Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley returns to the Octagon on Saturday night, taking on Song Yadong in the co-main event of UFC 324 in Las Vegas.
O’Malley (18–3, 12 KOs) will attempt to rebound from back-to-back losses to Merab Dvalishvili and work his way back into the title conversation, particularly after Petr Yan reclaimed the throne. Across from him, Yadong (22–8–1, 9 KOs) will aim to keep rolling following a unanimous decision win over Henry Cejudo last February.
O’Malley enters as a -205 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Yadong sits as a +170 underdog. The total is set at 2.5 rounds.
O’Malley vs. Yadong Preview
Sean O’Malley
Sean O’Malley, 31, heads into Saturday night eager to put the “he fell off” talks to rest. Once seemingly destined for superstardom, “Suga” hasn’t tasted victory since March 2024.
Still, O’Malley remains one of the promotion’s most formidable strikers. The former bantamweight champ pairs his towering 5-foot-11 frame and 72-inch reach with surgical precision, swarming opponents with vicious combinations from range.
While the American is coming off back-to-back losses, both defeats were at the hands of arguably the most dominant fighter in bantamweight history. And now that Merab is out of the picture, O’Malley appears to be one win away from a title shot against Petr Yan — whom he’s already beaten, albeit via a controversial decision.
Song Yadong
Song Yadong, 28, makes his first trip to the Octagon since rolling to a unanimous decision victory over former double-champ Henry Cejudo last February. The “Kung Fu Kid” is seemingly just one win away from his first shot at UFC gold — as well as a shot to avenge his UD loss to Yan from March 2024.
The Chinese contender has gone 12–3 since his UFC debut in Nov. 2017, climbing the ranks behind his lethal boxing. Yadong pairs lightning speed with knockout power, wielding perhaps the most devastating hands in the division.
Closing the distance on O’Malley could become quite the challenge. However, if Yadong can press forward and find his range, he’s capable of ending the fight with one shot — like this one:
O’Malley vs. Yadong Pick, Best Bet
Saturday night’s co-main event pits two dangerous strikers with bad intentions. With a title shot likely up for grabs, expect O’Malley and Yadong to leave no doubt and hunt for a finish.
