UFC star Sean O’Malley has big hopes for a potential rematch between himself and UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan.

A few years back, Sean O’Malley defeated Petr Yan in a really close fight that was decided via split decision. Now, in the present day, Sean is campaigning for a crack at the world title he once held, which is now being carried by Yan after he defeated Merab Dvalishvili to win it for the second time.

RELATED: Sean O’Malley remains confident that he can beat Merab Dvalishvili despite two losses: “That’s definitely on my radar”

O’Malley feels like a logical first contender for Yan given the run he’s been on as of late, but in equal measure, Dvalishvili had a great run as champion, and it would make all the sense in the world for him to get his own rematch.

In a recent interview, O’Malley spoke openly about the current state of the title picture at 135 pounds.

O’Malley is ready for Yan showdown

“I’ve been hearing Petr and Merab are going to fight for a long time – still nothing booked,” O’Malley said on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast. “I don’t know if it’s Merab’s nose or Petr’s back. It sucks. One of those guys is obviously holding it up, and I don’t think it’s Merab. I think Merab would fight with his arm cut off. So I think Petr is probably just dealing with some injuries.

“He’s the champ, and if he’s going to come back (against) Merab – I fought Merab knowing I was getting surgery after with a torn labrum. Still, it was a close fight, and then I get the surgery and fight Merab again seven months later, just wanting to be back, just wanting the belt back.

“You can’t fight Merab on half-assed camps. You need a full, full camp. You need to be fully healthy to fight Merab, and Petr probably knows that. So he’s taking his time, as he should. He is the champ. You don’t want to go out there and lose the belt because you did something you shouldn’t do, so I get it. But also, if they want me vs. Petr next, I do think me vs. Petr Yan 2, rematch, is the biggest fight in bantamweight history. I think it’s the biggest one you could possibly make right now, and the UFC would be risking (it) making Merab vs. Petr.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

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