Expert prediction
UFC 292 Preview: Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Aug 19)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Aljamain Sterling is defending his UFC Bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley at UFC 292.
- UFC 292 odds suggest the defending champion will win the August 19 fight.
- Sean O’Malley is fighting the biggest fight of his professional career.
Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley is the main event of UFC 292, which will take place at Boston’s TD Garden on Saturday, August 19, 2023. This is going to be the fourth time Aljo is defending the title, while Sugar is fighting a title bout for the first time ever.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 10:00 p.m ET
- Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
- How to Watch: PPV
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | |
| Sean O’Malley |
Fight Preview
Aljamain Sterling (23-3) is arguably the most underestimated champ in the history of the UFC Bantamweight division. It’s because he got ahold of the title belt after his opponent Petr Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee.
In his first title defense, Aljo was a +350 underdog against the same opponent, but he beat Yan by a unanimous decision. He then defended his title again by beating T.J. Dillashaw who dislocated his shoulder early on in the fight. Sterling beat him by TKO in round two, which was his first finish by striking since coming to the UFC in 2014.
Then, in his most recent fight, Sterling defeated Henry Cejudo by a split decision. It was a real battle inside the Octagon, but Aljo got the win in the end. He landed 135 strikes in that fight – his second-highest number in the UFC.
He also recorded four takedowns in that fight, which is no surprise as wrestling/grappling is his forte. Actually, many UFC pundits are of the belief that the only way he could beat Sean O’Malley (16-1-1) on August 19 is by taking the fight to the ground.
But you can be 100% sure Sugar will do all in his power to prevent that from happening. Instead, he’ll probably try to keep the distance with his amazing striking. And his striking ability really is amazing – this guy lands 7.43 significant strikes per minute, which is the fifth-highest number in the UFC (among active fighters).
Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley Prediction
It’s not as if you get to fight for the title every week. Sean O’Malley got the chance to win his first-ever championship, which makes the UFC 292 main event the biggest fight of his life. That said, you can be 100% sure that he’s spent months trying to figure out how to neutralize Aljo’s most dangerous weapons.
READ ALSO: UFC 292 Preview: Zhang Weili vs. Amanda Lemos Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Aug 19)
As a result, in summer 2023, Sugar probably isn’t just an expert striker but also a fine grappler, as well as someone who knows how to defend against takedowns. UFC 292 odds suggest he’s going to fail, but we think he’s the right kind of guy to stage an upset.
Free Pick:
MMA
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