Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong UFC 324 Prediction - 1/24/2026
Updated July 9, 2026
The bantamweight showdown between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong is the co-main event of UFC 324 on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This is the first non-title fight that O'Malley has participated in since 2022, as he looks to get back on track after a two-fight losing streak. Song is coming off a win in his last fight and will look for a second straight triumph on this big stage. Before the action begins in Vegas, continue reading for my Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong prediction.
Pick: Sean O’Malley by Decision
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Statistic | Sean O’Malley | Song Yadong |
|---|---|---|
Age | 31 | 28 |
Reach | 72" | 67" |
Stance | Switch | Orthodox |
Record | 18-3, 1 NC | 22-8-1 |
This fight features two of the most well-known strikers in the UFC’s bantamweight division. O’Malley stands out with his unorthodox movement, precise timing, and ability to manage distance. This usually allows him to pick his shots while staying out of harm’s way. He holds a significant reach advantage over Song, and his switch-stance approach creates angles that can make defense difficult for opponents. O’Malley has finished 12 of his 18 career wins via knockout, demonstrating serious stopping power when he lands cleanly.
Song Yadong brings a style that thrives on pressure and the patience to find opportunities to land power shots. He has an extensive fight history with over 30 professional fights, and his persistence in closing distance can disrupt fighters who prefer staying at range. Despite that aggression, Song’s accuracy and defense can be a problem at times, and he absorbs a higher volume of strikes than ideal against elite strikers. His recent training has focused on expanding his wrestling and grappling tools to mix into his striking repertoire, potentially offering a pathway away from a pure stand-up battle against a fellow striker.
Styles make fights, and this matchup could hinge on whether Song can consistently cut the cage and force close exchanges or whether O’Malley can maintain range and land his power shots. Historically, O’Malley’s precision and movement have neutralized aggressive opponents, allowing him to accumulate points across rounds without taking significant damage. Song’s pressure could test O’Malley’s patience and defense, but breaching O'Malley's defenses could be a tall task for him.
My expectation is for Sean O'Malley to get a win in this fight, with the bigger question being what method of victory he uses to get there. O'Malley certainly has the knockout power to get a victory inside the distance. But I think that Song has the toughness and willingness to move in tight to prevent O'Malley from landing that knockout blow. My best bet here is for O'Malley to win by decision when all is said and done.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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