There weren’t many people who agreed with the judges’ decision to give Sean O’Malley the win over Petr Yan at UFC 280 — Conor McGregor included
Even if he didn’t win and earn the next bantamweight title shot, the stock of Sean O’Malley wasn’t going to go down after his bout with Petr Yan at UFC 280.
However, two judges saw the bout in his favor and gave him the win over the former UFC bantamweight champion — but it was far from a popular decision.
Yan pressured O’Malley early on in the fight and had a couple of takedown opportunities on O’Malley, though O’Malley tried his hand at a quick and sneaky one before the round’s end.
O’Malley appeared to rock Yan in the second round, but Yan recovered and returned the favor on O’Malley before following with another takedown. From there, Yan used his grappling to stay in control for most of the second round.
While Yan seemed to be on his way to winning the fight in the third, O’Malley busted Yan open with a big knee in the final round. Yan fired back, but O’Malley responded with a head kick. Despite a flurry of offense from O’Malley in the third, it seemed Yan did enough in the final round to lock up the win.
But it wasn’t to be, as O’Malley scored two 29-28s to get the win, send the crowd into a chorus of boos and send MMA Twitter into a rage — including one “Notorious” star in Conor McGregor.
UFC 280: Conor McGregor, MMA Twitter react to controversial Sean O’Malley upset over Petr Yan
https://twitter.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1583909891407638528
someone call the cops Petr Yan just got robbed in Abu Dhabi.
— Dillon Danis (@dillondanis) October 22, 2022
Petr Yan is now 0-2 in the last two fights that he won.
— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) October 22, 2022
Pett yan just got fucking robbed!#ufc280
— Swiss (@zatortihhhh) October 22, 2022
One of the worst decisions I’ve seen. Love O’Malley, but there ain’t no way Yan lost that fight. #UFC280
— FaZe Nickmercs (@NICKMERCS) October 22, 2022
Nah that’s some bullshit. Yan getting robbed to make O’Malley. Fuck off #UFC280
— Zarak (@Zarakishere) October 22, 2022
Bro that's a robbery. Petr Yan won it. It was split decision.
— Wrestling Scenarios (@harisrinivas_ws) October 22, 2022
Even Sean O Malley cannot believe it. What the hell.#UFC280
The judges watching Yan vs O’Malley #UFC280 pic.twitter.com/p9b70vTOHP
— jamsponge71@gmail.com (@jamsponge711) October 22, 2022
Petr Yan absolutely fucking robbed
— Moussa (@Tclkoh) October 22, 2022
Sean O Malley Vs Peter Yan summed up #UFC280 pic.twitter.com/yr591VUOUc
— Mridul Nair (@MridulMax) October 22, 2022
Everyone arriving at Twitter to declare Yan was robbed #UFC280 pic.twitter.com/LSLNJa25Ks
— Darren (@Darren94775262) October 22, 2022
Can't believe Petr Yan got robbed again. When are they going to do something about these shit judges? #UFC280
— Saleh (@rabbasal) October 22, 2022
This marked Yan’s first fight since unsuccessfully attempting to gain the UFC bantamweight title back from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in April. Yan originally claimed the championship at UFC 251 in July 2020 but lost the title to Sterling at UFC 259 — the first, and only, time a UFC title has changed hands on a disqualification.
After losing his undefeated record to Marlon Vera at UFC 252, 2021 was a rebound year for O’Malley, scoring stoppages of Thomas Almeida, Kris Moutinho and Raulian Paiva. His most recent bout at UFC 276 against Pedro Munhoz ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke.