Sean O’Malley knew he needed a reset long before stepping into the Octagon with Merab Dvalishvili. Ahead of their rematch, the 30-year-old contender decided it was time for a full lifestyle makeover. To sharpen himself as both a fighter and a family man, O’Malley made tough sacrifices, cutting out the habits he believed were holding him back. For Sean O’Malley, it was about stripping everything down to be the best version of himself and win the title back.
But when fight night came at UFC 316, the results didn’t follow. Merab Dvalishvili defended his title for a second time, submitting O’Malley with a ninja choke late in the third round to extend his streak to thirteen straight wins. The loss left O’Malley still chasing redemption, and in the aftermath, he admitted on The Bro’Malley Show that old habits aren’t so easy to break.
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“An absolute addict right now” – Sean O’Malley on his latest ‘vice’
Just a few hours ago on his Suga Sean O’Malley channel, the bantamweight star addressed the rumors of a potential fight with Song Yadong. While giving his take on the situation, O’Malley also opened up about his latest struggle: poker. “F— poker, dude. I’m not even going to talk about poker much because I don’t think that many people really give a f— about poker. But I’m an absolute addict right now. Full on, 10 out of 10, addicted to poker. It is bad. It is getting bad. Someone, please help me. Someone, please send me a number to call,” he admitted.
His father added, almost half-jokingly, “Please, someone, sit me down and talk to me about the poker.” The co-host chimed in, saying it was exactly the topic they had planned to raise next. O’Malley, instead of brushing it off, doubled down with his trademark energy: “Let’s go play. Actually, realistically, it’s 9 a.m. right now. We got a tournament at 10 a.m. at the casino, and it’s going to be absolutely f—ing incredible.”
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The back-and-forth highlights just how seriously poker has gripped O’Malley. What began as a hobby now sounds like a full-blown compulsion, with the fighter admitting he’s “addicted” and openly acknowledging that it’s becoming a problem. But the real question is, can Sean O’Malley kick the habit before his potential showdown with Song Yadong, who’s fresh off a big win over Henry Cejudo in February?
Sean O’Malley approves of his next opponent
On the same podcast, Sean O’Malley offered fans a cautious update when asked about his next fight. “To be honest, I don’t know what the plan is. I haven’t seen anything official on my side. I haven’t talked to the UFC specifically about who, when, or where,” he admitted. Still, O’Malley pointed to Song Yadong as a likely option. “Song seems like a great next opponent, though. I mean, it makes sense. I like the matchup. That seems good. As far as the date goes…” he trailed off, leaving the door open.
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While stopping short of confirmation, O’Malley gave another strong hint that a return could be around the corner. Carefully avoiding any conflict with UFC CEO Dana White, he added: “I’d like to fight again November, December. Get one more in by the end of the year. I’m going to go talk with the UFC in two weeks.” The statement suggests the timing might be in place, even if the opponent hasn’t been locked in.
For Song Yadong, ranked fifth in the division, the fight would be a chance to keep climbing after a rollercoaster run that’s seen him face the likes of Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen. As for Sean O’Malley, he’s still dealing with the fallout from losing his title to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. Injuries, surgery, and back-to-back setbacks have tested his confidence in a way fans haven’t seen before. So, can Sean O’Malley rebound against a younger, battle-tested opponent like Song Yadong? And does he still have what it takes to thrive in a stacked division?