O'Malley: I'm Next for Petr Yan if He Beats Dvalishvili

Sean O'Malley says he will fight Petr Yan next if Yan gets past Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, and the bantamweight champion is on board with the idea.

The two bantamweights traded voice notes that O'Malley shared publicly, with the former champ needling Yan about a rematch and Yan firing back with a promise of his own. "Hope you beat Merab so I can beat your ass again," O'Malley said in his message. Yan's reply left little doubt about his plans: "Coming to Abu Dhabi. I smash Merab up, and you will be next."

UFC 333 goes down October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, where Yan defends the belt against Dvalishvili in a rubber match between the two. It will be Yan's first fight of 2026 since he won the title off Dvalishvili in December 2026.

Why O'Malley Wants Petr Yan Instead of Payton Talbott

O'Malley has taken heat for appearing to avoid a fight with surging contender Payton Talbott, and he isn't hiding his reasoning. He holds a controversial decision win over Yan from 2022, and he's framing a rematch as the biggest fight the division can offer him right now. "Petr goes out there and wins? I'm ducking [Talbott]," O'Malley said. "I'm ducking him for a tougher fight. I'm ducking him for Petr Yan."

O'Malley is also leaning on his resume to push back on the ducking narrative. He pointed to recent fights with three of the sport's top 135-pounders as proof he isn't avoiding real competition, noting he has already beaten Dvalishvili once. If Yan wins at UFC 333, Talbott vs. O'Malley gets put on hold again. If Yan loses, or gets hurt in the process, the door reopens for O'Malley to pursue Talbott instead.

Betting Angle

The whole plan runs through Abu Dhabi. Yan has had back problems in the past, and any recurrence during fight week or inside the Octagon could scramble the entire 135-pound picture, bumping Talbott back into the conversation as O'Malley's likely next fight. Bettors tracking O'Malley's next booking should treat the Yan-Dvalishvili winner, and Yan's health coming out of that fight, as the key variable before placing anything on what O'Malley does next.

For now, nothing is official beyond UFC 333 itself. But both men have put the idea on the record, and Yan has effectively called his shot if he gets through Dvalishvili.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Sean O'Malley fight Petr Yan next?

Sean O'Malley says he wants to fight bantamweight champion Petr Yan next if Yan beats Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333, and Yan has agreed to the idea in a voice-note exchange with O'Malley.

What is UFC 333 and when is it?

UFC 333 takes place October 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by bantamweight champion Petr Yan defending his title against Merab Dvalishvili.

Why is Sean O'Malley avoiding a fight with Payton Talbott?

Sean O'Malley says he would rather fight Petr Yan than Payton Talbott, calling Yan the tougher and more meaningful matchup if Yan gets past Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.