Sean O’Malley Vs. Song Yadong Breakdown

Pre-Fight

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“I’m expecting the best version of Song. I’m expecting him to come out and try and take my head off. This is my 15th UFC fight, so it’s just another fight week. It’s nice to not be fighting Merab this time, but I’ve still got a killer on the other side of me. “I’m prepared for a 15-minute war. I’m going to go in there and do what I do,” O’Malley said

“Song and O’Malley is going to be a great fight. I watched literally all of their fights back, or almost all of them, and I’ve got O’Malley winning that one. Song’s biggest problem is that he lunges and leaps into his bigger shots, and (you’re OK) unless you mess up against Song and get too close him – which O’Malley just doesn’t really do against his opponents,” Cory Sandhagen stated

The Approach

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O’Malley’s objective will be to use his range. Standing 5’11” with a 72-inch reach, he holds a significant height and reach advantage over the 5’8″ Yadong. Expect O’Malley to use a high volume of feints paired with his jab and front kicks to the body. By sapping Yadong’s gas tank with body work, O’Malley hopes to slow down the explosive bursts Yadong is known for.

O’Malley’s greatest asset is his movement, which makes Song’s low calf kicks a weapon. O’Malley has been susceptible to leg damage (as seen in the first Vera fight). If Song can compromise O’Malley’s lead leg early, he kills the former champion’s ability to switch stances, forcing him into a brawl. He will likely look to slip O’Malley’s jab and enter with an overhand right or his signature left hook.