Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley returns to the Octagon to face rising Chinese contender Song Yadong in a critical bantamweight clash at UFC 324. Both fighters enter this bout looking to rebound and position themselves for a title shot in the evolving 135-pound landscape.
O’Malley brings an 18-3 (1 NC) record but is coming off back-to-back losses to former champion Merab Dvalishvili. Song enters with a 22-8-1 record, riding momentum from a controversial technical decision win over Henry Cejudo. The former champion is favored at -210 with Song as the underdog around +170.
Here’s our complete breakdown of UFC 324: O’Malley vs Song, including UFC predictions,best bet, key props and an expert final verdict.
Mini Fight Info Strip
Event: UFC 324 – T-Mobile Arena
Weight class: Bantamweight bout (135 lbs)
Fight length: 3-round co-main event
Date & time: Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Main card 9:00 p.m. ET, walk time ~10:30 p.m. ET
New customers only. Must be 21+ in most jurisdictions, but 18+ in DC, KY, and WY. Offer is valid only in eligible regulated states/jurisdictions and not available in AR; void where prohibited. First online real-money wager only; cashed-out or bonus-funded bets are excluded.
Odds updated: January 21, 2026 – 2:50 PM ET. Lines may shift before fight night, especially after weigh-ins.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats to Know
Before diving into the analysis, here’s the Tale of the Tape for O’Malley vs Song.
Tale Of The Tape
Sean O’Malley
Song Yadong
Record
18-3 (1 NC)
22-8-1 (1 NC)
Age
31
28
Height
5’11”
5’8″
Reach
72″
67″
Stance
Southpaw
Orthodox
Sig. Strikes Landed
7.43
4.61
Striking Accuracy
61%
42%
Takedowns
0.45
0.53
Takedown Defense
60%
72%
Submission Avg.
0.10
0.14
O’Malley has a 3 inch height advantage and 5 inch reach advantage, which he uses masterfully to control distance. His 61% striking accuracy ranks second all-time in bantamweight history, while he lands 7.43 significant strikes per minute. Song’s physical strength and 72% takedown defense will be tested against O’Malley’s improved wrestling game.
Fighter Breakdown – Sean O’Malley Analysis
O’Malley enters with an 18-3 (1 NC) record including wins over Aljamain Sterling, Marlon Vera and Petr Yan. The 31 year old former champion is coming off consecutive losses to Merab Dvalishvili but remains one of the most dangerous strikers at 135 pounds.
Strengths: Elite striking with pinpoint accuracy. Exceptional use of range and distance management with his 5’11” frame. Dynamic kicking arsenal including front kicks and switch kicks. High fight IQ and ring generalship. Improved takedown defense from his title run. Creative striking combinations and feints. Fights well moving backward.
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to relentless wrestlers and high-pressure grapplers. Two straight losses bring mental question marks. Defensive grappling remains exploitable against elite wrestlers. Can be taken down when pressured to the fence. Hasn’t won since March 2024.
Betting Angles: O’Malley by KO/TKO (+350) is the value play. Song’s questionable cardio and defensive lapses create knockout opportunities. O’Malley’s accuracy and power should shine in this matchup. The moneyline at -210 feels steep given his recent skid.
Fighter Breakdown – Song Yadong Analysis
Song brings a 22-8-1 (1 NC) record with his most recent win over Henry Cejudo via controversial technical decision due to an eyepoke. The 28 year old Chinese contender is ranked #5 and looking to break into title contention with an upset victory.
Strengths: Powerful boxing with knockout power in both hands. Durable chin and strong recuperative powers. Physical strength and size for bantamweight. Solid takedown defense at 72%. Five knockout victories in the UFC. Improving wrestling and grappling defense.
Weaknesses: Questionable cardio that fades badly in rounds 2-3 during high-pace fights. Limited kicking game and narrow offensive toolkit. Relies almost exclusively on boxing. 42% striking accuracy leaves many punches wasted. Can be outpointed by technical strikers. Struggles with rangier opponents. Height and reach disadvantage against taller fighters.
Betting Angles: Song by KO in rounds 1-2 offers lottery ticket value if he can catch O’Malley early. Over 2.5 rounds looks good given both fighters’ durability. Song by decision (+310) has merit if he can pressure O’Malley.
This is the most likely finish. O’Malley’s 5-inch reach advantage and elite accuracy will allow him to pick Song apart from distance. Song’s cardio issues typically emerge late in round 2, creating perfect timing for O’Malley to land a finishing combination. Song tends to fade and become hittable when tired, while O’Malley maintains precision throughout. Song’s defensive lapses combined with O’Malley’s accuracy creates the perfect storm. At +350 (implied 22%), we see this hitting closer to 35% of the time.
BetMGM
All in one gambling website
Reputable gambling name
Multiple betting features including live streaming
21+. AZ/CO/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA/MD/MA/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/ VA/WV/WY only. Offer not available in DC/MS/NV/NY/PR. New customers only. Qualifying deposit (min $10) and first real money wager required. If qualifying bet settles as a loss, user is refunded 100% in non-withdrawable bonus bets up to $1,500. Full T&Cs can be found on betmgm.com.
The books clearly expect this to go to decision. However, the stylistic matchup suggests otherwise. Song will likely push a high pace early, trying to close distance and land power shots. Given his past performances, his pace should drain him by round 2, opening windows for O’Malley’s precision striking. O’Malley has stopped opponents in rounds 2-3 multiple times when they fade. At +210 (implied 32%), this represents solid value for a finish around the midpoint.
Small stake only. If Song doesn’t rush and keeps his energy conserved while making his punches count, he can make O’Malley frustrated enough to push forward recklessly. But given O’Malley’s recent struggles against Dvalishvili, he might be facing a mental block and may be trigger shy. This could be a boon for Song as he can implement his gameplan without much opposition from the very closed off O’Malley and get the decision victory. Keep stakes minimal at 0.5 units maximum on this speculative pick.
Prediction – Final Verdict
Official pick: Sean O’Malley by KO/TKO in Round 2-3 (+350)
We’re backing O’Malley to get back in the win column with a knockout victory. Song will most likely try to pressure early and land heavy hands, but O’Malley’s superior reach, movement and accuracy will keep him at bay. As Song tires late in round 2, O’Malley will begin landing cleaner combinations. We expect a finish via strikes in the second half of round 2 or early round 3 as Song’s cardio fails and defensive holes widen.
While Song’s power keeps this dangerous early, O’Malley’s technical superiority should shine once Song Yadong slows down. This sets up a potential title eliminator for O’Malley against the new champion Petr Yan.
How to Bet UFC 324: Tips for This Card
Beyond the O’Malley vs Song bout, UFC 324 features several compelling matchups worth betting consideration.
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
mma 
