Getty Sean O'Malley attends UFC 271 on February 12, 2022.
MMA star Sean O’Malley may be working the corner of Petr Yan at UFC 273.
Yan, the interim 135-pound champion, will enter the Octagon on April 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida, with the intent to unify the belt against champion Aljamain Sterling.
However, the Russian fighter won’t have his usual cornermen as the U.S. denied them visas, MMA writer Bruno Massami reported on March 15. So, Yan — whose three-year visa is still valid, according to Massami — needs to recruit a few people for the fight.
Enter O’Malley.
“Sugar,” Yan’s fellow bantamweight, offered his services as a cornerman. And it appears “No Mercy” is on board.
“Petr, heard you need a corner, bruh,” O’Malley said in a clip shared by Yan on March 17. “Let me know. I’ll be in Vegas, or wherever the f*** your fight’s at. Let me know. I can corner you, baby. One, two, one, two.”
“One corner spot is taken by @SugaSeanMMA,” Yan tweeted.
One corner spot is taken by @SugaSeanMMA 🐩
O’Malley, a 27-year-old fighter from Montana, is currently ranked No. 12 in the division with 15 wins and one loss in his professional career, and he fully expects to compete for the 135-pound title in the future. O’Malley suffered a thumb injury at UFC 269 and was placed on medical suspension in December 2021 for six months or until cleared by a doctor, but MMA News reported in early March that O’Malley said on his Twitch channel he hoped to fight at UFC 274 on May 7. He told viewers he’d like to fight Pedro Munhoz, who ranks three slots above O’Malley in the division.
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Yan Reached Out to Henry Cejudo to Be a Cornerman
O’Malley isn’t the only fighter who may be in Yan’s corner in April. No Mercy also reached out to former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo. Tweeting to Cejudo, who used to hold the bantamweight strap, Yan wrote: “Hey coach @HenryCejudo what are your plans on April 9th?”
In response to Yan, “Triple C” tweeted: “‘Get me a booster seat and I’ll work your corner…you kneed me’ #andnew.”
“I have one condition as well, don’t try to give me your s***** advices, just bring the water and ice bag between the rounds and we’re good,” Yan answered Cejudo.
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Yan Lost His Title to Sterling After Landing an Illegal Knee
Sterling and Yan fought for the first time in March 2021 at UFC 259, and No Mercy, who was the champion, was winning the fight handily before cracking Sterling with an illegal knee. Sterling was a downed opponent when the knee hit his head and he was unable to continue, which earned him the win via fourth-round disqualification.
“The Funk Master” has been out since, recovering from unrelated neck surgery “to repair nerve damage in his neck that has caused him severe pain for several years,” MMA Fighting reported.
While he waited to rematch Sterling, Yan battled Cory Sandhagen for the interim strap at UFC 267 in October 2021. The bout went all five rounds and No Mercy earned the belt via unanimous decision.
Yan and The Funk Master will finally do battle again at UFC 273 on April 9, 2022.
Both men have impressive MMA records. Sterling boasts a 20-3 score, which includes his current six-fight win streak. Yan has a 16-2 record, with his sole loss in the UFC coming via the DQ.
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Sean O’Malley Teased as Cornerman for UFC Title Fight