“He’s a striker, he’s powerful, he’s explosive, he’s young, he’s hungry, he’s experienced, so it’s going to be a difficult challenge to solve,” he said, offering his thoughts on what his opponent brings to the table and the task before him on January 24 at T-Mobile Arena. “I think he’s gonna try to mix it up — I’m not gonna be stupid and think he’s not gonna try to shoot.
“I think they saw the last two fights, but that’s Merab taking me down,” he added, putting a qualifier on the 11 takedowns he’s surrendered over the last eight rounds and change. “I think if Song comes in there and shoots, I’ll be able to stay on the feet, but I think he’ll try.”
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Keeping things standing is where O’Malley made a name for himself, first as the breakout star of the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series and then on his march towards the top of the 135-pound weight class.
His contract-winning performance against Alfred Khashakyan remains one of the signature highlights from the series, complete with Snoop Dogg shouting his name repeatedly, and his stoppages over “Teco” Quinonez, Eddie Wineland, and Thomas Almeida helped propel him into the title mix.
But he hasn’t earned a finish since he claimed the title from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292, and it’s something he’s out to rectify against Song, both to show fans he’s still capable of putting people out, but more importantly, to remind himself that he’s capable of doing such things as well.