Sean O’Malley called for a rematch with bantamweight champion Petr Yan after UFC Freedom 250.
Former champ O’Malley (20-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) extended his winning streak to two when he knocked out Aiemann Zahabi (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) on Sunday at the White House. He got on the mic with Joe Rogan in his post-fight octagon interview and called for Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC), whom he beat by split decision at UFC 280 in 2022.
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“Petr Yan! It should have been him here tonight,” O’Malley said. “I don’t know why he didn’t show up, but that’s what I want next. Whether they do Merab and Petr, I want Petr next.”
Yan, who dethroned Merab Dvalishvili to claim the 135-pound belt at UFC 323, underwent minor back surgery after his win. The expectation was for him to complete his trilogy with Dvalishvili after the pair split their first two appearances, but O’Malley has now entered the title conversation.
Yan put the blame on the UFC for not having them rematch at the White House.
“The UFC were afraid for you!,” Yan told O’Malley on his Instagram story. “They needed to be sure that you would win in the White House! They didn’t want you to get beaten in the White House! I gave my consent! That’s why they gave you someone you can at least handle!”
Petr Yan’s response to Sean O’Malley on Instagram after UFC Freedom 250.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Petr Yan to Sean O’Malley: UFC was ‘afraid’ of White House matchup
