Despite harsh takes, Aljamain Sterling disagrees with Sean O’Malley’s lifestyle switch-up before UFC 316 title affair: “Why would I stop?”
Aljamain Sterling slams UFC 316 PPV title challenger Sean O'Malley promising better results vs. Merab Dvalishvili by cutting down on vices.
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Aljamain Sterling dumbs down Sean O'Malley making UFC 316 pre-fight changes (Source: IMAGO/X)
Former champ Sean O’Malley has the opportunity for a second reign when he meets Merab Dvalishvili again in a PPV title rematch. The UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 PPV event goes down at the start of June at Prudential Center. Newark, NJ. ‘Suga’ promised some life changes ahead for better performance this time around. Aljamain Sterling, though, gives a hard pass on such a notion.
Ex-UFC 135-pound division ruler Aljamain Sterling is who Sean O’Malley won his gold from; it’s also safe to say Sterling is no fan. He has often jibed at the opponent for his lack of PPV draw power and hit list of top contenders before a crack at gold. Sterling would much rather see friend and neighbor Merab Dvalishvili win again. But to his point, he said, why fix something if it’s not broken?
So which part did it say, ‘Yeah, and I added in wrestling training sessions,’ ….I mean of course, maybe he is. It’s just funny that everyone made such a big thing, ‘Oh he’s changing his life, he’s giving up the Mary Jane — I’m like, those are the things that technically made you who you are and a champion. So, for someone to tell me to go cold turkey, no more drinking, no edibles, nothing, I’m going to look at them like, ‘This is what got me here, why would I stop?’
Aljamain Sterling via his Official YT Channel (@FunkMasterUFC)
After losing the promotion’s bantamweight title last September (UFC 306 PPV) to Merab Dvalishvili, ‘Suga’ underwent changes. For one, the UFC 316 title challenger had surgery on his hip cartilage (labrum) ad could not enter an immediate camp. Hence, when he did, Sean O’Malley went into a clear cleanse and overdrive.
On his ‘TimboSugaShow’ (@SugaSeanUFC) TSS | Ep.314 with coach Tim Welch, the prolific striking expert informed foregoing social media, marijuana, partying and so on. Suga said it would attribute to his performance.
Aljamain Sterling disagreed to that point that it made him what he was; i.e., a champ. So, why fix it unless it’s broken? Now, it would make sense for, say, Alex Pereira to make changes in his ground game. But changing his ‘CHAMA!’ war cry or his signature strike-style or rabonas also changes his marketability. ‘Funk Master’ gave some other examples to his point.
Ever heard of Jon Jones? Carlos Prates? Aljamain Sterling holds out their habits, infamy and fight IQ to prove point
A starving ‘Suga’ propped up as a +225 underdog (BetsOnline.Ag/FanDuels) for the June 7 PPV headliner. However, since then, the UFC 316 odds have narrowed down; was it his admission for life changes that swayed oddsmakers?
Self-gratification might be out the window, but is Sean O’Malley practicing wrestling? Aljamain Sterling has questions. As it is, the Jamaican-American fighter did not want immediate title rematch for Suga anyway. It is because O’Malley could hardly substantiate enough changes without a proper wrestling gameplan.
Suga is a Quintet Ulta/No-Gi grappler practitioner, but does not come close to Dvalishvili. For one, Aljo said he’d much rather need wrestling changes against Sambo master Merab Dvalishvili than life changes. The Georgian star toyed with him, with immense takedowns and top control in their first title match. Sean O’Malley did try to mount an offense, but it did not take.
…This guy [Carlos Prates] is smoking loosies the day of the fight and not even like one. The man is damn near going through a whole pack, putting guys in the ground. So, I’m sitting here like, nah, it’s got to be some type of method to the madness about the mental mind frame that you have to be in when you’re going into the fight. I think that’s the most important thing, like are you comfortable?
Aljamain Sterling further said
Sterling also proposed gun-toting, violence-loving, picogram-touting, and drink-loving UFC heavyweight Jon Jones, who’s arguably the GOAT of MMA. He has had his vices and ventures that have taken him to the flip side of the law. However, there’s no denying his fame.
Contrastingly, Brazil’s Carlos Prates is fresher blood but even a heavier chain-smoker and party addict. That did not stop him from reeling off a 4-0 UFC record so far with four KOs and POTN post-fight bonuses against Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny.
For the former bantamweight champ, it remains all mental. Sterling, like others, is keen on knowing if O’Malley can actually have enough changes this time around.
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