Sean O'Malley 'out to show world' how good he is against Petr Yan at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi

While not quite agreeing that UFC 280 represents his Conor McGregor-Jose Aldo moment, Sean O’Malley is out to show the world in Abu Dhabi exactly how talented he is.

“Suga Sean”, one of the most popular stars in the sport, this weekend faces his toughest test to date in the UFC, when he takes on No 1-ranked bantamweight contender, and former champion, Petr Yan.

Win at Etihad Arena on Saturday night, and UFC president Dana White has already said O’Malley, the 11th-ranked challenger, is next for a title shot. Abu Dhabi this weekend, White said, could even be the talented American's true breakout moment.

It would sure be a lot to live up to. In 2015, McGregor dropped Aldo in 13 seconds to end the Brazilian’s long reign as featherweight champion. In doing so, he sparked a combat-sports career for the ages.

“I don’t know. I don’t really put too much thought into it,” O’Malley said on Wednesday. “This is 'Suga' versus Petr. The chances of me going out there and knocking him out in 13 seconds are very low. But 'Suga' versus Petr seems sweeter to me than Conor versus Aldo.”

O’Malley, 15-1 in professional MMA, conceded Yan constitutes his sternest challenge since breaking into the UFC, as an explosive winner of the Dana White Contender Series, in 2017.

“That’s what so exciting,” O’Malley said. “Because I have the skills, I have the abilities, and now I have the opportunity to go out and show the world that I’m as good as I’ve been saying I am.”

One thing that O’Malley did agree with White about, though: dispatch Yan, and a first shot at UFC gold is his. Aljamain Sterling, the current champion, fights in Abu Dhabi, too, when he defends his title against former belt-holder TJ Dillashaw.

“I already knew [about the title shot],”