UFC 292 results LIVE: Sean O’Malley stuns Aljamain Sterling with picture-perfect KO

Sean O’Malley’s rapid rise up the rankings culminated in a one-punch KO of Aljamain Sterling on Saturday, as “Sugar Sean” took the bantamweight title at UFC 292.

O’Malley’s crisp and flashy striking has seen him become a fan favourite with crossover potential in recent years, and that potential was realised when he dropped Sterling with a picture-perfect right hand in Boston, setting up a TKO finish.

American O’Malley, 28, arrived in the main event without having taken on many top contenders – with the exception of former champion Petr Yan, whom he beat via a controversial decision – and he was similarly able to avoid significant danger in Round 1 against Sterling. The Jamaican-American, 34, was put on the back foot and unable to utilise his standout grappling skills, though O’Malley offered little output despite his forward pressure in a cagey opening frame.

And the fight was over before it got going, as Sterling rushed onto a short, clean right cross from O’Malley early in Round 2, a shot that dropped “Funkmaster” at once. O’Malley then finished Sterling on the canvas with a series of strikes, as the TD Garden in Boston was flooded with cheers.

Full report:

Newly-released footage has shown Sean O’Malley practising the exact punch that won him the bantamweight title at UFC 292.

O’Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling early in the second round on Saturday (19 August), dropping the now-former champion with a perfect right cross then finishing him on the canvas.

And the American, 28, has since taken to social media to share clips of his training for the fight, including footage of him in his locker room before the main event. The clips (which you can watch in the article below) specifically show “Sugar Sean” practising the right hand that dropped Sterling, with O’Malley’s technique and movements looking identical to their execution in the fight itself.

The caption to the post read: “Sean & Tim [Welch, O’Malley’s coach] predicted the KO over Aljamain.”

Sterling: “I’ve lost before, I picked myself back up, and I became UFC champion. Don’t be surprised to see me again fighting for the belt.”

Sterling also says he’s unsure if he’ll move up to featherweight as he’d initially intended.

After beating Sterling, O’Malley called for a fight with Marlon “Chito” Vera – who won earlier in the night and holds a victory over the new champ – in December.

A reminder of what both fighters said after the main event...

O’Malley: “It feels right, baby, it feels right. Honestly, this was the most nervous I’ve been for a fight. In my eyes, Aljamain Sterling is the greatest bantamweight of all time, but I never lost the confidence – because I know what I possess in this f***ing right hand, baby! It only takes one mistake against me. I don’t even know if that was a mistake, I’m just that f***ing good!”

Sterling: “Sean is a lot better than I thought, man. He did a really good job, he was elusive, stayed on the outside. Nothing but respect at the end of the day. Chasing the dream, something everyone in the crowd should be trying to do every day of your life.”