LAS VEGAS — Sean O’Malley didn’t hide the emotion when the final horn sounded Saturday night. For the first time in nearly 700 days, Sean O’Malley walked out of the cage with his hand raised, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong in the co-main event of UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena.
The three-round bantamweight bout was competitive throughout, but O’Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) did enough in key moments to secure the judges’ nod and halt a frustrating stretch of inactivity and losses.
A Fight of Momentum Swings
The contest was razor-thin and appeared to hinge on the opening round. O’Malley’s movement, range control, and clean striking likely gave him the edge early, but Song (22-9-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) responded with urgency in Round 2.
Yadong pressured forward, landed heavy shots, and briefly looked like he was building momentum toward a potential upset. O’Malley absorbed the pressure, adjusted, and found his rhythm again in the final frame.
Round 3 saw “Suga” at his slickest snapping punches down the pipe, landing sharp counters, and mixing in his trademark footwork to keep Song guessing. By the end of the bout, Yadong was visibly marked up, blood pouring from his nose as O’Malley continued to pick his spots.
The fight largely stayed on the feet, with both men trading power shots amid long stretches of technical striking and calculated exchanges.
The Drought Is Over
When veteran announcer Bruce Buffer read the scorecards, O’Malley’s hand went up a moment that clearly meant more than just another win.
The victory snapped a lengthy winless stretch following back-to-back unsuccessful title fights against Merab Dvalishvili and marked O’Malley’s first win since defending the bantamweight title against Marlon Vera in March 2024.
After nearly two years without a victory, O’Malley re-established himself as a factor in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions.
Eyes on the Belt Again
Post-fight, O’Malley wasted little time calling his shot. He immediately lobbied for a title fight against Petr Yan, whom he defeated via controversial split decision in October 2022.
Yan reclaimed the bantamweight belt in December, and his next defense has yet to be announced. Other possibilities in the title picture include a trilogy bout with Dvalishvili or a high-stakes clash with Umar Nurmagomedov, both of which have gained traction in recent weeks.
But O’Malley made it clear Saturday night: he believes he’s next.
Statement Made, Path Reopened
Whether the UFC agrees remains to be seen, but one thing is certain Sean O’Malley is back in the win column, and back in the conversation.
After months of questions, injuries, and doubt, UFC 324 served as a reminder that when O’Malley is sharp, confident, and active, he’s still one of the most dangerous and marketable fighters at 135 pounds. And now, with momentum finally restored, the title chase begins again.
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
