UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

None of those performances were dominant or title worthy, but speaking relatively.
Cory and Molly did beat Vera and Yan, Font on a win its ok. 

Super interested in Bautista vs Garbrandt. Winner deserves ranked opponent next lets see who want it more. Gut telling me Bautista but Garbrandts movement is tough to deal with

Rodrigues vs. Tiuliulin
Gregory Rodrigues, TKO, R2
Robocop starches

Maryna Moroz is back in the card, in each of her fights the air takes a beatdown because she is the Queen of Air Punching

This card needs 1 or 2 more really good fights.

Sterling vs. O'Malley
Sean O'Malley, TKO, R4
if suga can stop choke attempts he will find his moments on the feet

Zhang vs. Lemos
Weili Zhang, TKO, R2
domination

Garbrandt vs. Bautista
Cody Garbrandt, DEC
mix it up and cruise

Sterling vs. O'Malley
Aljamain Sterling, SUB, R1
rear naked choke early

is aljo the batemweight goat if he wins this one i only see cruz as the other contender for that status

Aljamain had the most consecutive title defence in division history and also tied most consecutive wins in the division history with Merab, while also having the most wins 

People don’t want to say how good Aljamain is because they hate him as a person, also People just love Yan so they can’t see how good Sterling is, same with Volk and Holloway back in the day

* Edited at 07.31.2023, 12:35 AM ET *

The issue with Sterling is that his style is not very showy or entertaining: On Feet Aljo is a volume striker, throwing mostly straight punches and use range and mobility, in grappling he can get great submissions like the Suloev Stretch against Stramman or the rear-naked choke against Sandhagen, but he can also have rounds of a lot of time control but little damage or no-clear sub attempts, there is no doubt that wrestling is probably his strongest point, but on many occasions he does a lot of that type of scramble where he ends up in 3 supports taking advantage of the regulation that prevents knees on the ground or soccer kicks and in turn that type of scrambles makes the fight inactive and boring for the public. 

Like him or Hate him I think the fact that Aljo's fighting style is very effective is undeniable. What you say is true: many people will never get over the way Aljo won the title and they will always mention his Oscar Performance or that his defenses were split decisions or beating an almost cripple Dillashaw (with a brutal shoulder injury since the training camp). 

But I think Aljo has accepted that role of permanent villain and deep down I'm glad that Sterling gives little importance to people detracting from him as a champion or booing him (something that, for example, did affect Usman a lot and was very vocal about the matter). Many times the MMA fanbase can be annoying and super toxic, Aljo could break DJ's defense record and for many he would still be a Paper Champ. I personally did not like the way he won the championship (I even remember saying that day that Aljo was the first UFC Champion to win the belt by being knocked out) but as a champion I have no complaints: he has shown the evolution in his physical conditioning and the results support it.

this card needs 2-3 more fights

Sterling vs. O'Malley
Aljamain Sterling
I see

I don't find Sterling to be boring fighter, His grappling can be lethal and is entertaining to watch him when he's grappling is working, Him smashing Yan in round 2-3 of the rematch, And his submission on Sandhagen and Stamann are entertaining, 

 And when it not lethal and entertaining, It is because he's grappling isn't working, People really ***** to much about Sterling using the turtle, It's not a good position, And people wanting illegal knees to be legal because Yan and Cejudo can't take advantage of such a vulnerable position is real funny to me

And even if he's striking isn't the most entertaining in the world, Usually it not boring because his opponent are good stiker so it make it fun to watch fighter like Cejudo, Yan and most like O'Malley stike, Also Sterling is pretty active

why is wanting knees to grounded opponents to be legal funny 

@foppa420 

Just peeped the card, it's really good so far but had the same thought. 2 weeks out, anyone have any news on this?

Andrea Lee vs. Natália Silva
Silva, Submission, R1

Maryna Moroz vs. Karine Silva
Silva, Decision, NA

Gregory Rodrigues vs. Denis Tiuliulin
Robocop, TKO, R2

Chris Wiedman vs. Brad Tavares
Tavares, Decision, NA

Gerald Meerschaert vs. Andre Petroski
Petroski, Submission, R3

Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz
Vera, Decision, NA

Geoff Neal vs. Ian Machado Garry
The Future, TKO, R2

Cody Garbrandt vs. Mario Bautista
No Love, TKO, R2

Weili Zhang vs. Amanda Lemos
Magnum, Submission, R2

Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O'Malley
Sugar, TKO, R3

I don't find people wanting illegal knee to be legal to be funny, I find people acting like the turtle is OP to be real funny because it isn't, It's not a great position because the guy on top have a lot of attacks from that position, Just because Sterling getting away, Don't make it good, 

I'm all for grounded knees and up kicks being legal actually, I'm against Soccer kicks tho, But the reason they want illegal knees are funny

* Edited at 08.03.2023, 5:32 PM ET *

fair enough

12 to 6 elbows being illegal is the most bullsh*t of them all

↑ Jon Jones would agree 😂