
— Arjan Singh Bhullar (@TheOneASB) October 26, 2022
For the right deal 100%…..and I’d come over and win. Right the wrongs of Askren. Chandler was unable to do so.
— Arjan Singh Bhullar (@TheOneASB) October 26, 2022
And if 265 is still held up and 205 is the quickest path to the top, so be it
— Arjan Singh Bhullar (@TheOneASB) October 26, 2022
Call out.
I want that rematch with drew full camp we want that ranking spot @DrewDober whatcha say January ???
— Terrance ‘T Wrecks’ McKinney (@twrecks155) October 26, 2022
A very, very stupid thing.
I have just one question for the MMA media …… pic.twitter.com/m8NBKMK6oE
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) October 26, 2022
Cool fight poster, though.
History. pic.twitter.com/HPtygcHUKE
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) October 26, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Raul Rosas Jr. (6-0) vs. Jay Perrin (10-6); UFC 282, Dec. 10.
Patricio Pitbull (34-5) vs. Kleber Koike Erbst (31-5-1); Bellator vs. RIZIN, Dec. 31.
A.J. McKee (19-1) vs. Roberto de Souza (14-1); Bellator vs. RIZIN, Dec. 31.
Juan Archuleta (26-4) vs. Soo Chul Kim (18-6-1); Bellator vs. RIZIN, Dec. 31.
Kyoji Horiguchi (30-5) vs. Hiromasa Ougikubo (25-6-2); Bellator vs. RIZIN, Dec. 31.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading! We will see you tomorrow.
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.