Sean O’Malley expects to put Aljamain’s Sterling’s ‘lights out’ at UFC 292

Sean O'Malley holds an unshakeable belief that the conclusion of his showdown with Aljamain Sterling will see the champion sprawled unconscious on the mat.

This titanic clash headlines UFC 292 in Boston on August 19. O'Malley is the contender aiming to disrupt Sterling's two-year reign as bantamweight champion. His path to this title shot? An impressive streak of four victories, the last one being a heart-stopping split decision against Petr Yan.

O'Malley, known for his propensity to turn lights off with one punch, makes no secret of his game plan for Sterling.

In a backstage tête-à-tête at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, O'Malley announced, "I'm about to do what I always do. No mystery, this is a classic striker versus grappler duel. My mission? Knock him out cold. That's the way I approach every fight. Ever seen anyone rock Petr Yan? Anyone catching him off-guard? Well, I floored him in the second round."

O'Malley has a knack for locating opponents' chins, a talent he's used to build a career. "First-round knockouts, that's my trademark. He's a big cutter, and that drains the brain liquid. Sometimes, a single, well-aimed blow can fell him. And I can deliver that," he adds confidently about the forthcoming bout.

Sterling, a tough competitor, tasted defeat through a knockout only once in his career - a mistimed blow in December 2017 saw him on the receiving end of Marlon Moraes's knee. Since then, Sterling has remained undefeated, with an impressive nine-win streak.

In his most recent fight, he dampened the return of ex-two-division champion Henry Cejudo, grabbing a split decision victory at UFC 288. With such a stellar record, O'Malley acknowledges why he's seen as the less favoured contender for the title.

"Reflect on who he's conquered, the caliber of fighters he's bested in the last few bouts," O'Malley concedes. "Petr Yan, despite being a tough and close fight, is my best victory till date. So, the odds aren't surprising. I relish that. It lights a fire in me, and the thrill of confronting the top bantamweight in the world is exhilarating."

The UFC bantamweight title hasn't seen much stability, with Sterling being the only one managing to defend it more than twice consecutively (Dominick Cruz had four successful defences across WEC and UFC). A potential loss might propel UFC to offer Sterling an immediate rematch.

However, O'Malley envisages a different outcome: Sterling transitioning to featherweight post-fight, leaving him to etch his own championship legacy in the bantamweight division.

"Post this fight, he's mentioned his plans to advance to featherweight, which makes this a gamble for him," O'Malley expounds. "He could easily ascend now, claim that title and prepare for a champ-champ face-off. But he's putting it on the line for the lucrative payday that this fight promises."

O'Malley continues, "There's a bevy of interesting competitors in our division currently. I know Deiveson Figueiredo is set to battle Dominick Cruz. So, many intriguing fights are lined up. My prediction? Finish the job, he ascends to featherweight, out of sight, out of mind. And I keep doing what I do best – fight."