Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O'Malley Prediction: A battle of two phenomenal fighters

This weekend, at UFC 292, rising star Sean O'Malley will battle Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title. When the current bantamweight champion squares up against O'Malley on Saturday in Boston, it will be the fourth time that he has successfully defended his belt. It is possible that this could be the last time we see "Funk Master" on top of the 135-pound class. He has been talking about moving up to featherweight after his next fight, so it is possible that this will be the case regardless. So, does Sterling win and abandon his position, or will O'Malley steal his crown before sending him on his way?

It's safe to argue that Sterling's time at the top has been one of the most memorable times of his life, so it's only appropriate that he call it quits after what is likely to be his most watched title defense to date. What better way to finish off a title run than by first claiming the belt via disqualification, then defending it via a narrow split decision, then beating T.J. Dillashaw while he was without an arm, and then winning another close split decision? It's possible that it wasn't the most powerful rule, but the fact that it infuriated such a large number of people must count for something. Sterling is not responsible for anything that belongs to anyone else. If he has anyone in mind when it comes to making the decision to switch weight classes, it's his good friend Merab Dvalishvili. Merab has been patiently waiting for his own opportunity to become bantamweight champion while also effectively working as his bodyguard by knocking off other contenders. If he has anyone in mind when it comes to making the decision to switch weight classes, it's Merab. There has been an understanding for a long time that he will step aside so that his friend can take over when the time is perfect, and all indications point to the fact that Sunday is the day that this moment has arrived.

Sean O'Malley has never been defeated inside the octagon, with the exception of a fight in 2020 against Marlon Vera, which may or may not have been the result of an injury to O'Malley's foot. "Sugar" can hold his own in the grappling department, but his striking game is where he truly shines. Not only does O'Malley possess tremendous knockout power and a killer instinct, but he also possesses a fantastic understanding of range and distance. When you consider that he weighs 135 pounds yet has a height of 5 feet 11 inches, it's not hard to see why he's been so successful in his career. Realistically speaking, O'Malley's lack of bouts against top talent is the one thing that casts doubt on his credentials. Sean O'Malley defeated Petr Yan in a nail-biter a year ago, but mostly because the UFC sees him as a potential superstar, he has been babied slightly, fighting lower-level opponents or aging veterans such as Thomas Almeida and Eddie Wineland rather than top-ranked opponents.

Taking into consideration the level of expertise possessed by both of these combatants, it is highly likely that this fight will be something of an uneven matchup. Even if O'Malley isn't a white belt, he wouldn't be considered on the same level as Cejudo, Barao, or Augusto Mendes, all of whom were whitewashed by Aljamain. If Sterling takes an opponent's back, the fight is typically done, and the battle is usually over when Sterling takes an opponent's back. O'Malley has a good chance of winning this bout if he is successful in putting Sterling to sleep, but it seems unlikely that he will be able to do so before Aljamain seizes him. It is anticipated that the Jamaican-American's grappling skills may prove to be the deciding factor this weekend; nevertheless, he must remain wary of O'Malley's ability to knock him out with a single punch. As a result, even though I believe Sean O'Malley will have a few chances to win, I anticipate that Aljamain Sterling will win the fight via submission.