Sean O'Malley Issues Apology After Racism Controversy Ahead of UFC 324
UFC bantamweight contender Sean O'Malley has publicly apologised for any offence caused by his decision to wear a surgical face mask during a staredown with upcoming opponent Song Yadong. The incident, which occurred during their first face-off in December, has stirred significant controversy in the lead-up to their highly anticipated co-main event bout at UFC 324 this Saturday in Las Vegas.
Mask Stunt Sparks Racism Allegations
The 31-year-old American fighter, known as "Suga" Sean, sported the medical mask while confronting Chinese fighter Song Yadong during their initial promotional appearance. Many observers interpreted the gesture as a reference to COVID-19, with the first known cases of the pandemic having been identified in China. While the build-up to their T-Mobile Arena showdown has been largely respectful, this particular moment has cast a shadow over proceedings.
Song Yadong addressed the incident in a recent interview with Home Of Fight, where he laughed about the situation but simultaneously labelled O'Malley's actions as "totally racist." The 28-year-old Chinese fighter emphasised his desire to keep racism out of the sport, stating: "I'm OK, but I think don't bring racism in this sport. Just keep it a sport."
O'Malley's Explanation and Regret
At Wednesday's pre-fight media day, O'Malley addressed the growing controversy surrounding his mask-wearing stunt. The former bantamweight champion explained: "My intentions were never harmful. It's supposed to be a little, silly joke. It was that, and it got taken out of [context]. I apologise if I offended anybody."
Song acknowledged O'Malley's subsequent regret, noting that the American had already apologised to Chinese fans in a separate interview. The Chinese fighter suggested the mask incident might have been an attempt at psychological warfare, but insisted he remains unfazed, stating: "He's trying to get inside of my head like a mind game, but I don't care. I just focus on the fight, I don't care. I just want to win the fight. Focused."
Fighters' Recent Form and Championship Implications
O'Malley enters this crucial matchup on the back of two consecutive defeats, having lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili in 2024 before failing to reclaim it in their rematch last June. The Georgian fighter outpointed O'Malley in their initial encounter before securing a submission victory in the second bout.
Meanwhile, Song Yadong approaches this contest with a mixed record of 3-3 in his last six appearances, though he does so following an impressive victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in February 2025. That technical decision win came when the fight was halted due to an accidental eye poke, with Song ahead on the scorecards at the time.
The Chinese fighter's previous outing saw him lose a decision to Petr Yan, who has since reclaimed the bantamweight championship by outpointing Dvalishvili in December. This complex web of previous matchups has created intriguing narrative threads, particularly given that O'Malley previously defeated Yan via controversial decision shortly before the Russian fighter first faced Dvalishvili.
Future Title Shot Possibilities
Many MMA enthusiasts believe a victory over Song could position O'Malley for a championship opportunity against current titleholder Petr Yan. O'Malley himself acknowledged this possibility during Wednesday's media session, stating: "It's got to be me versus Petr next, if I go out there and take care of business. If not, I don't know. I just feel like I'm trying to manifest that."
The American fighter specifically referenced the UFC's planned event at the White House in June, suggesting: "I think I go out there and put on a beautiful performance, [then] me versus Petr at the White House is huge." However, this potential matchup faces complications, as Dvalishvili recently revealed that Yan's Russian nationality might prevent his participation in the White House event due to political considerations.
Dvalishvili, who seeks a third encounter with Yan, told MMA Pros Pick: "[The UFC] told me that our fight will not happen at the White House in June, because he is Russian, and that's impossible." This geopolitical dimension adds another layer of complexity to the championship picture that could be significantly reshaped by Saturday's co-main event result.
