New FSM Preview: UFC 292 - Sterling Vs O'Malley

Photo Credit: UFC

New FSM Preview: UFC 292 – Sterling vs O’Malley

The UFC is shipping up to Boston for an epic night at UFC 292!

UFC 292 – Sterling vs O’Malley preview

The UFC’s momentum continues to roll through 2023 as the promotion prepares its next highly anticipated event at the TD Garden Arena with UFC 292.

The biggest fights on Saturday night will shake up one of the most exciting divisions in MMA and usher in the next generation of stars for the UFC. In the main event of the evening, the 135-pound king will look to seal his legacy as Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling faces Sean “Sugar” O’Malley for the bantamweight title.

UFC 292 – Sterling vs O’Malley will be action-packed

The Funk Master welcomes the Sugar Show for his final Bantamweight War

UFC 292 – Sterling vs O’Malley is another great card.

During his nine-year run in the UFC, Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling (23-3) established himself as the greatest bantamweight in the division’s history. As he enters the main event at UFC 292, the “Funk Master” will look to have the perfect ending to close out his legendary run at 135 pounds.

After defeating the boogyman of the division, Petr Yan, in 2021 to secure the title, Sterling earned his first title defense with a near-perfect performance in his rematch against Yan in 2022. The “Funk Master” then wrapped up two more title defenses against former bantamweight champions T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo. Sterling’s victory over Cejudo at UFC 288 gave the “Funk Master” the records for most wins (14) and the longest winning streak (9) in bantamweight history. Sterling also secured his fourth victory in a title fight against Cejudo; one win short of the division’s record (5) held by T.J. Dillashaw.

With Sterling planning on moving up to the featherweight division after UFC 292, Saturday night’s main event will be the “Funk Master’s” fifth and final bantamweight title fight. If he were to secure the victory, Sterling would complete his reign at bantamweight with the majority of the legacy records and distance himself even further from any 135-pounder who has ever fought in the UFC before leaving as the GOAT of the division.

It will be a perfect ending to Sterling’s run at 135, but before “Funk Master” can run off into the sunset, he will first have to face the next big name in the UFC, Sean “Sugar” O’Malley (16-1, 1 NC)

O’Malley has been one of the biggest up-and-coming stars in the UFC since he first arrived in 2017 during Dana White’s Contender Series. Standing at 5″11, the tall and rangy O’Malley caught attention early with his elite striking and knockout power. After racking off five-straight victories to start his UFC career, the “Sugar Show” officially became a household name.

The only bump on the road for the “Sugar Show” came in 2020 at UFC 252. In his 6th fight with the corporation, O’Malley suffered his first loss against Marlon “Chito” Vera after Vera successfully injured O’Malley’s ankle and managed to finish the budding superstar with a first-round TKO.

Despite losing his undefeated record, O’Malley’s hype train continued as he racked off three more victories and earned a fight with the number-one contender and the boogyman of the division, Petr Yan, at UFC 280. Before his fight with Yan, O’Malley had been publicly scrutinized for failing to fight anyone within the top 10 rankings in the division, leading many to question whether or not he was a real contender at bantamweight. After going toe to toe for three rounds with the scariest fighter in the division at the time, O’Malley silenced his critics after securing the split decision victory over Petr Yan and ultimately setting up his first title shot against the champion, “Funk Master” Sterling this Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston.

UFC 292 is setting up to be the biggest night in the history of the bantamweight division. With the anticipated departure of the champ, Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling, and the potential rise of the next UFC superstar in “Sugar” Sean O’Malley, both fighters will have plenty on the line alongside the 135-pound title. With the opportunity to seal another division record to complete his championship run, Sterling could leave the division with a victory and force the bantamweight division to find its next champion amongst fighters who will always be seen as second-best behind the legacy of the “Funk Master.” Or, the “Sugar Show” will skyrocket to new heights as O’Malley potentially provides the bantamweight division a champion who also stands as the biggest star and the biggest draw in the UFC.

It will be can’t-miss action Saturday night at the TD Garden Arena as the fate of the bantamweight division will be decided at UFC 292.

Don’t miss UFC 292 – Sterling vs O’Malley on Saturday.