An enormous fight in the bantamweight division served as Saturday’s UFC 324 co-main event. Former champion Sean O’Malley took on No. 5 ranked Song Yadong in a fight that had title fight implications.
O’Malley entered the fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas looking to rebound after suffering back-to-back losses to former titleholder Merab Dvalishvili.
Yadong stood across the octagon from O’Malley coming off dominating win over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. A win over the former champion would put him squaring in the 135-pound title picture.
Yadong began the fight with a leg kick as they touched gloves. O’Malley bounced on the outside and they exchanged leg kicks. O’Malley landed a left and got just out of the way the counter. Yadong pressed forward but came up short with a combination. O’Malley delivered a teep kick. He switched stances. Yadong partially landed a right hand. Yadong began pressuring O’Malley. He delivered a hard leg kick. Yadong secured a takedown late in the frame. It was a close opening round. MMAWeekly scored it 10-9 for O’Malley.
Yadong landed a hard leg kick to start the second. O’Malley landed a front kick to the body. O’Malley constantly switched stances. Yadong changed levels and looked to get the fight to the ground. O’Malley remained standing up Yadong remained on him delivering knees to O’Malley’s legs along the cage. He put O’Malley on his back. O’Malley scrambled to his feet. Yadong connected with a right. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Yadong.
O’Malley went to the body with a right. Yadong responded with a calf kick. Yadong landed another leg kick. O’Malley delivered two left hands. A straight left from O’Malley found a home. O’Malley delivered a front kick to the body. His jab began landing. O’Malley landed a clean right hand. He made Yadong miss frequently, Yadong looked for a takedown. O’Malley stuffed the attempt. O’Malley connected with a left. O’Malley landed a right hand late. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for O’Malley.
The judges scored the fight for O’Malley via unanimous decision. All three scorecards read 29-28.
