Petr Yan is living up to his nickname, ‘No Mercy’ as he sets his sights on redemption against his former rival, Sean O’Malley. The former bantamweight champion has been on a resurgence, breaking a three-fight losing streak with back-to-back wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. Despite his recent success, Yan hasn’t forgotten the bitter loss he suffered at UFC 280 against O’Malley back in 2022.

Now ranked #3 in the bantamweight division, Yan is eager to reclaim his place at the top. He’s not only eyeing a potential title shot against reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili but is also determined to avenge his controversial defeat to O’Malley.

Petr Yan mocks Sean O’Malley with a harsh comeback challenge

Petr Yan recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he openly discussed his future prospects in the Octagon. The former 135lbs champ didn’t hold back, even taking a jab at his former foe, Sean O’Malley, during the interview. Through his translator, Yan addressed the fights that would make sense for him if he didn’t get a shot at current champion Merab Dvalishvili.

“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**,” Yan quipped, mocking O’Malley’s extended hiatus.

O’Malley’s absence stems from a torn left hip labrum injury he sustained 10 weeks before his fight against Dvalishvili at UFC 306. Despite the injury, O’Malley fought through it but ultimately lost to the Georgian. Following the fight, he underwent surgery on October 3rd and is now on a planned nine-month recovery period. The rivalry between Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley has been simmering ever since their clash at UFC 280, where O’Malley secured a controversial split-decision victory. That win catapulted O’Malley up the bantamweight ranks and ultimately to a title win over Aljamain Sterling.

Meanwhile, Yan, who once reigned as the division’s champion has been on a mission to reclaim his throne. However, the Russian isn’t the only one who desires a rematch against O’Malley.

Alexandre Pantoja wants to have a rematch against an old foe

While speaking with MMA Junkie, UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja shed light on his desire to settle an old score with Sean O’Malley after his upcoming fight against former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura at UFC 310. The Brazilian made it clear that while he has no plans to move up to bantamweight, he would welcome a bout against O’Malley to resolve their lingering feud.

Pantoja explained, “No, I’m the flyweight champion, and I want to stay here for a long time. Right now, I’m not thinking about moving up. But O’Malley—I want to fight him because we have history. He said some things in the past, and I’ve always wanted to beat him. I beat him in the gym, and I can beat him in the cage. As for my division, Moreno looks like just another former champ.”

The feud between Pantoja and O’Malley stems from past sparring sessions, with each fighter claiming victory. Pantoja recalled training with O’Malley and asserted that he came out on top, but O’Malley has a different narrative. Six years ago, according to O’Malley, he sparred with Pantoja and dominated him, even finishing him with a liver shot. To back up his claim, O’Malley released footage of the session, saying, “I don’t like sharing sparring footage, but Pantoja can’t seem to keep my name out of his mouth. I finished him in the first round. I don’t know why he’s bringing this up again.”

Despite his current hiatus following hip surgery, Sean O’Malley remains a magnet for potential challengers, with many fighters circling his name and waiting for his return. Will O’Malley recover and step back into the Octagon to face one of his rivals, including Pantoja? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!