Key Stats: 7.83 strikes landed per minute (2nd all-time), +4.49 striking differential (3rd all-time), 62.4% significant strike accuracy (5th all-time)
What It Means: The Sugar Show was best described by UFC.com scribe E. Spencer Kyte as a “technicolor striker,” a nod to both his diverse striking prowess and colorful self-presentation. All the hype is warranted to this point, however, as O’Malley has more often than not delivered beautifully entertaining displays of striking. His distance management is sharp, as is the creativity with which he sets up his bigger moves. His long-range weapons set the tempo, whether he is moving forward or back, and he has shown great vision defensively, as well. He often doesn’t need to load up to rock opponents, and his speed and volume can break more durable opponents down. We haven’t seen much of his grappling, but he is much more confident in his jiu jitsu at this point of his career.
WATCH: Sean O’Malley’s Greatest Hits
What to Look For in the Fight: The tempo and distance this matchup is fought at is going to tell plenty in terms of the striking battle. O’Malley and Yan are both patient, but they unload combinations once they get their timing. Yan is usually in perpetual forward motion, but O’Malley is supremely comfortable moving laterally, countering and prodding with long strikes. “No Mercy” is methodical in the way he adjusts and finds a home for his powerful strikes, and history says he has a clear grappling advantage, so that could be a wrinkle to the matchup, as well, as he tries to get past O’Malley’s long limbs.
