“Playing favorites with those we care about most betrays those who deserve equal attention.” Heavy, right? Martin Luther King Jr. was right because we see this happening in real life. From the entertainment industry to the MMA world, people often favor one over another. But does Dana White do the same? Does he favor certain fighters and give them ‘easy fights’ to help them rise through the ranks? Even though the UFC CEO said, “If you make it into the f—–g UFC, you are not fighting easy fights?” Well, Sean O’Malley did hint recently that he got some easy fights at the start of his career. Now, what does that mean?

While speaking to former 170lbs title challenger Jake Shields, O’Malley expressed, “Sometimes when they give you ‘cans’ like someone you’re supposed to beat, like you go out there and beat them.” He explained how he got fights against opponents like Raulian Paiva and Kris Moutinho, who were not prominent names in the bantamweight division, and defeated them to climb up the ranks while displaying his full potential—which might have gotten overboard sometimes.

The former bantamweight champion added, “I was going out there knocking them out like a highlight, viral knockouts like that, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you’re coming up and they are giving you guys. It’s like winning one thing, but putting on a dominant nasty performance.”

Moreover, O’Malley received the shot at the 135lbs title after just one victory over a ranked opponent in the form of Petr Yan. Not to mention, the nature of which was pretty contentious at the time. Even Aljamain Sterling, after losing his title to ‘Suga’ at UFC 292, claimed O’Malley was Dana’s ‘Golden Goose.’ However, the head honcho later stated: “There is no feeding the golden goose. How is he the golden goose when we just f—–g found him? He’s never won a f—–g world title… you don’t know. You test these guys.”

So, did Dana White favor Sean O’Malley with easier opponents, or do those opponents just seem easy because O’Malley is an exceptional fighter? It’s a question that’s been raised, especially considering the criticisms that some fighters and fans have directed at the UFC boss for allegedly treating certain fighters better than others. Tony Ferguson even coined a term for it—’Dana White Privilege,’ which he dropped during the UFC 262 presser.

Well, there are some notable examples to consider. Take Michael Chandler, who earned a lightweight title shot at UFC 262 after just one victory over Dan Hooker. Or Brock Lesnar, who faced Heath Herring in his UFC debut, lost to Frank Mir, and still earned a heavyweight title shot against Randy Couture. And let’s not forget how Alex Pereira was given a #8 ranked 205fer in the former of Khalil Rountree Jr. when in fact the Brazilian should have faced Magomed Ankalaev.

Returning to O’Malley, the Montana native did what he needed to do! He knocked his way through the bantamweight division, racking up 9 UFC victories and eventually becoming the champion. However, his reign took a hit when he lost the belt to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. But now the former champ may have a new challenger on the horizon, with some indications that a new contender is already making noise. Could this be the next big challenge for the former champ? Only time will tell.

Song Yadong calls out Sean O’Malley for a future fight

Song Yadong may have just secured one of the biggest wins of his career at UFC Seattle. But what’s next for ‘The Kung Fu Kid’? His victory over Henry Cejudo came with a dose of controversy, as ‘Triple C’ suffered an eye poke that halted the fight. So, will Yadong’s next move be a rematch or something else entirely?

Following the fight, Yadong made his intentions clear—he’s eyeing a tougher challenge. “My goal is to be world champion, so whatever they give me, my goal is to fight a guy ranked above me,” he said. He even threw out a bold callout: “If not Henry, give me O’Malley. I can fight anytime.”

Interestingly, Dana White has already shut down the idea of a rematch with Cejudo. “Not at all,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during the post-fight press conference. “Not even a little bit. I just don’t want to see it again.” That leaves Sean O’Malley as a likely option. ‘Suga’ is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum. Moreover, he has plans to return to action between April and June 2025.

So, will Dana White book this intriguing clash between O’Malley and Yadong? And do you think O’Malley’s aggressive style could make things even more intense if this fight comes to life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!