UFC Legend Criticizes Aljamain Sterling's Performance Against Sean O'Malley At UFC 292

Sterling's UFC 292 performance left one UFC Hall of Famer puzzled.
UFC Legend Criticizes Aljamain Sterling's Performance Against Sean O'Malley At UFC 292
UFC Legend Criticizes Aljamain Sterling's Performance Against Sean O'Malley At UFC 292 /

The strategy of Aljamain Sterling during the UFC 292 main event left a lot to be desired in the mind of one UFC legend.

Sterling was hoping to extend his record for the most successful consecutive UFC bantamweight title defenses, but Sean O'Malley had other ideas. The "Sugar" show captured the UFC Bantamweight Championship after stopping Sterling via second-round TKO. Sterling actually won the first round on all three judges' scorecards, but a UFC color commentator wasn't sold on Aljo's strategy from the start of the fight. 

Sean O'Malley knocks down Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292.
(via Zuffa LLC)

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Taking to his YouTube channel, UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Michael Bisping expressed his belief that Sterling had a rather odd game plan before eventually being caught by a counter right hand that led to the end of his title reign.

"I didn't think he had a very good game plan in general," Bisping said. "We only saw one takedown towards the end of the round. I thought that was kind of surprising, and I thought his attack wasn't the best. I don't know if it was the moment, I don't know if it was the crowd, I don't know if it's the fact that O'Malley is smooth and is sophisticated and he's got great footwork so it was throwing him off, but Aljamain seemed to be lunging from a distance, throwing a lot of kicks and throwing some goofy side kicks, which I wouldn't really have recommended."

Sterling has called for an immediate rematch. O'Malley brushed off that idea and is targeting a rematch with Marlon "Chito" Vera.

If you use any quotes from this article, please leave an H/T to MMAKnockout.com for the transcription.

VIDEO: SEAN O'MALLEY STOPS ALJAMAIN STERLING IN SPECTACULAR FASHION AT UFC 292

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Fernando Quiles Jr.
FERNANDO QUILES JR.

Fernando has over a decade of combat sports news writing experience. He currently covers MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Fernando joined MMA Knockout as the Lead Writer/Editor when it was founded in 2023.