Sean O’Malley, the former UFC bantamweight champion, appears poised to make his Octagon return later this year. Reports suggest he could face #5-ranked contender Song Yadong at UFC 323 on December 6, the final PPV event before the promotion’s new broadcast deal kicks in.
O’Malley has had a challenging 2025, including a second career loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316, where he also suffered his first submission defeat. The setback has redefined his standing in the bantamweight division, but the ‘Suga’ Show remains one of the UFC’s biggest draws and is now looking to climb back into title contention.
Song Yadong, who defeated Henry Cejudo earlier this year, presents a logical matchup. With other top-five fighters either already booked or close to title shots—such as Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Cory Sandhagen—Yadong emerges as a natural opponent for O’Malley’s comeback bout.
The fight, if confirmed, promises to be a high-stakes clash for O’Malley as he aims to reestablish himself among the elite of the bantamweight division.
