Rising UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley has leapfrogged the division to take on former champ Petr Yan at UFC 280. Appearing on DC & RC, O’Malley was dripping with confidence, declaring himself “better than Petr” and explaining why a win at UFC 280 sends him straight to a title shot.
“He’s obviously the No. 1 contender right now. He’s pretty much 1-1 against ‘Aljo’. He whooped Aljo the first fight, then he got kind of whooped up in the second fight. But he could be considered the champion. The whole top 5, really — the way Petr beat Jose Aldo was one of my favorite performances of Petr Yan.
Sean O’Malley Confident Ahead of UFC 280: “I’m better than Petr”
So going in there and stepping up against a guy like Petr is exciting, it’s motivating, and it’s the biggest fight in the bantamweight division right now. I think it’s bigger than Aljo vs. T.J. [Dillashaw].”
O’Malley, whose coach nicknamed him “Sugar” because his striking was “sweet”, is anticipating a high-level striking fight against one of the most potent boxers in the sport.
“I’ve been preparing for this for a long time. I’ve felt like I was capable to fight these guys for a long time, it’s just, I never got an opportunity.
Pedro was the first guy in the top 10 I got an opportunity to fight. In my eyes, I feel like I won that fight, dominated, didn’t get hit once in the face or the body. So it’s perfect. I’m just so excited to get out there. It’s the first time I’m going to be an underdog. I’m assuming I’ll be an underdog, which is super cool.
So I think it’s going to be a super interesting fight. He says he’s a master of boxing. I like to think of myself as a very, very high-level striker.”
With O’Malley’s last fight declared no contest, it’s a remarkable leap up from his previous levels of competition to take on a former champion.
“I believe I’m better than Petr at what we’re going to do, and that’s f****** fighting. I’m better than Petr, and I truly believe that. And I think that’s what is going to get the job done. I’m going to go in there more prepared than Petr, I’m going to go in there and just do what I do. Obviously putting Petr’s lights out would be massive, but I just need to go in there and get the job done against Petr Yan. Three five-minute rounds.
It’s the best dude I’ve ever fought, hands down, and I’m very excited for the opportunity. And I just believe I’m going to be better October 22nd than Petr.”
Is Sean O’Malley right? Let us know in the comments.
