Petr Yan is right called ‘No Mercy’, as he maintains his calm and stoic demeanor while showcasing technical prowess inside the Octagon. After his dominant win at UFC Macau last year, he wants a shot at redemption against his old rival Sean O’Malley. The Russian bantamweight felt he won the razor-thin bout against ‘Suga’ at UFC 280. A year and some months cut away from that fight, Yan still carries the sting of that controversial loss back in 2022.

The former bantamweight champion is currently recovering from a hip injury and will return to action soon. While there has been no announcement for his next opponent, Petr Yan might get his wish. But will O’Malley take on the fight? His longtime coach Tim Welsh has the answer for you.

Sean O’Malley will fight Petr Yan but has one condition for it as revealed by coach

Petr Yan made an immediate impact when he entered the UFC, storming through the bantamweight division with seven straight wins that earned him a title shot. He claimed the vacant belt with an impressive victory over Jose Aldo. But his rise hit a roadblock in his next fight, where an illegal knee against Aljamain Sterling led to a disqualification in the fourth round. That loss set off a string of tough battles for Yan, but he showed grit and determination to fight his way back. His ability to persevere through adversity hasn’t gone unnoticed by Dana White.

Yan, in his last fight, returned to his familiar territory at UFC Macau, where he reignited his title ambitions with a hard-fought victory over former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The two battled for five grueling rounds, but Yan’s relentless pace and striking proved enough to secure the win and keep his championship hopes alive. During the post-fight interview, he was asked whether he wanted to settle his old rivalry. Yan had no problem saying,  “I will fight anybody… I already beat both Sean O’Malley and Cory Sandhagen.” 

O’Malley’s coach is also open to the fight but has one condition for it to happen. While speaking to Submission Radio, Welch made it clear the only way the fight can happen next. He said, “It’s a very good chance that’s going to happen. If Sug knocks out Umar or smokes Merab in their rematch and he beats them, then Yan’s probably next. And a five-round fight Petr Yan vs Sugar 2 that’s a really big fight. So that’s definitely in the back of both of our minds that’s a possibility.” 

Sean O’Malley handed Petr Yan a unanimous decision loss in their three-round clash at UFC 280 two years ago. That defeat has lingered as a notable mark on Yan’s record ever since. However, it now seems that the Russian fighter is desperate to settle his scores with the former bantamweight champion. During one of his interviews, he even mocked ‘Suga’ for the injury he sustained.

Petr Yan is ready for a fight with Sean O’Malley next in his career

Petr Yan recently sat down for an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he shared his thoughts on his future in the UFC. The former bantamweight champion didn’t shy away from speaking his mind, even throwing a shot at his old rival, Sean O’Malley. Speaking through his translator, Yan laid out the matchups he believes would make the most sense if he isn’t granted a title fight against the current champion, Merab Dvalishvili. Their clash at UFC 280 was highly anticipated but the result didn’t sit well with Yan, who believed he had done enough to win.

However, he has now made it clear that the next target for him in the division is going to be O’Malley. While speaking to Helwani he said, “If this is gonna happen, I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley. I don’t know what’s going on with him; he’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregna**,”. The possibility of a rematch continues to generate buzz, as both men seem destined to cross paths again. With their contrasting styles and mutual disdain, a second fight could settle the score once and for all and potentially shape the future of the division.

Do you think the highly anticipated rematch between Sean O’Malley and Petr Yan can happen next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.