Once considered the UFC’s next breakout star, Sean “Suga” O’Malley has been off the radar for months. His last fight came in June at UFC 316, a high-stakes rematch against Merab Dvalishvili. O’Malley’s attempt to reclaim his bantamweight title ended abruptly as Dvalishvili locked in a ninja choke at 4:32 of Round 3, extending his winning streak to thirteen and leaving O’Malley still searching for redemption.

The bout wasn’t just another fight—it was a chance for the former champ to rewrite the narrative. Leading up to it, he made personal changes, including quitting marijuana, but nothing could stop ‘The Machine.’ The defeat left him 0-2 against Dvalishvili. Still, Sean O’Malley exuded confidence. Back in August, he told the media: “I’d like to fight again (in) November, December. Get one more in by the end of the year. I’m going to go talk with the UFC in two weeks.” Since then, silence shrouded O’Malley—until rumors sparked a social media firestorm.

Sean O’Malley hints at next fight with 27-year-old Chinese prospect

Sean O’Malley rumors began swirling about a potential matchup against 27-year-old Chinese prospect Song Yadong, who is coming off a notable win over veteran Henry Cejudo in February. In response to the speculation weeks later, ‘Suga’ addressed the chatter on his YouTube channel, giving fans a cautious update: “To be honest, I don’t know what the plan is. I haven’t seen anything official on my side. I haven’t talked to the UFC specifically about who, when, or where. Song seems like a great next opponent, though. I mean, it makes sense. I like the matchup. That seems good. As far as the date goes.”

Although Sean O’Malley stopped short of confirming the bout, he dropped another hint, signaling that a return could be imminent while avoiding any potential conflict with Dana White: “I’d like to fight again (in) November, December. Get one more in by the end of the year. I’m going to go talk with the UFC in two weeks.”

Song Yadong, currently ranked fifth in the division, has had a rollercoaster career, with notable defeats against top contenders like Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen. For O’Malley, the past year has been equally turbulent. His career suffered a major blow after losing his title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. Compounded by injuries and surgery, O’Malley returned in June but failed to overcome Dvalishvili’s dominance. Perhaps most concerning, the setbacks have visibly shaken O’Malley’s confidence, raising questions about how he will rebound in the octagon.

Sean O’Malley shares insights on making his featherweight debut

Sean O’Malley’s road back to the top is far from over—but the path is steep. Once seen as the UFC’s next breakout star, “Suga” has hit a rough patch, suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. His second defeat to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316 left him on the outside of the bantamweight title picture, and reclaiming a fast track back will likely require a shake-up at the top. Ahead of UFC 316, coach Tim Welch had hinted that O’Malley’s bantamweight tenure could be winding down after brutal weight cuts.

But the fighter isn’t ready to call it quits. On The Ariel Helwani Show, he confirmed that while a move to featherweight is still on the table, it’s not happening just yet. “For me to earn another shot at Merab, I’ve gotta be undeniable,” O’Malley said. “I have to go on a streak, win a lot of fights in a row, and there’s a world that happens. I know I’m capable of beating Merab, I also know he’s capable of beating me, and there’s going to be part of me that always wants to get that one back. He’s the only guy that has beat me.”

“If I don’t get that one back, I’ll be happy with how it played out. But there’s a world where I’m undeniable and get that one back. I’m happy for him. Merab’s f—– on a crazy streak right now and is one of the greatest bantamweights of all time.” 

With this matchup on the horizon, the question is: can Sean O’Malley avenge his loss to Merab Dvalishvili? And can he handle the stacked competition of the featherweight division? Share your thoughts below.