Sean O’Malley thinks Aljamain Sterling owes him one.

Recently, the UFC announced a slate of high-profile fights of their return to Abu Dhabi at UFC 280, including a bantamweight title fight co-main event between Sterling and T.J. Dillashaw, and a featured bantamweight bout between O’Malley and Petr Yan. As a reigning champion, Sterling will be getting pay-per-view points for his title defense, but O’Malley believes half of that should be his.

“I think this is going to be the first time Aljo gets pay-per-view points, because he’s defending his belt, which is absolutely f*****,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “He owes me like 50 percent of those. The UFC basically said when they announced my fight, they’ve seen the interaction and engagement of social and everything, the thing just went boom [gestures straight up]. My fight is the most hyped fight on that card. I’m not taking anything away from Charles vs. Islam, that’s going to be a sick fight, but me vs. Petr? It’s just such an interesting fight.”

Though it was only announced recently, O’Malley’s fight is already a highly anticipated bout, in part due to how unexpected it is. O’Malley is one of the fastest-rising stars in the sport, but he’s coming off a No Contest against Pedro Munhoz, and is only ranked No. 13 in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings. Meanwhile, Yan is the top-ranked contender at 135 pounds having recently come off a split decision loss to Sterling at UFC 273. But O’Malley explains that really, there was no other option for him given the current bantamweight landscape.

“No one else in the Top-10 — everyone was booked,” O’Malley said. “I came out of that fight telling the UFC I want to fight and they were like, ‘Alright, Petr’s the only one.’ Petr said if you win, call me out and we’ll make it happen. Petr wanted it, I wanted it, the UFC’s not going to not make that f****** fight. That fight’s happening. I go out there and faceplant Petr in Abu Dhabi, I’m a superstar. That’s what it is.”

O’Malley is undeniably right about that. A win over Yan would rocket him to the top of the division and would likely earn him a title shot, perhaps against the winner of Sterling vs. Dillashaw. And though the oddsmakers currently have him as a sizable underdog, “Suga” says he’s going to prove his doubters wrong.

“I’m excited about the opportunity,” O’Malley said. “I believe I will show my best skillset against someone that will bring it out of me, like Petr. I think I will rise to the occasion, because I haven’t gotten to show what I’m really f****** capable of because I haven’t fought guys that have brought it out of me.

“So yeah, I’m excited about this. I think a lot of people are going to be obviously excited and surprised.”

UFC 280 takes place on Oct. 22 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC London Post Show.

UFC London Post Fight Press Conference.

UFC 277 Countdown.

Doctor explains Tom Aspinall’s knee injury.

Tom Aspinall has Molly McCann sing for him.

Khamzat Chimaev getting you hype.

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LISTEN UP

On To The Next One. Matches to make following UFC London.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Burying the hatchet.

Continued.

Sad.

Respectful call outs.

Matchmaking.

Statements.

Stefan Struve doing media stuff is cool.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

N/A.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading! See y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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