O’Malley faces Song Yadong as UFC enters Paramount era
Sean O'Malley prepares for a three-round bout against Song Yadong at UFC 324 while the UFC transitions to a $7.7 billion Paramount+ streaming model. This shift replaces traditional pay-per-view revenue with monthly subscriptions, impacting how fighters like O'Malley earn income.
Sean O’Malley enters a three-round non-title fight against Song Yadong at UFC 324. This matchup marks the first time the 31-year-old Montana native competes in a three-round bout since he defeated Petr Yan at UFC 280. Song Yadong currently holds the number 5 ranking and enters this contest following a technical decision win against Henry Cejudo in February. O’Malley seeks a finish to prove he can still put people’s lights out. He lost his bantamweight title to Merab Dvalishvili via unanimous decision at Noche UFC in 2024 and lost the rematch in Newark last summer.
The bantamweight division shows high activity as Petr Yan holds the title for a second time after defeating Dvalishvili at UFC 323. Song Yadong holds an 11-3-1 record after joining the roster in 2017. O’Malley wants to solve the challenge of Song’s power and experience. He surrendered 11 takedowns over eight rounds of fighting in his recent bouts against Dvalishvili.
Dvalishvili demands and O’Malley purse estimates
Merab Dvalishvili faces Petr Yan in a trilogy bout following his title loss. Dvalishvili told Bloody Elbow that he is fine with whatever timeframe the UFC selects for the rematch. O’Malley expects the division to remain interesting with Umar Nurmagomedov fighting Deiveson Figueiredo and Cory Sandhagen active in the rankings.
O’Malley earns significant income from social media, stating he made triple the amount he made fighting through platforms like Instagram and X. His fight pay varies based on the event type and performance.
| Event | Opponent | Show Money | Total Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC 306 | Merab Dvalishvili | $3,000,000 | $4,142,000 |
| UFC 299 | Marlon Vera | $1,500,000 | $2,317,000 |
| UFC 292 | Aljamain Sterling | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| UFC 324 | Song Yadong | ~$240,000 | ~$480,000 |
| UFC Freedom 250 | Aiemann Zahabi | ~$262,000 | ~$287,000 |
O’Malley claimed he received $600,000 to compete at UFC Freedom 250, but he noted that fighters received less than they normally earn at such a major card. He told Sidekick Boxing that the reduced purse definitely sucks. This financial reality persists as the UFC transitions to a Paramount+ streaming model. The $7.7 billion broadcast deal averages $1.1 billion annually, which exceeds the previous $500 million annual ESPN contract.
New revenue splits and Sydney negotiations
The UFC moves all live events to Paramount+ starting in 2026, ending the pay-per-view era for U.S. viewers. This shift replaces the $79.99 per pay-per-view price with a monthly subscription model. Paramount+ plans to offer tiers starting at $7.99 per month or $12.99 for the ad-free option. You should prepare for these changes if you watch the fights from America.
The UFC manages 13 pay-per-view cards and 30 Fight Night events each year under this agreement. While the $7.7 billion deal provides stability, the removal of standalone pay-per-view sales changes how the promotion captures direct revenue from major cards. O’Malley earned $4,142,000 at UFC 306, which remains his biggest recorded payday. He previously earned $500,000 for his win against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.
Will the removal of the pay-per-view model decrease the leverage of top stars during contract renegotiations? O’Malley maintains that his social media presence provides more money than his fight purses. He earned approximately $9,721,000 across 12 fights, while model estimates place his career earnings at $11,478,000. The bantamweight division remains crowded with fighters like Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista working to climb the rankings. Dvalishvili has already confirmed his next fight is against Yan.
