Sean O’Malley holds the belief that he's stepping into the arena against a legendary figure for his first shot at the UFC gold.
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In his inaugural shot at a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title, Sean O’Malley holds the belief that he’s stepping into the arena against a legendary figure. The octagon makes its long-awaited return to Boston, Massachusetts, marking the first time since October 2019, with the upcoming UFC 292 event scheduled for this weekend (Saturday, August 19, 2023). The pinnacle of the event will showcase a clash for the Bantamweight championship, where reigning champion Aljamain Sterling aims to extend his reign over the division by thwarting the formidable challenge of the “Sugar Show.”
O’Malley and Sterling’s interactions have been both face-to-face and virtual as they’ve approached their impending showdown. Nevertheless, at 28 years of age, O’Malley holds an appreciation for the champion’s abilities and believes that “Funkmaster” has truly earned the right to be hailed as the supreme figure in the division’s history.
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In a conversation with ESPN (as reported by MMA Junkie), O’Malley expressed his view that Aljamain Sterling stands as the preeminent Bantamweight to have graced the UFC. With his prime years at the age of 33, Sterling holds a prominent position. O’Malley recognizes the significance of this age range, given that numerous male UFC champions find their stride in their 30s. Highlighting Sterling’s exceptional grappling prowess, O’Malley underscored his own identity as a striker, thus setting the stage for an engaging clash of styles in this matchup.
“Aljamain Sterling is the best Bantamweight the UFC has ever known,” O’Malley told ESPN. “He’s in his prime. He’s 33, I think — that’s pretty much prime age. All the male UFC champions are in their 30s. He’s the best grappler in the division. I’m a striker. This is a striker vs. grappler matchup, so it’s exciting.”
“It gets me excited,” he continued. “I want to go out there and prove people wrong. The last fight, everyone thought I was going to lose that fight. Then when I won the fight, it just made people so mad. I liked that. For whatever reason, I liked that. So for me to go out there and be a huge underdog again against Aljamain, it’s a weird addiction.”
Securing his most significant triumph to date, O’Malley defied skeptics as he embraced the role of the underdog in his recent victory over former champion Petr Yan. Their meeting at UFC 280 in October 2022 not only earned them the prestigious “Fight of the Night” recognition but also concluded with O’Malley claiming victory through a split decision.
When it comes to opponents they’ve both faced, the most prominent connection between the main attractions of UFC 292 is the fighter known as “No Mercy.” The sole other shared opponent is Pedro Munhoz. Sterling’s victory over Munhoz via unanimous decision in June 2019 stands out, whereas O’Malley’s encounter with Munhoz resulted in a no contest due to an accidental eye poke in July 2022.
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