Song Yadong may have scored the biggest win of his career at UFC Seattle, but his next move is still a mystery. When his fight with Henry Cejudo ended in controversy because of an unintentional eye poke, the ‘Kung Fu Kid’ won by technical decision since ‘Triple C’ could not continue. So, what’s next for the Chinese fighter now? Well, he named a fighter he would like to go one-on-one against if the UFC head honcho refuses to accept a condition he asked for.

During the UFC Seattle post-fight press conference, Yadong revealed that his goal is to fight anyone ranked higher than him. When asked about Dana White’s words, he avoided discussing the missed potential for a rematch with Cejudo. Instead, ‘The Kung Fu Kid’ suggested former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley as a suitable next opponent. “My goal is to be world champion, so whatever they give me, my goal is to fight a guy ranked above me,”

Yadong told the reporters. “If not Henry, give me O’Malley. I can fight anytime.” It is worth noting that while both competitors appeared to be receptive to a rematch, UFC CEO Dana White quickly dismissed the idea in the post-event press conference, claiming that he had no interest in running it back again.

So, a fight against ‘Sugar’ surely would be an interesting challenge that makes a lot of sense considering O’Malley’s star power and position in the division. Coming off a loss to Petr Yan earlier in 2024, he understands that defeating a top-ranked opponent is critical to proving his status among the bantamweight elite. So, regardless of how it ended, Yadong’s victory over ‘Triple C’ was a significant stride forward in his career. He looked sharp before the devastating foul, but some fans are still curious about what would have happened in the championship rounds.

Whether he gets his wish to fight Sean O’Malley or has to settle with another top contender, one thing is certain: Song Yadong is motivated to fight someone who will push him closer to a title chance. But what are the odds that Dana White will give him the fight that he badly wants? Well, it seems like the Chinese fighter won’t get his wish.

Dana White might skip Song Yadong vs. Sean O’Malley for now

Song Yadong announced that he wants a bout with Sean O’Malley, although the chances of that happening appear to be really slim. The former UFC bantamweight champion has been out of action since losing his throne title to Merab Dvalishvili in September and is still recovering from a labrum injury. With the UFC and Dana White clearly bent on setting up a rematch between ‘Sugar’ and the Georgian, Yadong may have to look elsewhere in the crowded 135-pound class for now.

The Chinese fighter is likely to climb up to No. 7 in the bantamweight rankings following his technical decision victory over Henry Cejudo. However, a bout with the division’s top contender seems doubtful. Despite being a regular in the bantamweight division for eight years and facing many top contenders, Song Yadong has yet to find the right opponent to catapult him to a title fight. While Sean O’Malley may not be an option, another intriguing name has also been added to the goblet of fire.

Umar Nurmagomedov, who just lost to Merab Dvalishvili, hopes to rebound and get back into the race for title contention. A fight between Yadong and Nurmagomedov would be an exciting collision of styles, with Yadong’s striking matching Umar’s versatile grappling abilities. If Sean O’Malley is still unavailable, a bout against the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov may be an ideal test for ‘The Kung Fu Kid’ as he continues his rise through the bantamweight rankings. What do you think? Would you want to see this fight? Let us know in the comments.