“He doesn’t explode without Conor,” Aljamain Sterling compares fighting more popular Sean O’Malley to iconic Khabib vs Conor McGregor battle

Aljamain Sterling is looking to gain more respect through his upcoming bout with Sean O'Malley at UFC 292.

“He doesn’t explode without Conor,” Aljamain Sterling compares fighting more popular Sean O’Malley to iconic Khabib vs Conor McGregor battle

Aljamain Sterling will defend his belt against Sean O'Malley in UFC 292 (Courtesy-MMA Junkie/Bleacher Report)

The bantamweight division in the UFC has a lot of tough and exciting fighters. Aljamain Sterling stands at the top of the bantamweight division as the current champion. Ever since his title win, he has fought the best fighters in the weight class. Now for his fourth title defense, he will fight Sean O’Malley in Boston. This fight is the main event of UFC 292 and has garnered plenty of attention. Recently Sterling even compared it to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor fight.

“Khabib doesn’t explode the way he did without Conor,” said Sterling. Nurmagomedov was known for his excellent wrestling and strong chin but had mediocre popularity worldwide. His fame hit its peak only after fighting McGregor. The fans and general appeal McGregor brought to the fight was incredible. The bout still holds the record for the highest pay-per-views in the UFC. Sterling compared his bout with O’Malley in a similar regard.

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“The Funkmaster” gave credit to O’Malley’s fame and personality outside the cage. Giving O’Malley a title shot indeed brought more publicity to this bout. “Suga” Sean O’Malley is an entertainer by putting on exciting fights as well as having a unique appeal outside the cage. He may not be so similar to McGregor, but he is the most popular fighter in the bantamweight division.

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With an MMA record of 23 wins and three losses, Sterling looks to profit from this fight. Both Sterling and O’Malley have dominated their previous opponents. It will be difficult to analyze who will hold the bantamweight gold after UFC 292. O’Malley winning could put other contenders on notice whereas Sterling retaining the title have major implications.

Related: Sean O’Malley’s coach claims ‘greatest bantamweight’ Aljamain Sterling gets ‘battered’ by Alexander Volkanovski

Aljamain Sterling is on the path to another record

Aljamain Sterling
Aljamain Sterling in action (Courtesy-Sports Illustrated)

Bantamweight king Aljamain Sterling remains the most reputed fighter in the division. He has defended his gold three times already. All three title defense fights have come against champions like Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, and Henry Cejudo. Sterling is a champion who had numerous setbacks before winning the title. His first title fight against Yan resulted in a disqualification for Yan. He became the first champion ever to win a championship by DQ.

Sterling’s win against Yan was subjected to heavy criticism. Fans were not at all in favor of Sterling. Things changed during his first title defense against Yan. This time, Sterling put on an impactful performance against Yan from every angle, leaving little room for criticism. The fight that followed with Dillashaw and Cejudo was also excellent. He destroyed Dillashaw and dominated Olympic gold medal wrestler Cejudo in the wrestling exchanges.

The fourth title defense of Sterling is against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. O’Malley is coming for his first shot at the title, but Sterling remains confident about spoiling O’Malley’s party. For Sterling, this is an opportunity to further add to his record of the most consecutive title defenses in bantamweight history.

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