The Sean O'Malley era has begun. In the main event of UFC 292, "Suga" Sean O'Malley proved that the hype was real as he violently dethroned Aljamain Sterling for the bantamweight championship with a second-round TKO.
It felt like a coronation waiting to happen for O'Malley as the build to UFC 292 was all about the colorful challenger. He was treated like the A-side for weeks as the headliner at the TD Garden in Boston and was greeted with a hero's welcome as he entered the Octagon to Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar."
And then a superstar was made with a single punch.
The viral sensation who made waves back in 2017 on Dana White's Contender Series made a swift ascent through the bantamweight rankings and faced the man who many called the greatest bantamweight of all time in Sterling. And the challenge for the fan favorite was assumed to be how he would deal with Sterling's world-class grappling.
We never had a chance to find out.
After an initial frame where O'Malley and Sterling circled each other, Sterling opened the second round looking to close the distance and secure a takedown. After an initial failed takedown attempt, Sterling tried to get inside by throwing a left hand. But the pinpoint striking and accuracy of O'Malley saw the challenger slide back and fire a picture-perfect counter right hand that sank the champion.
With an arena full of O'Malley fans roaring, he swarmed Sterling with strikes until he got the finish at the 51-second mark. All of the naysayers for O'Malley were silenced as the 28-year-old not only has UFC gold around his waist but is now one of the biggest stars in the UFC.
"The Suga Show" may have only just begun.
In the co-main event, Zhang Weili thoroughly dominated Amanda Lemos to retain the women's strawweight title.
Zhang used relentless pressure, a heavy top game and ground and pound to overwhelm the game challenger. Lemos had few answers for the champion, who took her down at will and relentlessly pounded on her for 25 minutes.
Zhang outstruck Lemos 288-21 in one of the most lopsided striking displays in UFC history and Lemos could do little but throw up desperate submission attempts that Zhang powered out of.
It was a terribly one-sided affair with scores of 50-43, 50-44 and 49-45 for the champion who continues her second reign as champion with her first successful title defense.
UFC 292 full card results
Main card
- Sean O'Malley def. Aljamain Sterling via 2nd round TKO (punches) (:51) for the UFC bantamweight title (:51)
- Zhang Weili def. Amanda Lemos via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-44 & 49-45) to retain the UFC strawweight title
- Ian Machado Garry def. Neil Magny via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26 & 30-24)
- Mario Bautista def. Da’mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 30-27)
- Marlon Vera def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 & 29-28)
Prelims
- Brad Tavares def. Chris Weidman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27)
- Gregory Rodrigues def. Denis Tiuliulin via 1st round KO (elbows) (1:43)
- Kurt Holobaugh def. Austin Hubbard via 2nd round submission (triangle choke) (2:39) to win TUF Ultimate Fighter lightweight final
- Brad Katona def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28 & 30-27) to win TUF bantamweight final
Early Prelims
- Andre Petroski def. Gerald Meerschaert via split decision (29-28, 29-28 & 28-29)
- Natalia Silva def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27 & 30-27)
- Karine Silva def. Maryna Moroz via 1st round submission (guillotine choke) (4:59)
