Uncover the thrilling showdown between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong at UFC 324! This fight, which took place on January 24th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was a highly anticipated co-main event. Sean O’Malley, with a record of 19-3 (1 no-contest), faced off against Song Yadong, who had a record of 22-9-1 (1 no-contest). The official result was a unanimous decision in favor of Sean O’Malley, with scores of 29-28 across the board. But let's dive into the action-packed rounds and see what made this fight so memorable. Round 1: The referee, Herb Dean, oversaw the co-main event. O’Malley demonstrated slick movement in the first minute, making Song chase him while he dipped in and out with range punches. Song responded with leg kicks to close the distance. O’Malley’s accurate teep and jab made it difficult for Song to advance. Song ventured in with a left, but O’Malley avoided the worst of it. O’Malley targeted Song’s body with a punch and a front kick, while Song continued with leg work. O’Malley slipped in a quick left as he moved side to side, and Song scored a takedown off of O’Malley’s leg kick. O’Malley easily defended a guillotine attempt by Song, and the round ended with Song on top in a close contest. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 in favor of O’Malley. Round 2: Song missed on a low kick and a spinning backfist, keeping O’Malley focused defensively. Song landed a hard right down the middle, and both fighters settled in at distance to set up their next attacks. Song’s counter left put O’Malley on the defensive, struggling to move in effectively. Song secured a body lock and applied pressure against the fence, though not much damage was done. O’Malley needed to move to turn the round around. Song attempted a suplex, which was blocked, but he stuck with it and tripped O’Malley down. Song ended up in O’Malley’s guard with over 90 seconds to go. Back on their feet, the fighters again looked to set up from range. Song had dominated this round so far and wasn’t letting up. Song’s leg kick closed out the round. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 in favor of Song, making the overall score 19-19. Round 3: Song returned to leg kicks, while O’Malley targeted Song’s body. O’Malley scored with a left hand, which could get him going. O’Malley landed a straight left, and Song’s nose began to bleed. The round was very low in volume for both fighters, as it had been for much of the contest. The crowd grew restless, cheering the fighters on. O’Malley dodged a takedown and pressed forward with his right hand. Song countered with a right, which looked good for the judges. O’Malley’s jab followed, and Song continued to advance, seeking a statement sequence to lock in the round. O’Malley’s quick footwork and consistent landing at the right time started to pay off. A high knee caught Song with a minute to go, and O’Malley’s left hand scored. Song pointed down with about 15 seconds to go, but neither fighter committed fully. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 in favor of O’Malley, making the overall score 29-28 in his favor. The official result was a unanimous decision in favor of Sean O’Malley, with scores of 29-28 across the board. But here’s where it gets controversial... What do you think? Did the judges make the right call? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
