The UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley’s rise in the promotion has not been talked about enough. His stench at the promotion since his UFC debut has been a commendable journey altogether. The rise from DWCS to his first major loss to the champion has certainly elevated his status. However, O’Malley’s rival and former bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling thinks otherwise.
‘Suga’ made his way to the UFC through the Dana White Contender Series. On his way to the UFC gold, O’Malley has defeated some of the good fighters in the division. Interestingly, Sterling believes Suga hasn’t done anything great to receive the praise he gets now. In a recent episode of Verse Us with Erick Nicksick, the former bantamweight champ blasted the current bantamweight king.
They (UFC) wanted to give him (Sean O’Malley) the best opportunity that they could to become a world champion by hindering and stacking the deck against his opponent… It’s like the Jake Paul route. Stacking the deck so you get these highlights or you get these favorable matchups and these wins.
Aljamain Sterling via Verse Us with Eric Nicksick
Per Sterling, O’Malley did not deserve the title shot. The former bantamweight champ also revealed that Suga should have defeated some of the top-ranked fighters in the division. However, that didn’t happen as O’Malley got his title shot after a split decision win against Petr Yan. According to Sterling, the UFC played a big role in Suga’s way to UFC gold.
Interestingly, the former bantamweight champ named O’Malley’s journey to the UFC gold as the Jake Paul route. The Youtuber turned boxer often gets shamed by several individuals for picking easy fights to make a name for himself. Paul’s boxing bout against some of the retired fighters is an example of that.
Interestingly, the ‘Funk Master’ believes the UFC and O’Malley together are doing the same thing. These speculations arose due to Suga’s most wins coming against unranked fighters in the promotion. Sterling went on for a long rant against the bantamweight king. In one instance, the Funk Master also revealed how he didn’t get enough time to prepare for the O’Malley fight.
Aljamain Sterling doubled down on getting less preparation time ahead of Sean O’Malley fight
Both Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley have an excellent record at the UFC. Sterling, in particular, was the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion ahead of his fight against O’Malley. Before fighting Suga, Aljo came out victorious against Henry Cejudo. Following that win, Aljo wished for a much-needed break. However, that didn’t happen, as he fought O’Malley three months later.
Sean O’Malley and Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 (Image via Imago)Sterling was clearly displeased with the way UFC worked it out. In a recent podcast episode with coach Eric Nicksick, Aljo talked about the discomforts he faced before fighting O’Malley. The sole reason for his disappointment was the difference in preparation time that both fighters got.
When you get a guy who just went to a five-round scrap with one of the best, Henry Cejudo at bantamweight and then you try the winner around in three and a half months knowing that I can’t train for literally a whole month because my legs are that beat up from just bruising and swelling… In my opinion, the break was so small.
Aljamain Sterling via Verse Us with Eric Nicksick
However, Sterling didn’t take away the shot that O’Malley threw on him. Moreover, a recent UFC documentary suggests Hunter Campbell convinced Sterling to take the fight. Fans labeled the interaction as manipulative. Amidst all the noises surrounding O’Malley’s reign as a champion, he is now focused on taking on his next challenger, Merab Dvalishvili, on September 14.
