LAS VEGAS – Song Yadong isn’t here for any mind games Sean O’Malley may be trying to play ahead of their significant top 5 matchup at UFC 324.
At the first UFC event of the year, Song (22-8-1 MMA, 11-3-1 UFC) takes on former champion O’Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in an important fight for not only both fighters individually, but for the bantamweight division as well. Song enters the fight ranked No. 5 in the promotion’s official rankings, with O’Malley just ahead at No. 3.
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“This fight is the most important so far,” Song told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “If I win this fight, I might be the next title challenger, but I will take whatever the UFC gives me. But winning this fight is very important for now.”
Song believes a win alone isn’t enough to get his name in title consideration, so he’s hoping for much more than that Saturday in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena. No. 2-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov is also on the card, facing former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo. In a sense, Song is not only fighting against O’Malley but also needs to deliver a performance that stands out above what the winner of Nurmagomedov vs. Figueiredo produces.
“I will make sure I dominate the fight,” Song said. “I don’t give the referee a chance to give him win, so I will try to finish him every round. … I really want to knock this guy out. Just win is not enough. This fight is not about winning, it’s about my future – make a statement.”
The build to this fight had one ugly moment.
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In their first faceoff, O’Malley made the unfortunate choice to wear a medical facemask, which he said was meant to be a “little silly joke.” Most found the stunt extremely insensitive, given that Song is Chinese. O’Malley received the appropriate backlash and later apologized, stating he did not intend to offend anyone.
Regardless, Song isn’t worried about what O’Malley has done in the past or what he may potentially do in the final days ahead of the cage door closing. He’s simply ready to settle things when it counts.
“I’m OK, but don’t bring the racism in this sport,” Song said. “Just keep it sport. He already regrets it. He got an interview from China, and he said he’s sorry to fans. He tried to get inside my head, like mind games, but I don’t care. I just focus on the fight.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Song Yadong to Sean O’Malley: ‘Don’t bring racism’ into UFC 324
