That wasn’t really the case, and now O’Malley is stuck trying to hype people up for a fight few people believe he can win again. At the UFC 324 post-fight press conference, “Suga” commented on Yan’s title-winning performance against Merab Dvalishvili.
“He looked really good,” O’Malley said. “I’d have to show up ready to go five rounds, focused, improve outside of camp, and, he is the champ for a reason. He’s one of my favorite fighters to to watch, so I’d love to compete against him again. But, yeah, I’d have to have a really good camp and show up and put on an OG Suga performance.”
O’Malley wasn’t the only bantamweight trying to lock up a title shot against Yan. Umar Nurmagomedov fought on the prelims against Deiveson Figueiredo, and while he won, his performance was extremely flat. Not that it mattered. According to Petr Yan, the UFC had already decided what was next for him before UFC 324 even started.
“Actually my next fight is set and done,” Yan told media in Dubai on Friday night. “The UFC guaranteed Merab [Dvalishvili] the rematch. As soon as he’s ready and fully recovered, it’s going to happen. Either this spring or summer. So we are waiting for the final decision from UFC bosses.”
Even with that being settled, O’Malley clearly thinks he can wait his way into a title shot against the winner.
“I’m chilling,” he said. “If they make that fight, I’m chilling.”
O’Malley arrived at the post-fight press conference wearing a boot on his foot and while he claimed it would be fine with some rest and a shot of liquor or two, he admitted the wear and tear from fight camps had him questioning if he’d have to retire sooner rather than later.
“This was one of the first times I was just like, ‘Man, my body feels good,’” he said. “Teep kicks are my favorite. Like, I love those. Six weeks before the last Merab fight, I freakin’ tore the ligaments in my toe from teep kicking. I was in a boot for the six weeks leading up to that fight. But I can’t bitch about that. I already said I tore my leg in the first one.”
“This fight I came in, I didn’t have any physical therapy all week. Usually I come and have [the UFC PI] work on me. Something’s hurt. I felt good. And it felt good to feel good … Injuries are the hardest thing about sports in general. Especially with fighting, it’s like you gotta feel good to get through these camps, and it’s just a lot. Camps are a lot. Fighting’s a lot. Training for fights is a lot.”
“So as as long as my body will hold up, I wanna keep fighting. And it held up this camp and felt good.”
