“For this year, I have been focused on more wrestling,” the 28 year-old Yadong told UFC.com. “I went to San Diego to train with J-Flo (Justin Flores). He’s a judo guy, so I learned some new stuff. I feel great. I feel like I’m reaching my peak.”
“This fight is very important for me because a win over Sean is a big accomplishment,” Yadong added. “This is a big opportunity for me. It makes me so excited and more motivated to win over Sean — one step away from a title shot.”
Petr Yan turned the division upside down by defeating Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 earlier this month in Las Vegas, opening the door for several top contenders (see them here). That said, it’s worth noting that both Yadong (22-8-1, 1 NC) and O’Malley (18-3) have dropped decision losses to Yan in previous fights.