Sean O'Malley has publicly declared Petr Yan the greatest bantamweight of all time, describing him as "as good as it gets." The praise from a former champion adds to Yan's growing legacy in the division.
Sean O'Malley has gone on record calling Petr Yan the greatest bantamweight of all time, offering the Russian champion his highest praise and describing him as "as good as it gets."
O'Malley, the 31-year-old American ranked fourth at 135 pounds, knows the division well. The MMA Lab product carries a 20-3-0 record and held the bantamweight title before losing it. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the most prolific strikers in the weight class, landing 6.05 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 60 percent accuracy. His public endorsement of Yan carries genuine weight given his own standing in the division.
Yan, 33, is the current bantamweight champion and holds a 20-5-0 record. The Russian fighter out of Archangel Michael Club has built his reputation on a well-rounded game, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy while also threatening on the ground with 1.58 takedowns per 15 minutes. At five-foot-seven with a 67-inch reach, Yan plays a physical style that has proven effective across the weight class for years.
Why it matters
- O'Malley is a former champion and current top-four contender, giving his opinion genuine divisional credibility
- Yan holding the title while receiving this kind of public praise from a rival reinforces his status at the top of the division
- The two fighters share the same switch stance and high striking output, making any potential future matchup a compelling stylistic prospect
- The comment keeps both fighters in the conversation as the bantamweight picture continues to develop
