Petr Yan claims the UFC blocked his title fight against Sean O'Malley at UFC White House.
The UFC allegedly wanted to protect O'Malley from another loss on the big stage.
## What happened?
Petr Yan wrote on Instagram that the UFC were afraid O'Malley would lose to him.
The UFC gave O'Malley an easier opponent, Aiemann Zahabi, instead.
O'Malley stopped Zahabi in the second round at the White House event.
## Why it matters for Petr Yan
Petr Yan has won four straight fights, including a dominant decision over Merab Dvalishvili last December.
He captured the bantamweight title with that win.
O'Malley has rebounded from back-to-back losses to Dvalishvili with consecutive wins.
## What comes next?
No timeline has been announced for Petr Yan's first title defense.
Petr Yan and O'Malley met once before, in 2022, when O'Malley edged Yan on a split decision.
O'Malley went on to beat Aljamain Sterling for the title but lost it to Dvalishvili.
Petr Yan gave his consent for the fight against O'Malley, but the UFC chose a different path.
The UFC's decision has sparked controversy, with some questioning the promotion's motives.
Petr Yan's first title defense is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see him in action.
The bantamweight division is highly competitive, with several top contenders vying for a title shot.
Petr Yan's win over Merab Dvalishvili was a dominant performance, with a unanimous decision on December 2023.
The fight against O'Malley would have been a highly anticipated matchup, with both fighters having a lot to prove.