Sean O’Malley already is mapping out his post-UFC 276 plans.
The popular bantamweight faces arguably his sternest test yet in Saturday’s main card opener at T-Mobile Arena when he squares off with tough Brazilian Pedro Munhoz (19-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC).
If O’Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) gets past Munhoz (19-7 MMA, 9-7 UFC), “The Suga Show” has a few ideas in mind to kickstart a title run, which includes former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
“I would love to fight again, one more time, by the end of the year,” O’Malley told ESPN. “November-December would be a great timeframe. I know there’s a lot of big fights playing out. The (Marlon) ‘Chito’ (Vera)-Dominick Cruz fight is something I’m looking at. Little Russian dude (Yan) is running around – (I) might beat him up. Fob Ront (Rob Font), he’s out there.
“There’s a bunch of guys out there that could potentially be my next fight. I’ve still got to focus on (Saturday), obviously – always make sure I say that. So I don’t want to get ahead of myself. July 2, Pedro Munhoz is the next challenge. But I’m excited for the future. There’s a lot of big fights for me.”
Yan (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) welcomes the challenge, but doubts O’Malley mentions his name with a win on Saturday.
“Hey pink poodle @SugaSeanMMA, if you win on Saturday and really wanna fight me I dare you to call me out and I will accept it. But if you just wanna make useless noise for hype, stop talking about me, coward .”
Hey pink poodle @SugaSeanMMA , if you win on Saturday and really wanna fight me I dare you to call me out and I will accept it. But if you just wanna make useless noise for hype, stop talking about me, coward
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) July 1, 2022
Yan is coming off a title loss to champion Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in March. Prior to that, he defeated Cory Sandhagen in a five-round battle to capture the interim title at UFC 267. Yan’s only two octagon losses have come to Sterling.
UFC 276 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Sean O’Malley might beat up ‘little Russian dude’ Petr Yan after UFC 276, Yan fires back
