“Suga” Sean O’Malley secured the Bantamweight championship by delivering a knockout blow to Aljamain Sterling during the second round of UFC 292. O’Malley had foreseen targeting Sterling’s chin, a prediction that materialized as he unleashed a potent strike in the second round, reminiscent of Connor McGregor’s memorable hit on Jose Aldo. Following more than 20 seconds of forceful hammer fists and body blows, Sterling, amidst attempts to evade while enduring substantial punishment, ultimately turned his back to his opponent. This action prompted referee Mark Goddard’s intervention. With this victory, O’Malley attains the distinction of becoming the youngest UFC champion. At a mere 28 years of age, he now shares the second spot in the division’s knockout records. As we reflect on UFC 292, here are the major takeaways from this remarkable evening:
A star is born- The “Suga Show” is real-Sean O’Malley has always been a fan favorite and after his impressive win at UFC 292 the numbers back that up. After the fight, UFC President Dana White talked about O’Malley’s stardom: “We broke the all-time gate record here. Bruce Springsteen just played here and did $5 million. We did over $7 million,”. The Boston Garden. The craziest f**king sports town on Earth… Other than their team that plays here, we’re the biggest thing that’s ever been here. So, what does that tell you about O’Malley?”
“This is also the biggest bantamweight championship fight ever on pay-per-view, globally. It broke the record. Biggest bantamweight championship fight ever. I’m sure you saw the crowd at the end. O’Malley isn’t gonna be a star. He is a star.”
O’Malley’s strategy paid off– Numerous contenders within the bantamweight division expressed skepticism about O’Malley due to his limited experience against prominent opponents. Prior to his clash with Sterling, O’Malley had not encountered figures like Henry Cejudo, Cory Sandhagen, or even Merab Dvalishvili. Aside from the Chito Vera bout and the contentious decision in the Petr Yan match, O’Malley had refrained from taking significant risks. Instead, he opted to face lower-ranked adversaries, amassing victories while not necessarily prioritizing the caliber of his challengers. Following his confident words and subsequently validating them within the ring on Saturday night, O’Malley has now ascended to the position of Bantamweight UFC champion.
Zhang Weili is in her prime– The reigning champion in the strawweight division completely dismantled challenger Amanda Lemos. Despite Lemos’ established reputation as a formidable adversary, she endured a relentless barrage from beginning to end. This contest stood as one of the most uneven matches witnessed, with Weili surpassing Lemos in strikes 288 to 21. Given Weili’s current fighting ability, it appears that there is a lack of viable contenders poised to unseat her from her throne in the near future.
Ian Garry has arrived- The welterweight showdown between Ian Garry and Neil Magny had been steeped in animosity for months. Ultimately, it was Garry who emerged triumphant, having the final word. Garry dominated the seasoned Magny, convincingly securing victory in every round and even punctuating the fight with taunting gestures. Despite Garry’s unsportsmanlike behavior, his performance within the octagon was nothing short of exceptional, sweeping each round with convincing prowess. Garry’s undefeated MMA record now stands at 13-0, including a pristine 6-0 record in the UFC. Following the contest, Garry extended a challenge to Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson as his next prospective opponent, aiming to solidify his standing among the top ten welterweights through his resounding triumph over Magny.
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