"The result of this matchup will be different" - Petr Yan calls Sean O'Malley a "UFC project and a Conor wannabe" as comparisons of fight with Conor McGregor vs. Jose Aldo loom large
Petr Yan is getting ready to face Sean O'Malley on the UFC 280 main card. The announcement of the fight surprised many as Yan is currently ranked No.1 at bantamweight, while O'Malley sits at No.11.
Many fans have compared this fight to the Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor matchup in 2015. That's because of what that victory did for the Irishman's career.
The remarkable knockout that 'The Notorious' was able to execute that night skyrocketed his career to another dimension. Many feel that for O'Malley, a similarly impressive performance this weekend could do the same for his career.
However, when 'No Mercy' spoke to the media on Wednesday, he said that the outcome of his fight with 'Sugar' will be very different to the Aldo vs. McGregor featherweight scrap:
"Considering the outside of the things, you can definitely compare it to Conor vs. Aldo fight. Sean is a UFC project, and a Conor McGregor wannabe. But the result of this matchup will be different."
Catch Yan's media day appearance below:
Petr Yan may well secure another shot at the title with a victory over O'Malley. 'No Mercy' lost his belt due to disqualification in 2021 after he illegally kneed Aljamain Sterling in the head
Yan will hope to get another chance to rectify that mistake, having fallen short at UFC 273, by defeating 'Sugar'.
Petr Yan claims he chose to fight Sean O'Malley at UFC 280
Petr Yan will be looking to move one step closer to regaining the bantamweight title when he faces Sean O'Malley at UFC 280.
Given that 'No Mercy' sits at No.1 on the bantamweight ladder, many were confused as to why he's facing the No11-ranked man. Rumors about how this fight was organized have circulated, with 'Sugar' himself believing that the UFC forced Yan to accept the fight.
However, during an interview on The MMA Hour, Yan said:
"I wanna say it again, I was the one who chose to fight him. He [O'Malley] wasn't the one who picked me. And I know that UFC really believes in him, and he also believes that maybe stylistically it's a good fight for him. But I'm here to disappoint and upset him."
Watch the interview below: