Six years ago on Dana White's Contender Series, "Suga" Sean O'Malley proclaimed "Welcome to The Suga Show!" Now, The Show is truly here, as O'Malley captured the UFC bantamweight championship in the main event of UFC 292.
The first round proved to be more of a feeling-out one, though Sterling seemed to edge things out thanks to a series of leg kicks over the five minutes, as well as a late takedown attempt where Sterling pressed O'Malley against the cage and land a barrage of small strikes.
Sterling looked to get right back to work with a similar takedown attempt. After getting out of Sterling's grasp, Sterling came forward with strikes, only for O'Malley to crack and drop him with a counter right. Some follow up hammer fists and punches saw the end of the fight, and gave O'Malley the strap.
O'Malley now joins Jamahal Hill as the only alumni from DWCS to go on and capture UFC gold.
UFC 292: UFC fighters react to Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O'Malley
Take a seat kids.
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) August 20, 2023
Woooow!! Crazy I saw that! #ufc292
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) August 20, 2023
The Sugar show goes on. #ufc292
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) August 20, 2023
Our rematch have to happen sooner or later…
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) August 20, 2023
The sugar show sniper man that was clean
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) August 20, 2023
Wow
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 20, 2023
Dangggggggg
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) August 20, 2023
HOLY SHIT!!! O’MALLEY DID IT IN ROUND 2 🤯🤯🤯 #ufc292
— Chase Hooper (@chase_hooper) August 20, 2023
Congratulations @SugaSeanMMA way to be patient and pick your shot!!!
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) August 20, 2023
I like this
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) August 20, 2023
New history in division
Might not of changed anything. But I think the champ deserved to fight his way out a bit longer. #ufc292
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) August 20, 2023
Very very pro ufc business stoppage in my opinion
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) August 20, 2023
This marks Sterling's fourth defense of the UFC bantamweight championship since defeating Petr Yan for the belt at UFC 259. In that fight, he became the only UFC fighter to win a title via disqualification. Prior to tonight's fight, he had successfully defended the title against Yan, T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo.
O'Malley has just one loss in his professional MMA career and entered tonight 4-0 (1 no-contest) in his last five fights. Prior to tonight, he most recently fought at UFC 280, scoring a controversial split decision win over Yan.