Sean O’Malley Stuns Aljamain Sterling To Win UFC Bantamweight Title
Sean O’Malley stunned Aljamain Sterling with a second-round stoppage to win the bantamweight title at UFC 292 in Boston, Massachusetts.
O’Malley, 28, landed a perfect counter-right hand, dropping fellow American Sterling before ending the contest with punches on the ground.
The win completes an impressive ascension for O’Malley, who has become one of the UFC’s most marketable stars.
“This was the most nervous I’ve ever been for a fight,” said O’Malley.
“Aljamain is the best bantamweight of all time, so yeah, I was nervous, but I never lost the confidence because I know what I possess – this right hand, baby.”
On the undercard, Ireland’s Ian Garry extended the unbeaten start to his career as he dominated American Neil Magny on his way to a unanimous decision victory.
And in the co-main event, China’s Zhang Weili outclassed Brazil’s Amanda Lemos to defend her strawweight title with a unanimous decision victory.
O’Malley justifies the hype
O’Malley was granted his title shot after a narrow win over Petr Yan in October, which was his eighth in 10 bouts since earning a UFC contract after impressing on reality TV show, Dana’s White’s Contender Series.
But Sterling, 34, who was making the fourth defence of his title, had argued pre-fight O’Malley did not deserve the opportunity and he had been fast-tracked into the bout because of his popularity.
O’Malley, who was competing in his first UFC title bout, was cheered by the Boston crowd on his way to the octagon while Sterling embraced heavy boos as he smiled and gestured towards the television cameras.
Many pre-fight pundits had predicted Sterling would out-wrestle O’Malley during the fight but in the few grappling exchanges the pair shared, the challenger was able to navigate to safety.
After a tentative opening round the decisive moment came in the second when O’Malley slipped back from a Sterling punch and countered with a perfectly-timed right hand, sending a dazed champion to the canvas.
Following a number of follow-up punches on the ground the referee stopped the fight, prompting an eruption of noise from the crowd.
After the bout, O’Malley called out Brazilian Marlon Vera, who defeated Pedro Munhoz earlier in the evening.
