Sean O'Malley has set a deadline for Petr Yan to defend his UFC bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili, or else he'll claim the championship himself. On his YouTube channel, O'Malley stated that if Yan and Dvalishvili don't fight by October, he might just claim to be champion and defend his belt in December.
What happened?
In December 2025, Merab Dvalishvili avenged his loss to Petr Yan in their UFC 323 main event, becoming a two-time champion at 135 pounds. However, an immediate trilogy fight between the pair has yet to be scheduled, seven months on from Yan's decision victory over Dvalishvili in Las Vegas.
Why it matters for Merab Dvalishvili
Merab Dvalishvili's rematch with Petr Yan has been a long time coming, and fans are getting restless about the lack of official news. O'Malley's statement has put pressure on Yan to defend his title against Dvalishvili, or else he'll face a challenge from the outspoken American.
What comes next?
Sean O'Malley has reeled off two straight wins to rebound from his setbacks against Dvalishvili, including a knockout victory over Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Freedom 250. With his name back in the bantamweight title picture, O'Malley will be keeping a close eye on Yan's first defense and is getting tired of waiting for it.
O'Malley's patience is wearing thin, and he's not afraid to speak his mind. "Is Petr the champ? Is he active? He's not," O'Malley said on his YouTube channel. "Merab was active AF. Petr's been out for a while... It's been seven months, that's not terrible for a champion. The division is on fire right now. We need our champion back."
O'Malley has history with both men expected to collide in the next bantamweight title fight. Before losing both of his fights against Dvalishvili in September 2024 and May 2025, O'Malley beat Yan via split decision in October 2022 en route to becoming champion. After avenging his loss to 'The Machine', the reigning champ may be interested in attempting to do the same four years on from his controversial loss at the hands of O'Malley.
The bantamweight division is heating up, and it's time for Petr Yan to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili. Will 'The Machine' get his revenge, or will 'Suga' take the belt? Only time will tell.
What's next for Merab Dvalishvili?
Merab Dvalishvili's rematch with Petr Yan is one of the most highly anticipated fights in the UFC bantamweight division. With O'Malley setting a deadline for Yan to defend his title, the pressure is on for the Russian to deliver. Will Dvalishvili get his revenge, or will Yan prove once again why he's the champion?
The clock is ticking, and the bantamweight division is on the edge of its seat. Will Merab Dvalishvili finally get his rematch with Petr Yan, or will Sean O'Malley claim the championship himself? Only time will tell.