Sean O’Malley didn’t walk away from UFC 324 completely satisfied. The former bantamweight champion was one of the headline names featured as the promotion kicked off its new era on Paramount+, and he got back into the win column with a split decision over Song Yadong.
Sean O’Malley didn’t walk away from UFC 324 completely satisfied.
The former bantamweight champion was one of the headline names featured as the promotion kicked off its new era on Paramount+, and he got back into the win column with a split decision over Song Yadong.
That fight took place just before Justin Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight title, defeating Paddy Pimblett in the main event. O’Malley’s win helped him move past back-to-back losses to Merab Dvalishvili, although it wasn’t exactly the convincing performance he might have wanted.
And that feeling only grew after he rewatched the fight and started to see what fans had been talking about online.
O’Malley admits he should have been more active against Yadong
O’Malley picked up a unanimous decision win, but not everyone agreed with the outcome.
Some felt Song had done enough to get the nod, something O’Malley didn’t fully appreciate until he went back and reviewed the fight.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, O’Malley admitted that watching the fight back made him realise his performance wasn’t as clear-cut as he thought in real time.
“I rewatched it, and I’m like, f—, I could have let my hands go a little more,” O’Malley said.
“Right after the fight, I thought there was a zero percent chance I lost. I was convinced I won that f—— fight.”
He added: “Now looking back after hearing everyone’s perspective and rewatching the fight, I was like, damn. It’s crazy because in there, he didn’t hit me at all.”
Sean O’Malley reflects on possible retirement if he lost at UFC 324
O’Malley’s win over Song was more than just a step back into title contention. There were heavier implications behind the scenes that didn’t become clear until after the fight.
Speaking with Helwani, O’Malley revealed that he had considered walking away from the sport if Song had handed him a third straight defeat.
“Realistically you never know,” O’Malley said. “If I would have lost, I’d be like these weight cuts suck, ‘F’ this.
“I don’t know if I would have been like that but it’s possible. I’m going to retire when I feel like OK, it’s time. If I would have lost, it could have been (my final fight). I have such a good life back home, I could have just been like you know what (it’s time).
He went on: “That was a scary thought going into this fight that I even had that thought in my mind.”
Category: General Sports
