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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Petr Yan doesn’t think much of Sean O’Malley as UFC bantamweight champion.

This Saturday, Yan faces Song Yadong on the main card of UFC 299, taking place at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The event is headlined by a bantamweight title fight between new champ Sean O’Malley and his longtime rival Marlon Vera. It’s a fight that some fans took issue with, as Vera lost a decision to Cory Sandhagen a year ago. Yan shares those feelings.

“I think Marlon Vera got a gift, got gifted this title shot because he lost to Cory Sandhagen,” Yan said through a translator at UFC 299 media day. “Obviously it’s not for me to decide who is the title challenger, but I’m seriously in the mood to get back for the title race.

“Sean just picked contenders that he can beat because he doesn’t believe he can beat any other top contenders in the division. And just to remind everyone how he got his title shot, he got gifted a decision against me.”

O’Malley took home a contentious split decision over Yan at UFC 280 that propelled him into his title shot against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, which he won by knockout. Meanwhile, Yan lost to Merab Dvalishvili in his next fight.

After this weekend he’s hoping to get one — or both — of those losses back.

“To be honest, I’m interested in rematches,” Yan said. “In the fights that I lost or in the fights that I won, but was announced as the loser. So I’m interested in Sean and Merab.”

First thing’s first, though, Yan has to get through Song Yadong. The 26-year-old Chinese bantamweight is currently the No. 12 ranked bantamweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and is coming off back-to-back wins in 2023.

For Yan, who is currently on a three-fight losing streak, this is a pivotal weekend for the future of his career, and he’s preparing to show out on Saturday to put himself back in the title conversation.

“Song is young and hungry opponent,” Yan said. “For me it’s an opportunity first of all to prove to myself that I have the skills to win and get back in the title picture.

“I don’t want to look behind Song’s back. He’s a good opponent, but I’m willing to bring him back to school.”

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Since his rise to fame inside the octagon and his subsequent bantamweight title victory, Sean O’Malley has publicly shared his goals of one day competing inside a boxing ring.

‘Sugar’ quickly became one of the most recognized names in the sport and, due to his bold personality, he seemingly had a target on his back by many of his peers. Among those calling for a fight with O’Malley reside in the boxing world—with Ryan Garcia being the latest.

Garcia recently lashed out at the UFC star on social media and almost begged Dana White to let him step into the octagon against the 135 lbs champion. During his media obligations, Sean O’Malley kept it short and sweet when referencing the situation.

“Cocaine’s a hell of a drug,” O’Malley said in response to Garcia’s callout. “I think he’s on drugs and he’s acting a fool. [I] feel bad for him more than anything, you know?”

O’Malley then gave insight into whether he would welcome a crossover MMA fight with Garcia.

“Cocaine’s a hell of a drug. Yeah, that will never happen, and if it does, I’m here for it. It wouldn’t be my fault that fight doesn’t happen. So, yeah. Realistically, that will never happen.”

Many fans have been worried about Ryan Garcia’s well-being. In recent weeks, the rising prospect seems to be having a troubling time just one month out from his blockbuster fight against Devin Haney.

Supporters have pleaded with Garcia to stay focused on his upcoming bout, but more importantly, stay safe and healthy. The 25-year-old’s rants online lead some to believe he is using drugs, though he did quash those rumors in a short video posted to X.

Related: Ryan Garcia addresses life troubles and losing access to his money – ‘They tried to put me in jail’

While he often shows up in great shape and ready to perform, ‘King Ryan’ has up until April 20 to prepare for one of the toughest fights of his career.

The man he desperately wants to get his hands on, Sean O’Malley, also has a monumental matchup forthcoming. O’Malley will make the first defense of his bantamweight title against the only man to beat him in the cage, Marlon Vera, at UFC 299 on February 9.

Check out what O’Malley had to say about Garcia below.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

The Mixed Martial Arts Hour is back in your life! A special edition of today’s show will begin at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. UK time. NewYorkRic and Conner Burks will host today’s show and discuss this weekend’s massive combat events, UFC 299 and Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou. Ariel Helwani, who is in Saudi Arabia for the Joshua vs. Ngannou fight, will call in during the show.

For the latest episodes of The MMA Hour, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.

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Squeezing the juice
| BJPenn.com

UFC

Trying to play mind games with Marlon Vera is a fool’s errand.

That’s a lesson bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley learned ahead of their UFC 299 pay-per-view (PPV) title fight on Sat. night (March 9, 2024) at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. “Suga” crossed paths with “Chito” at the promotion’s host hotel with the “Embedded” cameras rolling in “The Sunshine State.”

“Ready to get knocked out?” O’Malley asked.

“Come and suck my d*ck,” Vera responded.

“Come suck my d*ck? That’s weird,” a rattled O’Malley said.

Hard to believe O’Malley finds anything weird considering his extracurricular activities.

Here’s more:

“I asked him to suck my d*ck,” Vera explained to the “Embedded” cameras. “I’m bulletproof. I got a strong mentality, all this (expletive) doesn’t get to me. Pressure? Throw more wood to the fire, I live there.”

We’ll find out if “Chito” gets evicted this weekend in Miami.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 299 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 299: “O’Malley vs. Vera” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 299 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts