Sean O’Malley is excited for the opportunity to stand toe to toe with former bantamweight champion Petr Yan at UFC 280.
O’Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) faces Yan (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, a big step up in competition for the popular Dana White’s Contender Series alum.
With O’Malley’s slick striking style and array of knockouts on his resume, many have tried to grapple with him in fights. However, O’Malley thinks it won’t be easy for Yan and doesn’t really expect him to make an attempt.
“I really don’t think it’s going to be that much wrestling defense,” O’Malley told Michael Bisping on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “I thought maybe against the Pedro fight, I thought he would try to wrestle a little bit more, but then when I got in there, he realized he was about 16 feet away from me, and there’s no way he could have shot on me without getting knocked out. So I think this fight is gonna be a sweet kickboxing match. Petr says he’s a master of boxing. I believe I’m the best MMA striker in the UFC.
“So I do believe it will be a very interesting, high-level kickboxing match. Petr is good in the clinch. He’s got some good, little trips and stuff, and I don’t think he’s coming to wrestle. If he does, I wouldn’t mind choking him. I’m very, very confident in my jiu-jitsu. I really haven’t gotten to show it at all, which has been nice because I prefer not to go to the ground. I prefer not to be on my back. It looks like you’re losing, so I don’t think I’m going to have to use too much wrestling defense.”
O’Malley is coming off a no contest against Pedro Munhoz at UFC 276 in July after an inadvertent eye poke rendered Munhoz unable to continue. O’Malley thinks he was getting the best of Munhoz and sees the step up against Yan as fully justified after knocking out three straight opponents prior to the Munhoz fight.
“I’ve earned my spot to fight someone in the top five by in my eyes beating Pedro Munhoz and being the biggest name in the bantamweight division,” O’Malley said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
