Sean O'Malley
"Suga"Career Averages
Win Methods (11)
Loss Methods (3)
Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 48 of 92 | 52% | 67 of 111 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 36 of 94 | 38% | 69 of 130 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 0 | 0 | 2:06 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 16 of 26 | 61% | 22 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 10 of 23 | 43% | 23 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:38 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 20 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 14 of 31 | 45% | 34 of 53 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:28 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 25 of 46 | 54% | 25 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 12 of 40 | 30% | 12 of 40 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 48 of 92 | 52% | 23 of 53 | 16 of 28 | 9 of 11 | 48 of 92 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 36 of 94 | 38% | 15 of 55 | 2 of 6 | 19 of 33 | 36 of 94 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 16 of 26 | 61% | 6 of 13 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 16 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 10 of 23 | 43% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 10 of 15 | 10 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 7 of 20 | 35% | 1 of 8 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 14 of 31 | 45% | 8 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 10 | 14 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 25 of 46 | 54% | 16 of 32 | 5 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 25 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 12 of 40 | 30% | 7 of 29 | 1 of 3 | 4 of 8 | 12 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: O’Malley (-205), Song (+170)
Round 1
A bantamweight striker’s delight will treat fans in the co-headliner, as O'Malley (18-3, 1 NC; 10-3, 1 NC UFC) looks to get back on championship track. He will face off against underrated Team Alpha Male product Song (22-8-1, 1 NC; 11-3-1 UFC), whose only losses in the Octagon after 15 walks are to Kyler Phillips, Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan. The third man in the cage tonight for this one will be referee Herb Dean, and gloves are touched before they start to fly.
Immediately after the touch, Song lets fly a low kick that O'Malley just stares at. O'Malley advances, peeling back right before reaching his opponent, and does this a couple times. Song kicks him in the front leg again a few times, and O'Malley answers with one back. The two bounce back and forth without throwing much for a good 30 seconds, until Song springs into action with a few punches. O'Malley potshots him with a left after Song completes his volley, but he cannot get out of the way of the oncoming kick and swarming offense. They trade spinning kicks, skimming them off one another, with O'Malley’s to the body the more effective. O'Malley jabs with front kicks to the body to stave off Song, who is slowly works his way in.
Song kicks the front leg and scores a right on the outside, only for O'Malley to counter him back. The result is a lot of tit-for-tat offense, where one man lands and the other tries to pay him back. Song rushes out with a left hand, and O'Malley digs a couple strikes to the body. Song walks through a front kick to lash out at the lead wheel of the Montanan, and he tries to corner O'Malley but cannot quite get a bead on his movement. Song drives home another hefty kick, and he charges in for a takedown attempt and puts O'Malley on his back. O'Malley defends with a guillotine choke, and when that fails, O'Malley shrugs to someone as if he thinks he should immediately be stood back up. Song grinds him out for the remainder of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Song
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Song
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Song
Round 2
Like the previous round, Song starts off with a glove touch and a calf kick. When O'Malley stumbles from the kick, Song tries to take advantage of it, and he just misses with a spinning back fist. Song walks through a front kick to plant a right hand on the forehead, and O'Malley no-sells it and looks for a counter. Song bounces in with a left hand and a high kick, and O'Malley slides away and responds with a body shot. Song goes to the front leg again, with O'Malley switching stances and taking damage on both as welts and redness are present on both legs. Song pounds the former champ with a left hand, shooting in for a single that he uses to drag O'Malley to a knee. O'Malley wall-walks to get back up with Song’s hands wrapped around his waist, and he elbows Song’s arms in hopes of breaking the grip.
Song knees the back of the thigh repeatedly, and he grabs the fence to reposition himself and then holds his arm low to defend some of the knee strikes. Song sweeps his post arm, and he transitions to a double and hits it while O'Malley looks for a guillotine, and the Team Alpha Male-trained athlete easily breaks out of it to establish top control. When O'Malley scoots back to his feet, Song follows him and hammers his front leg before blasting him in the face with a left hand. O'Malley jabs and gets countered by an overhand right, but it is his low kick that most gets O'Malley’s attention. Song loads up on power punches as he walks down the pink-shorted athlete, and O'Malley is able to sway and evade the worst of them. O'Malley gets off a body kick, and Song kicks the leg once before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Song
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Song
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Song
Round 3
O'Malley knows that an advancing Song is coming to strike him, so he makes sure to get out of the way before it can get to him. Song does not throw it, instead pawing out his jab to set up his looping right hooks that buzz the tower repeatedly. O'Malley jabs him to the belly, and his leg gets kicked hard. Song points to his leg after checking a kick, as if to taunt O'Malley for throwing it. He then chambers and fires multiple strong low kicks, ignoring a couple left hooks that catch him at least partially when he is off-balance. O'Malley sticks his foe with a right, and he slips away from the increasingly telegraphed counter. Song continues to chase down “Suga Sean,” darting after a takedown and pulling back when it is not there. O'Malley busts up Song’s nose to start it trickling down the mouth, and he does not register it as he stays within kickboxing range practically the whole time.
O'Malley flashes out jabs to the head and body, and he stuffs a takedown as boos rain down. Song just misses on a looping left hand, and he pushes out a right and dings O'Malley when ducking. O'Malley gathers his thoughts and belts the Chinese competitor with a crisp right hand. Song ducks and feints his way forward, coming out behind left hooks while O'Malley is the quicker, more direct striker with less arc on his swings. Song keeps walking the former champ down, and he misses by an inch with a spinning back elbow. When O'Malley counters him, Song smiles and goes after a takedown. O'Malley tosses him aside and knees him right on the chin, and a bloodied Song just grins and walks forward. O'Malley gets in a left, and he gets Song’s attention further with a right. Song points to the ground to initiate a brawl, and O'Malley motions to flip a coin and then fires off a high kick. The match comes to a close, with the first round likely the difference maker.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (29-28 Song)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (29-28 Song)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (29-28 Song)
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Yadong Song via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Sean O'Malley, arguing that O'Malley's best version (when he was partying and podcasting) would win. He believes O'Malley's clean footwork and accuracy will exploit Yadong's lack of striking defense. He notes Yadong is hittable and throws with power, but O'Malley should pick him apart. He hopes O'Malley returns to his old lifestyle for the win.
Big Brady notes O'Malley's losses came when opponents took him down repeatedly, but Song Yadong averages less than one takedown per 15 minutes. He believes O'Malley is the better striker and will win a striking match. He worries about O'Malley's mentality after two losses to Merab but expects the best version to win by decision.
Cody picks Sean O'Malley but is hesitant due to O'Malley's potential lack of motivation and Song Yadong's durability. He notes O'Malley's length and accuracy should allow him to win the first two rounds, but worries about a gritty third round. He suggests O'Malley by decision as a prop.
Connor also picks O'Malley, emphasizing that Song Yadong is an unimaginative fighter who lacks variety in his approach. He notes that Song's best path to victory (low kicks and wrestling) is possible but unlikely given O'Malley's mobility and range. Connor believes O'Malley's swagger and ability to make opponents hesitant will be key, and that Song's inability to cut off the cage will leave him chasing O'Malley all night.
Daniel Vreeland picks Song Yadong to win by decision. He criticizes O'Malley's recent timidity and reliance on counters, and notes that O'Malley has talked about retirement. Vreeland believes Song has the speed, leg kicks, and wrestling to compete with O'Malley, and that his well-rounded approach and power will be the deciding factors. He also mentions that Song has taken down Peter Yan, which bodes well for his wrestling advantage.
James believes O'Malley is a level above everywhere, with superior fight IQ and striking IQ. He expects O'Malley to stay at range, pot shot, and win via decision. He notes Song's durability but thinks O'Malley's smart game plan will prevail. James also mentions O'Malley's high fight IQ and preparation with Paul Czech.
The host sees this as a favorable matchup for O'Malley, who faces a fellow striker in Song Yadong. He believes O'Malley's striking wizardry, footwork, and trap-setting will allow him to out-strike Yadong and potentially land a knockout. The host notes uncertainty about O'Malley's mentality after two losses but thinks this style matchup will bring back the 'Sugar Show'. He does not see enough value on Yadong to pick the upset.
Paul agrees with Cody, emphasizing O'Malley's 5-inch reach advantage and Song Yadong's slow starts. He believes O'Malley will use his footwork and volume to win a decision, though he notes Song's grappling improvements could be a factor. Paul sees O'Malley by decision as the most likely outcome.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley by decision, noting Song Yadong's durability and toughness. He believes O'Malley's reach, kicks, and power will be key, and that Yadong's facial cuts could lead to a stoppage. He predicts a 30-27 decision.
Zane picks O'Malley confidently, noting that Song Yadong is a plodding striker with poor footwork and range management, which plays perfectly into O'Malley's sniping style. He points out that Song has historically struggled against mobile fighters who fight off the back foot (e.g., Kyler Phillips, Cory Sandhagen). Zane also mentions that O'Malley's reach and footwork will make it hard for Song to close distance, and that O'Malley's durability is sufficient to handle Song's power.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 52 of 115 | 45% | 141 of 215 | 5 of 12 | 41% | 1 | 0 | 6:29 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 31 of 57 | 54% | 38 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 17 of 37 | 45% | 48 of 72 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 12 of 23 | 52% | 16 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 23 of 63 | 36% | 24 of 64 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 19 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 12 of 15 | 80% | 69 of 79 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 4:18 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 52 of 115 | 45% | 33 of 92 | 13 of 14 | 6 of 9 | 29 of 86 | 8 of 10 | 15 of 19 |
| Sean O'Malley | 31 of 57 | 54% | 14 of 35 | 15 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 30 of 56 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 17 of 37 | 45% | 10 of 30 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 27 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 7 |
| Sean O'Malley | 12 of 23 | 52% | 5 of 15 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 23 of 63 | 36% | 18 of 54 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 7 | 20 of 58 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 19 of 33 | 57% | 9 of 19 | 9 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 19 of 33 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 12 of 15 | 80% | 5 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 12 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Expert Picks (6)
Angelo believes the first fight was a clear win for Merab, not close as some recall. He thinks Sean's camp is already making excuses by calling Merab the GOAT. He sees no significant improvements from Sean and expects the same pressure wrestling and cardio to overwhelm Sean again. He dismisses concerns about Merab's toe injury as irrelevant.
Big Brady picks Merab Dvalishvili but is very hesitant. He believes Merab should win easily based on his wrestling, but worries about corrupt judges giving rounds to O'Malley if the fight is close. He notes that O'Malley was compromised in the first fight and that the UFC wants O'Malley to win. He ultimately goes with his gut that Merab gets it done by decision, but hates the price tag and suggests O'Malley plus 5.5 might be a good look.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Merab. He emphasizes that O'Malley's instinctual reactions in wrestling are a deep-seated issue that will be hard to overcome. Connor notes that O'Malley's go-to defense of giving up his back and handfighting works against lesser wrestlers but is suicide against Merab. He thinks O'Malley can improve but still loses.
Dvalishvili's high pressure, high pace, and insane cardio are too much for most opponents. Even if O'Malley learned from their first matchup, he won't be able to set up his traps or striking wizardry. Dvalishvili will control the fight, grind it out, and win on the scorecards to remain champion.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley to win by TKO or decision, citing adjustments and O'Malley's freshness. He believes the first fight was close and O'Malley can improve his takedown defense. He notes Merab's activity and lack of motivation, and thinks O'Malley's striking will be the difference. He predicts O'Malley wins rounds 1, 3, and 5, and possibly gets a TKO in the second or third round. He also mentions potential judging favoritism for O'Malley.
Zane picks Merab Dvalishvili, noting that O'Malley's wrestling defense is fundamentally flawed against Merab's relentless pressure. He believes O'Malley will be better prepared but still expects Merab to force him into a defensive shell and win via pace and takedowns. Zane references the Umar fight as evidence that Merab can be pushed but still wins.
Sep 14, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 47 of 89 | 52% | 49 of 91 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 82 of 164 | 50% | 214 of 310 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 10:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 14 of 28 | 50% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 16 of 30 | 53% | 25 of 41 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 5 of 10 | 50% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 18 of 38 | 47% | 65 of 92 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:12 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 25 of 46 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 | |
| 4 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 21 of 32 | 65% | 74 of 89 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 | |
| 5 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 10 of 26 | 38% | 25 of 42 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 47 of 89 | 52% | 22 of 48 | 23 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 45 of 85 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Sean O'Malley | 82 of 164 | 50% | 55 of 130 | 4 of 6 | 23 of 28 | 29 of 85 | 8 of 14 | 45 of 65 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 14 of 28 | 50% | 6 of 16 | 6 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 14 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 16 of 30 | 53% | 13 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 7 of 18 | 3 of 5 | 6 of 7 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 5 of 10 | 50% | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Sean O'Malley | 18 of 38 | 47% | 14 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 31 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 11 of 21 | 52% | 7 of 13 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 17 of 38 | 44% | 6 of 24 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 12 | 11 of 29 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Merab Dvalishvili | 6 of 9 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Sean O'Malley | 21 of 32 | 65% | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 19 | |
| 5 | Merab Dvalishvili | 11 of 21 | 52% | 2 of 8 | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Sean O'Malley | 10 of 26 | 38% | 2 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 9 | 5 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 5 of 7 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dvalishvili (-285), O'Malley (+230)
Round 1
The main event will be refereed by Jason Herzog. O'Malley starts off with a spinning back kick to the body. Dvalishvili is able to walk O'Malley back towards the cage. Nice jab by O'Malley, who is also going to the body with punches from afar. Dvalishvili is eating jabs, having some issues with closing the distance early. O'Malley is keeping space with kicks and his jab. Dvalishvili is keeping the pressure on, forcing O'Malley to constantly move. A right hand for Dvalishvili lands, and the champion is then able to get a takedown. O'Malley is quick to get back up, although he grabs the fence. Dvalishvili stays clinched and leans a knee. O'Malley lands his own knee, but gets off-balance and slips. Dvalishvili lands a nice left hook before going for a double-leg takedown. O'Malley does a good job defending, but Dvalishvili is able to pick him up anyhow. Dvalishvili is in full guard. Dvalishvili slips in an elbow and several short hammerfists.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Round 2
O'Malley takes the center of the cage. Dvalishvili lands a body kick, while O'Malley misses a spinning back kick. A nice right hand to the body for "Suga." Dvalishvili counters O'Malley with two stinging right hands. O'Malley answers back with a strong right hand of his own. Dvalishvili is throwing kicks to the body. O'Malley's movement is much better this round. O'Malley lands a nice jab. Dvalishvili goes for a takedown, but O'Malley escapes from the cage. The round hits the halfway mark. O'Malley jabs to the body. Dvalishvili goes for another takedown, but O'Malley shucks him off and lands a nice left hand. Much better round for the challenger. Dvalishvili lands a right hand and goes for a takedown, but eats a left hand while entering. O'Malley is able to stay upright and hits the champ with a straight right as he exits. A big right hand for Dvalishvili, who keeps the pressure on as the round ends. Much closer round.
Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Round 3
15 minutes to go. Dvalishvili opens with an overhand right and rushes the challenger. O'Malley lands a solid counter, but Dvalishvili keeps the pressure on and dumps "Suga" to the ground. Dvalishvili is in guard. O'Malley is too happy to sit in guard and is just allowing Dvalishvili to be in control. Dvalishvili is landing shots to the body and slips an elbow in. A lot of time is getting eaten up. Dvalishvili advances into half guard. O'Malley gives up his back in order to get to his feet. Dvalishvili lands a slick knee to the head. Dvalishvili puts O'Malley immediately back down after he gets back to his feet. The fight is fully in Dvalishvili's control. Dvalishvili is in half guard and landing punches with 30 seconds left. Dvalishvili scrambles well into north-south position and is able to lock in a modified guillotine choke. This looks tight, and O'Malley taps. It's over, and Dvalishvili retains with his second-ever submission win.
The Official Result
Merab Dvalishvili def. Sean O'Malley via Submission (Modified Guillotine Choke); R3, 4:42.
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo picks Sean O'Malley but does not bet. He notes O'Malley has incredible accuracy and power, and only needs one shot to finish, while Merab has a suspect chin and a cut over his eye plus possible staph infection that could affect his cardio. However, he acknowledges that a healthy Merab could shoot 550 takedowns and win a boring decision. He is on O'Malley's side but too much of a coward to bet, though he mentions Jacob has bet on O'Malley.
Big Brady picks O'Malley, emphasizing damage over control. He notes Dvalishvili's game is takedown attempts with little damage, while O'Malley has power and finishing ability. He predicts O'Malley will land big shots and possibly knock out Dvalishvili in the second round, though a damage-based decision is also possible.
Cody believes Merab's wrestling and cardio will be too much for O'Malley, especially given O'Malley's inactivity and injury concerns. He notes that O'Malley's takedown defense hasn't improved enough and that Merab can make the fight look easier by pushing the pace early. He sees a unanimous decision win for Merab.
Daniel Vreeland picks Sean O'Malley, emphasizing that Merab takes a shot in almost every fight and O'Malley will land that one. He notes Merab's top control is not great and people get back up, differentiating him from Aljamain Sterling. He believes O'Malley is getting an easier fight than against Sterling because Merab is more hitable and susceptible to being countered.
Daniel picks Sean O'Malley to win, citing O'Malley's superior striking accuracy, footwork, and ability to fight going backwards. He believes O'Malley's teep kicks and straight shots will counter Merab's looping punches and pressure. Daniel also notes O'Malley's brown belt under Cesar Gracie and dismisses cardio concerns, but acknowledges Merab's takedown volume could be a factor if he closes distance.
Jeff Fox picks Sean O'Malley because he is a striker with a big reach advantage and has cleared every hurdle. He acknowledges Merab could take him down and grind out a win, but believes O'Malley can piece him up on the feet and has shown solid grappling.
Lucrative James believes the odds are slightly off, with Merab as a -305 favorite. He notes that Sean O'Malley has more margin for improvement after a close first fight where he hurt Merab in the fifth round. He sees value in O'Malley at +255 and plans to bet him, though he acknowledges Merab's wrestling and cardio make him the likely winner. He emphasizes betting value over picking the winner.
Dvalishvili has shown great durability and will stick on O'Malley like white on rice, not giving him the space to generate knockout power. Expects Dvalishvili to put O'Malley through the ringer, possibly approaching 50 takedown attempts, and win on the scorecards.
Paul thinks Merab's game plan is clear and that O'Malley's only chance is a puncher's chance. He points out that O'Malley hasn't fought since the first loss and has been nursing injuries, while Merab has been active and improving. He expects Merab to control the fight with wrestling and win a decision.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley by TKO in the first or second round. He notes Merab has a staph infection and a cut over his eye, which could be exploited. He believes O'Malley's footwork and takedown defense will neutralize Merab's wrestling, and that O'Malley's upward knees and left hook will be key. He also suggests the UFC may favor O'Malley and that an early stoppage is possible if Merab gets hurt.
Mar 09, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 230 of 356 | 64% | 232 of 358 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 89 of 241 | 36% | 89 of 241 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 27 of 36 | 75% | 27 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 9 of 21 | 42% | 9 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 51 of 83 | 61% | 51 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 16 of 46 | 34% | 16 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 35 of 58 | 60% | 35 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 17 of 54 | 31% | 17 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 56 of 84 | 66% | 57 of 85 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 26 of 73 | 35% | 26 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 61 of 95 | 64% | 62 of 96 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 21 of 47 | 44% | 21 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 230 of 356 | 64% | 150 of 268 | 61 of 68 | 19 of 20 | 227 of 352 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 89 of 241 | 36% | 41 of 165 | 14 of 35 | 34 of 41 | 85 of 235 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 27 of 36 | 75% | 7 of 14 | 10 of 12 | 10 of 10 | 27 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 9 of 21 | 42% | 1 of 7 | 1 of 5 | 7 of 9 | 9 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 51 of 83 | 61% | 36 of 66 | 11 of 12 | 4 of 5 | 51 of 83 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 16 of 46 | 34% | 7 of 29 | 0 of 5 | 9 of 12 | 16 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 35 of 58 | 60% | 21 of 43 | 13 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 35 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 17 of 54 | 31% | 7 of 39 | 4 of 8 | 6 of 7 | 17 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Sean O'Malley | 56 of 84 | 66% | 42 of 70 | 11 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 56 of 84 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 26 of 73 | 35% | 15 of 56 | 5 of 11 | 6 of 6 | 26 of 72 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Sean O'Malley | 61 of 95 | 64% | 44 of 75 | 16 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 58 of 91 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 21 of 47 | 44% | 11 of 34 | 4 of 6 | 6 of 7 | 17 of 43 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Marlon Vera as a dog, noting that underdogs have won five of seven main events in 2024. He thinks Vera's durability and power will be key, as O'Malley is a counter striker who may not engage. He also mentions the Miami crowd may favor Vera. He suggests betting the over on rounds.
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to win by decision, but is not feeling great about it. He notes that O'Malley is the better striker with more volume and accuracy, but worries about the later rounds as O'Malley has never been past three rounds. He believes Vera needs a knockout to win, and O'Malley should do enough to win a decision.
Cody believes O'Malley has improved significantly since the first fight, especially in managing space and distance. He thinks O'Malley will win on volume, similar to the Chris Moutinho fight, but acknowledges that Vera is durable and could come on late. He respects Vera but sticks with O'Malley as the pick, though he won't bet the moneyline.
Daniel Vreeland picks Sean O'Malley, emphasizing that O'Malley has improved his footwork and ability to cut angles. He notes that O'Malley's cerebral approach allows him to set traps, as he did against Aljamain Sterling. Vreeland argues that Vera fights by downloading information and then exploding, but O'Malley controls what Vera sees. He believes Vera's habit of giving up early rounds is dangerous against a finisher like O'Malley. Vreeland concludes that O'Malley is the better striker, longer, more explosive, and younger.
Daniel leans towards O'Malley to defend his belt, but he has significant concerns about O'Malley's durability and cardio. He notes that O'Malley will likely light up Vera early, but worries that O'Malley may gas out from beating on Vera, allowing Vera to take over late. Daniel references O'Malley's fatigue in the second round against Yan and Vera's proven durability and finishing ability. He also mentions that Vera's camp issues don't sway him. Ultimately, he picks O'Malley but calls it a 'dog or pass' betting situation.
Jeff Fox picks Sean O'Malley, noting that Vera is essentially the same fighter as in their first fight while O'Malley has improved significantly. He highlights O'Malley's improved footwork and ability to cut angles, as seen in the Aljamain Sterling fight. Fox also praises O'Malley's cerebral game, setting traps and controlling what his opponent sees. He believes Vera gives up early rounds and then has to press, which plays into O'Malley's hands. Fox is confident that O'Malley's striking, length, and youth will lead to a win.
O'Malley is the better technical striker with great fight IQ and trap-setting ability. He showed discipline and patience in his win over Sterling. However, Vera has never been knocked down in the UFC and is a slow starter who thrives in five-round fights. O'Malley may not get the early knockout, and if Vera finds his groove late, it could be competitive. I still pick O'Malley to win by decision, as his striking wizardry should allow him to outwork Vera over 25 minutes. I am passing on betting this fight due to the -300 line and Vera's durability.
Paul highlights Vera's slow-starting nature but five-round cardio and durability. He notes that O'Malley has not been tested in late rounds and that Vera's pressure and toughness will allow him to take over in rounds 3-5. He also points to a trend of underdogs winning main events recently and Vera's life-changing motivation.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley, predicting a boring fight where O'Malley uses low kicks and range to outpoint Vera. He argues O'Malley's feints are more dangerous because he can actually land the strikes he feints. He believes Vera will struggle to land his power shots and O'Malley will win a clear decision, possibly with a robbery if close. He notes O'Malley's underrated chin and better movement in the larger cage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 26 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 20 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 17 of 21 | 80% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 17 of 35 | 48% | 3 of 12 | 3 of 10 | 11 of 13 | 16 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 25 of 35 | 71% | 18 of 25 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 13 of 26 | 50% | 0 of 5 | 2 of 8 | 11 of 13 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 14 | 57% | 3 of 6 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 4 of 9 | 44% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 17 of 21 | 80% | 15 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-258), O’Malley (+210)
Round 1
In the main attraction inside of the
Boston Garden
FleetCenter
TD Banknorth Garden
TD Garden, two men with no particular affinity to Beantown will collide for bantamweight gold. In the truest sense of the overused phrase, this is a pure grappler vs. striker affair, one that pits defending champ Sterling (23-3, 15-3 UFC) against the exceptionally accurate O’Malley (16-1, 1 NC; 8-1, 1 NC UFC). Should Sterling get his hand raised, he will set the record for the most consecutive defenses in the division’s history, while O’Malley can become the second champion to make his way to the promotion from Dana White’s Contender Series – Jamahal Hill was the first. There is nothing more that needs to be said from these two or about these two, and referee Marc Goddard brings the two together to make the title fight official. The staredown lasts from the moment Bruce Buffer starts speaking through to part of the introductions, and they are intense. They do touch gloves, and it’s on with the show. When they come together, Sterling is quick to swat O’Malley’s hands down. Sterling leaps forward with front kicks and side kicks, and he reaches out with long jabs while O’Malley stays out of reach. Sterling lands a solid leg kick as he races after O’Malley, and O’Malley responds with a front kick. Sterling keeps busy with kicks to any target, and O’Malley jabs to the body. O’Malley pushes the pace and draws a reaction out of his opponent, and the crowd rains down a profane chant against the champion. Sterling puts his foot on the gas, and he leans back from a long left hand that comes at his chin. The two take turns leading the dance, but O’Malley’s work rate is quite low through the first half of the round. O’Malley feints and fakes his way in, and he has to block a body kick that gets past his guard. Sterling chips away at the lead leg, and he absorbs a front kick on the ribs. Sterling peppers O’Malley with three low kicks before O’Malley gives him a stomping kick back to his knee. Sterling’s inside calf kicks force a stance switch early, and O’Malley lunges forward but does not fire off anything. Sterling reacts significantly when O’Malley is about to strike, and he picks at O’Malley’s leg while strafing to the side. O’Malley drops his hands to taunt Sterling into coming at him, and Sterling keeps ripping leg kicks and little else. Sterling blazes past his foe with a kick, and O’Malley settles down and fires off a spinning back kick that backs him off. Sterling shoots in for a single, and he jams O’Malley up against the fence while holding his foe’s leg in the air. Sterling lands several short punches, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
The second round begins with the two rushing towards one another, and O’Malley lashes out with a kick that he misses and falls over after throwing. Sterling comes at him and pursues a takedown, and O’Malley backs himself against the wall to stay up. O’Malley shuts it down and drops back to line up a right hand, and Sterling misses with a punch and gets cracked right on the chin. Sterling crashes down to the ground on his face, and he turns to his side in an effort to get his wits about him. O’Malley follows him down and clubs him with hammerfists, and Sterling is moving but still taking damage. O’Malley continues his bombardment of punches, and Goddard is closely watching over things. Sterling turns over and looks to reach out with his left arm for a potential takedown, and Goddard waves the fight off. Some may consider it an early stoppage, given how Sterling was still moving and defending himself. Nevertheless, the fight is over and O’Malley is now the UFC’s bantamweight champion, and he is the second fighter off the Contender Series to claim a UFC strap. The landscape of the 135-pound weight class has now changed drastically, and a wealth of options present themselves for O’Malley first defense and upcoming title reign. Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov and a few others are right in contention, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out. In his post-fight interview, O’Malley mentions that he would be up for his first defense against Vera this December, and Vera immediately responded on social media with a post of dollar signs and bags of cash. If that is the fight the UFC makes for its Dec. 16 pay-per-view card, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Aljamain Sterling R2 0:51 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Aljamain Sterling, expecting his wrestling to take over as Sean O'Malley slows down in the later rounds. He notes that O'Malley gassed in a three-round fight and this is five rounds. He thinks Sterling could win by submission but acknowledges O'Malley's toughness and striking threat. He believes Sterling's range management and takedowns will be the difference.
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to win by fourth-round knockout, but admits he's terrified of Sterling's early grappling. He believes O'Malley can stuff takedowns and make Sterling work, causing Sterling to slow down. Brady notes O'Malley's striking advantage and power, and thinks if O'Malley survives the first few rounds, he can finish Sterling late.
Cody believes Sterling's grappling and wrestling are a notch above O'Malley's, and that Sterling will take O'Malley down, control him, and win rounds. He notes that O'Malley's camp lacks confidence, and that the line is inflated due to O'Malley's popularity. He expects Sterling to win by decision or submission, and likes the value at -260.
Daniel Levi leans toward Aljamain Sterling, acknowledging that Sterling should be favored but questioning whether the -255 price is warranted. He notes that Sterling has a clear path to victory if O'Malley has no answer when his back is taken, but if O'Malley can stretch the fight out, all bets are off. Levi mentions that Sterling's cardio fades in championship rounds due to massive weight cuts, which could open a late path for O'Malley. He also highlights that O'Malley's confidence and training with Taki Mendez might help him survive early grappling exchanges. Ultimately, Levi picks Sterling but is not fully confident, as he is intrigued by O'Malley's potential to survive and capitalize late.
Lucrative James picks Sean O'Malley, citing his distance management, footwork, and underrated jiu-jitsu. He believes Sterling's frequent weight cuts and recent activity may affect his performance. He sees value on O'Malley's moneyline and thinks O'Malley could get a knockout or win rounds on damage.
Sterling has a clear grappling advantage and should be able to take O'Malley down and control him. O'Malley's takedown defense has been a weakness, and Sterling's pressure and back-taking ability will be key. Sterling will likely win a decision rather than chase a finish, conserving energy. The decision prop is the best play.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling over Sean O'Malley. He believes Sterling's grappling will be the difference, as O'Malley will be worried about takedowns. He notes Sterling's tricky movement and ability to pressure O'Malley backwards. He predicts Sterling will take O'Malley down early, get his back, and win by TKO via ground and pound in round 1 or 2. He thinks Sterling will prove a point.
Oct 22, 2022
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 58 of 96 | 60% | 97 of 139 | 6 of 13 | 46% | 0 | 0 | 5:44 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 84 of 163 | 51% | 91 of 171 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 19 of 31 | 61% | 28 of 41 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:10 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 23 of 55 | 41% | 23 of 55 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 24 of 39 | 61% | 45 of 62 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:42 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 21 of 37 | 56% | 22 of 39 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 24 of 36 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 1:52 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 40 of 71 | 56% | 46 of 77 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 58 of 96 | 60% | 24 of 57 | 13 of 18 | 21 of 21 | 47 of 81 | 5 of 6 | 6 of 9 |
| Petr Yan | 84 of 163 | 51% | 63 of 132 | 6 of 14 | 15 of 17 | 80 of 158 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 19 of 31 | 61% | 5 of 15 | 3 of 5 | 11 of 11 | 17 of 29 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 23 of 55 | 41% | 13 of 37 | 3 of 9 | 7 of 9 | 23 of 55 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 24 of 39 | 61% | 12 of 25 | 7 of 9 | 5 of 5 | 17 of 29 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 7 |
| Petr Yan | 21 of 37 | 56% | 17 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 21 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 15 of 26 | 57% | 7 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 13 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
| Petr Yan | 40 of 71 | 56% | 33 of 63 | 2 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 36 of 67 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Yan (-265), O’Malley (+225)
Round 1
Yan and O’Malley launch into action at the prompting of referee Jason Herzog. Yan is in orthodox stance; O’Mally southpaw. Yan stalks forward as O’Malley slides around the outside of the cage. Yan switches stances and flicks out his right jab, then switches back. Herzog shouts a warning to O’Malley to watch his extended fingers. Yan lands a right low kick and eats a hard right hand counter. O’Malley connects with a right low kick. Halfway through the round, Yan changes levels for a double-leg near the fence. O’Malley backs into the cage, trying to keep the Russian from taking his back. Yan gives up on the takedown and they return to the center. Yan lands a series of three left hands upstairs, then drops for another takedown. This time, he hoists the taller man and dumps him to the canvas. With a minute left, Yan is in O’Malley’s guard. O’Malley goes to stand and eats some punches on the way up, but they return to their feet. O’Malley shoots a takedown at the 10-second clapper, briefly takes Yan’s back in the ensuing scramble, but they separate before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Yan
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Round 2
Yan lands an outside low kick, then one to the inside of O’Malley’s lead leg. O’Malley comes back with a huge uppercut that has Yan hurt badly. Yan staggers away as O’Malley gives chase, landing more punches. Yan turns the tables with a massive punch of his own and now O’Malley is rocked. Yan ducks under and drags O’Malley to the mat. Yan is in O’Malley’s guard as O’Malley squirms and looks to escape. O’Malley pops up and Yan drives him to the fence. O’Malley grounds himself with a hand on the canvas to forestall knees to the head. They separate and a moment later, Yan pushes O’Malley back to the floor with a nice inside trip. O’Malley pops right back up. Under two minutes to go and Yan is matching O’Malley down. O’Malley pushes him back with a kick up the middle, and slips the counter punch. Yan flicks a high kick upstairs, then comes in behind it for a takedown. Yan is in O’Malley’s guard at the base of the fence with 45 seconds left in the round. Yan postures up and lands a couple of punches. The round expires.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Yan
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Round 3
Yan shoots for a takedown right away, but O’Malley defends well and stands him back up. O’Malley flicks out a couple of jabs. Yan lands a low kick. Yan swarms forward with hooks, then shoves O’Malley to the cage. O’Malley pushes him back off, and lands an intercepting knee that cuts Yan badly. Yan is bleeding right away. Yan comes up short with a pair of punches, then lands a one-two. O’Malley throws a high kick that glances. Yan shoots a fast takedown from way outside, but drives O’Malley to the fence, and gets him to the ground. Yan takes O’Malley’s back as they stand. O’Malley escapes and they separate. There’s 90 seconds left as they reset in the middle. O’Malley lands a pair of jabs to Yan’s bloodied right eye. Yan drags O’Malley to the ground late in the round, and is landing punches from guard at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Yan (30-27 Yan)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Yan (30-27 Yan)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (29-28 Yan)
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Petr Yan via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Petr Yan confidently, calling him a phenomenal striker with fantastic takedown defense and surprising takedown offense. He notes Yan's power, accuracy, and grappling, and believes O'Malley will have trouble finding a rhythm. He acknowledges Yan's tendency to take the first round off but still expects a one-sided fight.
Big Brady picks Yan to win by TKO in the second round. He notes Yan's power (nearly 10 knockdowns in the UFC) and ability to mix in takedowns. O'Malley has faced mostly strikers and hasn't been tested on the ground; Yan can pressure him and potentially finish on top. He believes Yan's experience against elite strikers like Aldo and Sandhagen gives him a clear edge.
Cody is confident in Yan, noting that Yan is an underrated wrestler who can take O'Malley down and control him. He points out O'Malley's weaknesses against pressure and wrestlers, referencing the Marlon Vera fight. Cody believes Yan's experience and ability to figure out opponents as the fight goes on will be key. He thinks Yan can win by decision or inside the distance, and that O'Malley's popularity is inflating his odds.
Connor is confident Yan will win, arguing that Yan's layered striking and ability to adapt will overwhelm O'Malley. He notes that O'Malley's offense is based on feints and theoretical threats, while Yan has multiple modes of attack and will take easy targets like leg kicks. He also points out that Yan can pressure O'Malley to the fence and take him down, as he did against Sandhagen.
Daniel Levi picks Petr Yan to win, citing Yan's proven chin and ability to both give and take damage. He questions O'Malley's durability, noting that while O'Malley can strike well, it's unknown how he handles getting hit by a powerful puncher like Yan. Levi thinks Yan will pressure O'Malley and make him fight, and that Yan's experience against tough opponents gives him the edge. He also mentions that Yan may start slow but will win rounds as the fight progresses. Levi does not bet this fight but is confident in Yan.
Yan has a slow-starting style but excels in championship rounds. He has wrestling upside that could exploit O'Malley's weakness on the ground. O'Malley may be competitive early with kicks, but Yan's takedowns and top control should secure rounds. Yan by decision at -110 is the pick, and if the line drops to -250, the moneyline becomes attractive.
Paul is confident in Yan, citing that Yan is the better fighter and that O'Malley's action is due to his brand. He worries about Yan giving up round one but thinks Yan will figure out O'Malley and win. Paul notes Yan's wrestling and takedowns as a path to victory, and mentions he took a small bet on Yan by submission at long odds. He believes Yan's experience and skill gap will show.
The MMA Guru picks Petr Yan over Sean O'Malley by third-round TKO. He believes Yan's pressure, combinations, and ability to crowd O'Malley will be too much. He notes O'Malley's struggles against volume strikers and his tendency to spin, which Yan can exploit. He predicts O'Malley wins the first round but gets hurt in the second and finished in the third.
Zane picks Yan, emphasizing that Yan's pressure and ability to take easy targets will expose O'Malley's defensive flaws. He compares O'Malley to Darren Till, noting that both rely on a coiled-spring style that elite fighters eventually figure out. He believes Yan will force O'Malley into uncomfortable positions and break him down over time.
Jul 02, 2022
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 26 of 41 | 63% | 26 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 25 of 47 | 53% | 25 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 19 of 25 | 76% | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 15 of 26 | 57% | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Pedro Munhoz | 0 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Munhoz | 26 of 41 | 63% | 0 of 9 | 0 of 2 | 26 of 30 | 26 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 25 of 47 | 53% | 14 of 30 | 8 of 14 | 3 of 3 | 25 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedro Munhoz | 19 of 25 | 76% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 19 of 22 | 19 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 15 of 26 | 57% | 7 of 13 | 5 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 15 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Pedro Munhoz | 7 of 16 | 43% | 0 of 6 | 0 of 2 | 7 of 8 | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 10 of 21 | 47% | 7 of 17 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: O’Malley (-300), Munhoz (+250)
Round 1
Kicking off the main card is another fight that could have served as the main event of a Fight Night offering recently, as established veteran Munhoz (19-7, 1 NC; 9-7, 1 NC UFC) looks to shut down the “Sugar Show” of O’Malley (15-1, 7-1 UFC) at bantamweight. Feet and fists are sure to fly fervently, but not before referee Jason Herzog checks them in. The gloves are expectedly not touched given O’Malley’s chatter ahead of the fight, and they land leg kicks at the same time to start things off. O’Malley keeps a wide berth from afar, with a distance where even he cannot land with his significant reach advantage. They are cautious to engage, and O’Malley tosses out a few front kicks while Munhoz goes to the calf repeatedly. O’Malley loads up on an overhand right, and he checks a calf kick that zooms at him. Munhoz checks one in response, and he sweeps low with his rear leg. O’Malley pierces the guard with a jab, and Munhoz circles away and lands a solid leg kick as O’Malley switches stances. The American pokes out a few jabs but little else, and he leaps back as the low kick comes towards him. “Sugar Sean” spins with a back kick, and Munhoz is out of harm’s way in time. Munhoz hammers the leg multiples times, and O’Malley steps forward with a front kick and a straight right hand down the pipe. O’Malley slaps a front kick out, and it bangs into the cup. Herzog spots it immediately, and the crowd boos him despite that the foul lands cleanly. Munhoz takes less than a minute to get back to action, and O’Malley comes out throwing hands. Munhoz answers him with a barrage of leg kicks from both legs, and he appears fired up and walking O’Malley down. They continue to pepper the lead legs of one another with kicks, and Munhoz fires off a high kick that gets blocked in time. Munhoz bears down on him with a chopping kick, and they add up as O’Malley tries to push him back with jabs. The pink-haired fighter spin with a back kick to the midsection, and Munhoz answers him as he plants down with a thudding kick. Munhoz whiffs on a spin kick, and O’Malley mocks him with a pirouette as the crowd guffaws. The tentative round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 2
The second frame opens as Munhoz comes out running forward, and he switches stances every single time O’Malley does to mirror his stance and allow him to have effective leg kicks come out. Munhoz misses on a head kick, and a front kick as well as he pulls his leg back and lands awkwardly. O’Malley pokes out a few jabs to little effect, and Munhoz retreats and gets popped with a one-two. O’Malley spins with a wheel kick that just brushes past Munhoz’ hair, and one inch to the right could have spelled problems for the Brazilian. Munhoz kicks the midsection on his way in, and he swipes low with a kick. O’Malley absorbs a kick with an audible thud, and he loads up with a right hand that collides with the guard. O’Malley dings Munhoz with a straight right, and the Brazilian loads up on a low kick in response. Practically all of the strikes landed by “The Young Punisher” are leg kicks, and they are rarely more than single strikes. They continue to connect, and O’Malley, irritated from them, pops out a jab. Munhoz lands a punch, and O’Malley reaches out with his fingers outstretched to jab Munhoz in the eye. Munhoz turns away and tries to clear his vision. Herzog allows him to recover and calls in a doctor to give him more time, Munhoz seems to tell the doctor he cannot see out of his right eye. The doctor helps him wipe his eye, and Munhoz claims that all he sees is black from one eye. With that answer, Herzog and the physician properly call the fight off, as Munhoz cannot continue. This poke ruled an unintentional foul, it will go down as a no contest. This is an unfortunate ending to a competitive and intriguing bout, and hopefully the promotion can run it back in the near future.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz is ruled a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke) R2 3:09
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo picks Sean O'Malley, citing his accuracy and athletic striking. He believes Munhoz's volume and forward pressure will work against him as O'Malley sticks and moves. He expresses frustration with the matchup, feeling Munhoz is being fed to a rising star, but still sees O'Malley winning a decision.
Big Brady is confident in Sean O'Malley, citing his size, speed, and striking advantage. He notes Munhoz is hittable and absorbs many strikes, but worries about O'Malley's leg kicks and durability. He predicts O'Malley wins by decision, as Munhoz has never been knocked out.
Cody acknowledges Munhoz's path to victory via leg kicks and pressure, but notes Munhoz has declined and lacks wrestling. He thinks O'Malley's reach and speed will be decisive, and that Munhoz hasn't landed a takedown since 2018. He picks O'Malley as the rightful favorite.
Daniel Levi is confident in Sean O'Malley, having bet 5 units to win 2 at -250. He believes O'Malley's height, reach, volume, and stance switching will be too much for Munhoz, who is there to be hit and may be on the decline. Levi dismisses the leg kick narrative, noting that O'Malley can mitigate it by fighting southpaw. He respects Munhoz's guillotine and calf kicks but thinks O'Malley's evolution and youth give him the edge.
O'Malley is faster and more technical, but Munhoz has never been knocked out and has good leg kicks. O'Malley should win by decision, staying on the outside and avoiding leg kicks. The host is not confident in a finish and prefers the decision prop.
Paul agrees with Cody that O'Malley's reach advantage and volume will be key. He notes Munhoz's lack of wrestling makes it hard to back him at +275. He picks O'Malley to win.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley, citing his elusiveness, range advantage (7-inch reach), and ability to slow down pressure fighters. He believes Pedro Munhoz has declined and that O'Malley's front kicks and leg kicks will be key. He predicts O'Malley will pick Munhoz apart and win a decision, noting Munhoz's lack of offensive wrestling.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 11 of 47 | 23% | 11 of 47 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raulian Paiva | 1 | 39 of 62 | 62% | 40 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 11 of 47 | 23% | 11 of 47 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Raulian Paiva | 1 | 39 of 62 | 62% | 40 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 11 of 47 | 23% | 2 of 32 | 3 of 6 | 6 of 9 | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raulian Paiva | 39 of 62 | 62% | 28 of 50 | 8 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 37 of 59 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 11 of 47 | 23% | 2 of 32 | 3 of 6 | 6 of 9 | 11 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Raulian Paiva | 39 of 62 | 62% | 28 of 50 | 8 of 9 | 3 of 3 | 37 of 59 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Kicking off the main card of UFC 269 is an unranked bantamweight pairing between ex-flyweight Paiva (21-3, 3-2 UFC) and the fluorescently haired O’Malley (14-1, 6-1 UFC). The Octagon ranger for this one is referee Jason Herzog, and there is no interest in a glove touch as they would rather introduce themselves to one another with their fists. O’Malley comes out switching his stances back and forth, and Paiva swings and misses at his elusive foe. Paiva kicks low, and he catches a front kick to the body so he can close in and get his hands on the American. O’Malley darts out of the way, and he fakes with a jab only to have his leg kicked. O’Malley stomp-kicks his foe’s knee, and he sticks out a single jab that split the guard. The ball of O’Malley’s foot clatters square into Paiva’s groin, and we draw a pause for a few seconds. Paiva is set to resume before long, and O’Malley backs away and starts lining jabs up. Paiva scores a quick calf kick that makes O’Malley changes stances, and he completes a short combination with an overhand right. O’Malley gathers himself and flicks his jabs out a few more times, keeping his range from a safe distance while Paiva gives chase. A sniper shot of a left hand snaps Paiva’s head back, but it is one-and-done as Paiva keeps walking him down. The Brazilian swipes out with a left hand, and as chants rain down for O’Malley, Paiva chips at his calf. O’Malley gets off a push kick to the midsection, only for Paiva to hack at his lead leg a few more times. “Sugar” strings together a clean combination that surprises Paiva and may have marked his nose up. Paiva recommits to the low calf kick, and he reaches out with the end of a right hook to glance off O’Malley’s jaw. They land strikes at the same time and appear no worse for wear, and O’Malley follows it up with a blistering right hand. Paiva leans back into the wall, and O’Malley tees off on him against the wire as Paiva is barely able to stay on his feet. Paiva never gets a chance to recover, as O’Malley rips the body and then smashes Paiva in the face with sharp, accurate strikes until Paiva falls over. The Brazilian springs back up, but he is still on rubber legs, and O’Malley continues to work him over. A left to the body and a right to the head spell the beginning of the end for Paiva, as O’Malley swarms him with a vigorous crescendo of punches until Paiva's knees give out and Herzog steps in. This is an impressive performance for a kid who has star power for days. In his post-fight interview, O'Malley admits that he was very close to withdrawing from the fight due to a serious rib injury, but he made it to fight night and put on a show.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Raulian Paiva R1 4:42 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady is confident in Sean O'Malley winning by knockout. He highlights O'Malley's massive striking advantage, with high volume and accuracy, while Paiva has poor striking defense and gets hit more than he lands. Paiva rarely shoots takedowns and has low takedown accuracy, so O'Malley should be able to keep the fight standing. Brady is unimpressed with Paiva's competition and believes O'Malley will finish him.
Daniel Levi picks Sean O'Malley to win but calls it a 'dog or pass' situation. He praises O'Malley's striking diversity and volume but questions his defensive and mental toughness when facing adversity. Levi notes Paiva's heart and durability, referencing his comeback win over Kyler Phillips. He worries about O'Malley's compromised leg (from the Chito fight) and Paiva's ability to capitalize if O'Malley gets hurt. Levi says he might take a half-unit shot on Paiva but ultimately picks O'Malley.
O'Malley has the striking advantage and power to finish, but Paiva is durable and has a path via takedowns. However, Paiva's striking defense is suspect, and O'Malley will counter effectively. The under 2.5 rounds is a good bet, as O'Malley likely gets a first-round KO.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley to win by second-round TKO via a spinning back kick to the body. He believes O'Malley's reach, height, and striking advantage will be too much for Paiva. He notes O'Malley's underrated ground game and training with Kyla Phillips, who recently fought Paiva. He predicts O'Malley will hurt Paiva early and finish him with body shots.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 1 | 230 of 318 | 72% | 230 of 318 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Kris Moutinho | 0 | 70 of 218 | 32% | 70 of 218 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 1 | 77 of 106 | 72% | 77 of 106 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Kris Moutinho | 0 | 24 of 72 | 33% | 24 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 70 of 98 | 71% | 70 of 98 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kris Moutinho | 0 | 19 of 68 | 27% | 19 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 83 of 114 | 72% | 83 of 114 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Kris Moutinho | 0 | 27 of 78 | 34% | 27 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 230 of 318 | 72% | 177 of 255 | 45 of 55 | 8 of 8 | 228 of 314 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 |
| Kris Moutinho | 70 of 218 | 32% | 39 of 168 | 7 of 22 | 24 of 28 | 69 of 217 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 77 of 106 | 72% | 59 of 88 | 15 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 77 of 105 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Kris Moutinho | 24 of 72 | 33% | 11 of 55 | 2 of 5 | 11 of 12 | 24 of 72 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 70 of 98 | 71% | 53 of 75 | 15 of 21 | 2 of 2 | 68 of 95 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kris Moutinho | 19 of 68 | 27% | 12 of 54 | 4 of 10 | 3 of 4 | 18 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 83 of 114 | 72% | 65 of 92 | 15 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 83 of 114 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Kris Moutinho | 27 of 78 | 34% | 16 of 59 | 1 of 7 | 10 of 12 | 27 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
The main card opener draws a short-notice replacement for O’Malley (13-1, 5-1 UFC), who now meets newcomer Moutinho (9-4, 0-0 UFC) in a bantamweight clash of unusually colored hair. Referee Herb Dean neglected to dye his own hair for this fight, and there is no glove touch before the two get after it. Moutinho comes out guns blazing, swinging at the heavy favorite but getting kicked away on the way forward. O’Malley kicks the body and leg a few times, and Moutinho is not concerned as he continues to press ahead. O’Malley scores with long, reaching punches as Moutinho rushes in recklessly, and Moutinho gets his head snapped back with a counter punch. Moutinho gets off a few leg kicks of his own to make O’Malley stumble, and he keeps his foot on the accelerator as he stalks “Sugar” down. Three crisp punches land from O’Malley, and a front kick and a head kick come up quickly. O’Malley stings Moutinho with several punches, and Moutinho wears it well even as his green hair flows around from every blow. Moutinho marches straight at O’Malley, not cutting angles or doing anything besides walking directly at O’Malley and trying to swarm him with punches. O’Malley rings the Massachusetts native’s bell with an uppercut and several more punches, and he decides to start showboating instead of finishing his foe off. O’Malley lands flush to the head and body without issue, and the green-haired Moutinho walks through them without wobbling. O’Malley clips him with a left hand coming in, and Moutinho charges fearlessly even as he gets tagged repeatedly. Moutinho kicks the leg, O’Malley scores with a right hand, and a front kick and a right hand follow as O’Malley’s accuracy is virtually perfect. Moutinho laughs off strikes as he absorbs them, and surprises O’Malley with a right hand as he leaps ahead. Moutinho digs his shin into O’Malley’s lead leg, and he points at his opponent when he lands it. Moutinho lands low with a kick and absorbs punches and knees without even flinching. Moutinho springs at him with looping right hands, and O’Malley counters well and staggers him. Moutinho gets cracked with a crisp right hand and falls to the ground, and O’Malley hunts for a choke but cannot get it in time. Moutinho barely is able to make it to his corner between rounds, but he does make it to the end of the first period.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Round 2
Moutinho is still hurt after trying the one-minute recovery period, but when the bell rings, he rushes at O’Malley with big punches. O’Malley continues to tag him with punches up top, and he snaps Moutinho’s head back with several jabs and mixes it up with front kicks. Moutinho eats a spinning kick to the body, and O’Malley winds up with a body kick and a head kick. The chin on Moutinho cannot be questioned as he plods forward seemingly unfazed as he gets clobbered with quick strikes. Moutinho gets off a few kicks to the body while he pursues O’Malley, and he throws hammers but cannot find their target. O’Malley makes Moutinho’s knees weak with a barrage of blows, but Moutinho is a resolute newcomer as he walks through a head kick. Moutinho walks face-first into a right hand, and he shakes it off and continues to give chase. Moutinho throws with everything he has at “Sugar,” and O’Malley is there to dodge the majority of the strikes and counter him effectively. Moutinho stalks O’Malley down but he misses with his bombs as O’Malley touches him again and again with crisp punches and clean front kicks. Moutinho shrugs off the powerful strikes, even rolling with a huge right hand from O’Malley, and he swarms O’Malley but ends up colliding with his guard. Moutinho walks through a punch to land a right hand, and he digs another to the body as O’Malley takes a deep breath. Moutinho welcomes a brawl, and when he gets one, he knocks O’Malley’s mouthpiece out. O’Malley ducks and blasts Moutinho in the face with a right hand, and he looks shocked that Moutinho is able to take it and keep coming. Moutinho ignores a front kick to the body to tie him up against the fence, and he lands a few short shots on the inside before the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 3
O’Malley opens the round with a stomp kick to the knee, and when he lands another leg kick, Moutinho starts talking to his opponent. Moutinho races forward to attack, and he eats punches and has his nose busted up but is not concerned. He manages to get off a few punches, and he may have stunned O’Malley for a moment with a barrage. O’Malley ducks and cracks his man, taking deep breaths and landing effectively with practically everything he throws. Moutinho shakes his head after O’Malley kicks him in the head, and he blitzes O’Malley but cannot corner him. Moutinho kicks O’Malley’s lead leg several times and surprises O’Malley with a right hook, but O’Malley replies with a trio of big punches. O’Malley digs a few front kicks to the body and overhand rights score one after the other, and Moutinho is bloodied but still walking forward as Terminator comparisons ring true for the newcomer. O’Malley smashes Moutinho in the face with several insane right hands, and Moutinho keeps his pace and pressure without budging. Moutinho eats a right hand and a stiff body kick, and he lands a right hand and points at O’Malley. Moutinho sneaks up a head kick and the two land right hands at the same time, but O’Malley strings together several more before Moutinho can get there. O’Malley is the matador in this fight, scoring again and again as Moutinho shrugs it off. O’Malley punishes Moutinho with a long salvo of punches, and as Moutinho is ready to fire back, Dean leaps in to call off the fight with an unexpected standing TKO. Dean may have saved Moutinho from 30 more seconds of brain trauma, as the strike totals were approaching Max Holloway numbers, but Moutinho was not out on his feet and was still throwing right back at his opponent. Fans are not thrilled by that stoppage, and it’s hard to disagree with them. O’Malley was working Moutinho over, and the numbers will back that up, but Moutinho was still in the fight and ready to battle to the bitter end.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Kris Moutinho R3 4:33 via TKO (Punches)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo is all-in on O'Malley, calling it a mismatch. He notes O'Malley's power, accuracy, and athleticism, and that Moutinho is a tough wrestler but gets hit and marches forward, which plays into O'Malley's strengths. He has O'Malley in his DraftKings lineup despite the high price.
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to win by first-round knockout. He notes O'Malley's power and accuracy, and that Moutinho has no striking defense and comes forward with his hands down. He expects an easy walk-off knockout. He mentions that betting on O'Malley inside the distance at -320 is insane but thinks O'Malley should finish early.
Cody picks O'Malley to win by TKO in round 2. He notes Moutinho's short notice and regional level, and O'Malley's striking advantage. He thinks O'Malley will take his time in round 1 and finish in round 2. He likes the round 2 prop at +300.
Daniel Levi picks Sean O'Malley to win easily. He believes Moutinho is a short-notice replacement who comes to bang but will likely get knocked out. He notes O'Malley's power and that Moutinho is not a leg kicker, so O'Malley's weakness won't be exploited. He expects a knockout or submission for O'Malley, and dismisses criticism that O'Malley ducked tougher opponents, explaining that few could make weight on short notice.
Jacob also picks O'Malley, stating he would have picked him regardless of opponent. He thinks O'Malley is extremely talented and will dominate. He notes that even at 9500, O'Malley is a deal. He expects an early stoppage and advises going less less on the strike line.
O'Malley is going to destroy Moutinho. Moutinho doesn't belong in the UFC; he's a short-notice replacement with losses to low-level guys. O'Malley is much taller and more skilled. I expect a quick knockout, probably in the first round. I like O'Malley by first-round KO at plus money. He'll get a performance bonus and then sit out again.
Paul picks O'Malley, expecting a TKO. He notes Moutinho's regional level and O'Malley's highlight-reel finishes. He thinks O'Malley will win, possibly in round 2. He mentions the under 1.5 rounds as a decent play.
The Guru predicts O'Malley will win by first-round head kick KO. He expects O'Malley to avoid Moutinho's leg kicks, then chop at Moutinho's lead leg with his own kicks, spinning him around. Moutinho plods forward and sits heavy on his lead leg, making him vulnerable. O'Malley will land a right hand, then disguise a head kick behind it to finish Moutinho. The Guru sees no other way the fight goes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 2 | 86 of 149 | 57% | 91 of 157 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Thomas Almeida | 0 | 25 of 71 | 35% | 25 of 71 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 1 | 36 of 58 | 62% | 36 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Thomas Almeida | 0 | 8 of 22 | 36% | 8 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 17 of 40 | 42% | 22 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Thomas Almeida | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:22 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 1 | 33 of 51 | 64% | 33 of 51 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Thomas Almeida | 0 | 5 of 22 | 22% | 5 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 86 of 149 | 57% | 41 of 99 | 24 of 29 | 21 of 21 | 83 of 146 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Thomas Almeida | 25 of 71 | 35% | 9 of 43 | 3 of 9 | 13 of 19 | 23 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 36 of 58 | 62% | 18 of 38 | 11 of 13 | 7 of 7 | 35 of 57 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Thomas Almeida | 8 of 22 | 36% | 3 of 15 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 8 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 17 of 40 | 42% | 4 of 24 | 6 of 9 | 7 of 7 | 17 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Thomas Almeida | 12 of 27 | 44% | 4 of 14 | 1 of 5 | 7 of 8 | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 33 of 51 | 64% | 19 of 37 | 7 of 7 | 7 of 7 | 31 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Thomas Almeida | 5 of 22 | 22% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 6 | 5 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
In this high-stakes bantamweight tilt, it’s knock out or be knocked out when O’Malley (12-1, 4-1 UFC) faces Almeida (22-4, 5-4 UFC). The two 135ers have scored 25 knockouts across their 34 career wins, but both have also suffered knockout losses of their own in their careers. Keeping a lid on the proceedings is referee Mark Smith, and there is a glove touch between them before they get down to business. O’Malley comes out aggressively with kicks and long, reaching punches. Almeida returns fire with a calf kick, and O’Malley bounces around and stomps his foe’s knee. O’Malley pierces the guard with a left hand, and Almeida ducks out of the way when another one follows. Almeida lands another leg kick, and O’Malley blasts him back with one that is much heavier and makes the Brazilian spin around. Almeida is tentative and he takes a stern kick to the body, but he chases “Sugar” with a pair of punches that come up short. O’Malley drills a spinning back kick to the midsection, and Almeida gathers himself and rushes forward to clip O’Malley in a barrage. Almeida spins himself around trying to kick the leg, and he whiffs on a right hand as O’Malley circles away. The American scores another thudding body kick, and Almeida crashes the pocket and throws bombs. O’Malley ducks away to land a punch and a front kick, and Almeida slips his feet on the fence. O’Malley blasts Almeida with a head kick, and Almeida eats it flush but takes a right hand that sends him falling to the cage. O’Malley walks off to celebrate a win, but the fight is not over. Instead, Almeida gets up and blocks a spinning wheel kick. Almeida walks into a few punches, and a nasty body kick gives Almeida pause again to make the Brazilian shoot in for a takedown. Almeida gathers his thoughts and lands a few low kicks, and he ducks a spinning wheel kick to push O’Malley to the ground. The Brazilian lets O’Malley stand back up, and he stalks O’Malley down and eats another head kick flush. O’Malley hurts him again with a front kick, and he bursts in but gets popped by a right hand from Almeida. The round ends, and Almeida made it to the five-minute mark.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 O’Malley
Round 2
The two bantamweights consider touching gloves but decide that they will use their hands as rangefinders instead. O’Malley paws out with a front kick to the torso, and Almeida bounces on his front foot and blocks a few punches as O’Malley rushes after him. Almeida tries to advance, only to walk into the full front of a leg kick that buckles his knee. Almeida comes up top with a head kick, but it is short of the mark, and he dances out of the way when O’Malley spins with a kick. Almeida sweeps the leg and set O’Malley down, and he backs off to kick the leg again when the American stands back up. O’Malley rushes forward with a right hand, and Almeida delivers another calf kick low. O’Malley reaches out with a right hand and a stomp side kick to the knee that surprises his opponent. Almeida seems to be struggling to get his balance, as he keeps wiping his feet off while O’Malley chops at his leg. O’Malley lands a few punches and showboats a little, but a follow-up kick gets blocked. O’Malley scores another accurate left hand, and a few body kicks find the mark with ease. Almeida tries to time the circling of O’Malley with a spinning kick, but O’Malley is well out of the way. Almeida looks to counter a front kick with a right hand, and he scores one that draws a frustrated reaction out of O’Malley. Two big hooks glance the target from “Thominhas,” and he comes up shy of the mark with a body kick. Almeida walks O’Malley down and throws a leg kick, and he takes a left hand that splits the guard and wobbles his legs. O’Malley chases him down to the fence, but he cannot land again as Almeida kicks the leg twice. “Sugar” does not like these kicks, and he backs far away to reset. Almeida times a flying knee attempt to let O’Malley fall to his back, landing a right hand and some ground-and-pound while O’Malley is on his back. Almeida elects to land one more leg kick before the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 3
There is one last glove touch to begin the final round, and O’Malley is ready to kick the leg first. O’Malley drops his hands and fires off a front kick to the chest, doing so in a way that does not draw a counter. Almeida kicks the leg, and O’Malley gives him one back that is much more damaging and forces Almeida to spin all the way around. Almeida blocks a front kick and takes a stomping kick to the knee that makes him lift his knee up. Almeida walks forward with a high kick that is easily slapped away, and when he wades forward, O’Malley nails him with a right hand. O’Malley gets off a kick and is out of the way before Almeida can return fire. A few jabs from O’Malley keep Almeida at bay, although Almeida does get off his own calf kick. O’Malley lands to the body with a spinning back kick, and he lands a few punches as he starts to brawl with the Brazilian. Almeida lands some powerful strikes that makes O’Malley back off, and “Thominhas” dodges a wicked right hand. O’Malley knees the body as Almeida closes the distance on him, and Almeida pays it no mind as he throws big shots. Almeida shrugs off heavy punches to try to throw bombs, but O’Malley is accurate and sharp as he picks away at an advancing Almeida. The Brazilian lands a stern calf kick that makes O’Malley turn around, and “Sugar” comes back at him with a fierce right hand. O’Malley scores a big right hand, and his opponent falls to the ground spinning and hitting nothing but air. Almeida tries to throw a big hook, and a short left hand counter drops him again. O’Malley walks off once more, and Smith still has not called the fight as Almeida flops to his back, so he drops a bomb of a right hand that short-circuits Almeida and forces Smith to step in. This is a hugely important victory for the “Sugar Show,” who gets back in the win column with a statement-making performance over a tough out.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Thomas Almeida R3 3:52 via KO (Punches)
Expert Picks (6)
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to knock out Thomas Almeida in round one. He notes Almeida's poor chin, having been dropped multiple times in recent fights, and O'Malley's precise striking and power. He acknowledges Almeida's leg kicks could be a threat but believes O'Malley's accuracy will lead to an early finish. He also mentions the under 2.5 rounds as a good bet.
Cody picks O'Malley by KO, noting that Almeida has a history of getting knocked out and that O'Malley has sharp hands and a new-age striking style. He is concerned about O'Malley's leg injuries but thinks Almeida's primitive footwork and lack of head movement make him a target. He prefers the KO prop over the straight moneyline due to the high price.
Daniel Levi picks Sean O'Malley to knock out Thomas Almeida, but expresses hesitation due to O'Malley's history of leg injuries. He notes that Almeida has a killer instinct and could capitalize if O'Malley's leg gets compromised. However, Levi believes Almeida's poor defense and tendency to get dropped in every fight make him vulnerable to O'Malley's striking. He advises against laying the heavy odds on O'Malley.
The host picks Sean O'Malley to win by first-round KO. He notes O'Malley's speed, trap-setting, and kicking game, and questions Almeida's durability and hesitancy after eye surgeries. He mentions that Almeida's last performance was poor and that O'Malley's leg issues are a concern, but he still expects a finish. He suggests betting the fight doesn't start round three (-120) or under 2.5 rounds rather than the moneyline due to the high price.
Paul picks O'Malley but is wary of the -320 price tag due to O'Malley's leg issues. He notes that O'Malley has all the tools to win and that Almeida is an old-school boxer who comes forward in a straight line. He thinks O'Malley's reach and footwork will be key, but the risk of a leg injury makes him hesitant to bet the moneyline.
The Guru picks Sean O'Malley by first-round KO, emphasizing O'Malley's power and Almeida's weak chin. He notes Almeida hasn't cut to bantamweight since 2018 and has been KO'd multiple times. O'Malley's feints and range will cause Almeida to panic, and a clean shot will flatten him. He advises O'Malley to keep it simple with jabs and front kicks rather than spinning techniques. He compares Almeida's inability to take shots to his fight with Jonathan Martinez.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 18 of 30 | 60% | 18 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Vera | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 18 of 30 | 60% | 18 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Vera | 10 of 21 | 47% | 3 of 12 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 18 of 30 | 60% | 5 of 10 | 4 of 10 | 9 of 10 | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 8 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlon Vera | 10 of 21 | 47% | 3 of 12 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sean O'Malley | 18 of 30 | 60% | 5 of 10 | 4 of 10 | 9 of 10 | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: O’Malley (-258), Vera (+210)
Round 1
We have made it to the main event after 13 long fights, and it is for all of the marbles at 135 pounds. Keith Peterson keeps a watchful eye to make sure there is no nonsense to come from the rematch between champ O’Malley (17-1, 1 NC; 9-1, 1 NC UFC) and the only man to beat him in Vera (23-8-1, 15-7 UFC). A lot has changed since their first meeting in August 2020, when Vera chopped “Suga” down with leg kicks and put him away with ground-and-pound. Since then, Vera has remained a top contender while O’Malley has scaled the mountain and unseated champion Aljamain Sterling. If you bet that these two would not touch gloves before facing one another, cash your ticket now. O’Malley moves right to the center of the Octagon, and Vera pushes off with a front kick. O’Malley responds with a leg kick, and Vera walks him down and comes up short with another front kick aimed higher. O’Malley paws at him with kick, and the two keep a distance from one another. O’Malley delivers a spin kick to the side, and he settles and aims a body kick to the same spot. O’Malley chops at his foe’s lead leg, and Vera swats at him and does not have his range. Vera tries and fails to push out another push kick, and O’Malley smacks him with a right hand. Vera misses with another front kick, and his combination that follows bounces off the guard. O’Malley lands a hard leg kick, and he darts in with a left hand and springs away to avoid the counter. O’Malley aims a straight right to the body, and he is away from anything Vera can throw at him. O’Malley doubles up on a sharp jab, and his front kick reaches his opponent. O’Malley snaps the head back with a jab, and he chains a few punches and a kick into it. Vera lands once in response, and he is once more popped with a right hand on the chops. O’Malley digs the toes to Vera’s stomach, and he leans back to avoid a high kick and attacks the body when settling down. O’Malley whiffs on a huge right hand that blows the hair back, and he is light on his feet switching stances bouncing around. Vera stomps at the lead leg, and he eats a pair of right hands to the midsection. Vera flails with punches that miss, and O’Malley has the range he wants and kicks Vera in the ribs. O’Malley again digs a right to the body, and he misses the mark with a haymaker to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 2
Vera races out of his corner, ready to engage, and he just slides out of the way of a spinning hook kick that grazes his beard. Vera lands a solid leg kick, steps in with a knee and reaches out with a right hand. O’Malley replies with a front kick and one to the lead leg, and Vera blocks the punches up top. Vera connects with a stern low kick, and he jabs a few times but is out of range. O’Malley swaps stances a few times, jabs down the middle and keeps his guard up to block a head kick. O’Malley then fires off his own high kick, and he jams his fists into Vera’s abdomen. O’Malley jabs up Vera’s nose, reddening it, and Vera whips a kick low on either side. Vera kicks the body, and O’Malley catches it and moves out of the way. Vera tries to rush forward, and O’Malley beats him to the punch with a straight right hand. O’Malley then dings Vera with a big left hand, and Vera cannot reach him with a counter because of O’Malley’s speed. Vera pushes off with a front kick, and O’Malley does the same. Vera leaps forward with a few punches, and they all miss, while O’Malley comes back him with short bursts of punches that largely land flush. Vera has a high front kick miss by a small margin, and he reaches the champ with a left hand after having a leg kick checked. Vera walks through a low kick to swing hard over the top, and O’Malley times him with a right hand and a knee up the middle. Vera is frozen from the knee, and O’Malley lands a second one that split open a cut on Vera’s cheek. O’Malley does not recklessly chase, as Vera appears to have his legs beneath him, but Vera backs off to the fence. O’Malley snipes him from afar, and Vera bounces off the cage wall, taking punishment without scoring back. O’Malley lets his hands go, not worrying if he pops the guard. Vera winds up with a left and a massive right, and O’Malley takes it like a champ and fires back with a head kick. O’Malley rings Vera’s bell with a right hand, and he drops Vera to a knee with another hard right. Vera springs up, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 3
O’Malley is ready to get rolling to start off the third round, with long jabs and follow-up punches. Vera kicks low, then aims high and chases after him with a swarm of punches. O’Malley shakes him up with a left hook, and he aims a shot right after it to the body. Vera shrugs off straight punches down the middle as he throws a stomp kick to the lead leg, and he tries to reach the champ but is too far away. O’Malley chains a few punches into a body kick, and he leans back to block a hook kick. Vera takes a left hand and parries a front kick so he can run at O’Malley. O’Malley tosses the strikes aside and jams his fist in Vera’s face. O’Malley switches stances, jabs, changes again and scores the left to completely fluster the challenger. Vera sits down on a body kick, and the left hands of O’Malley have drawn blood from Vera’s nose. Vera blitzes to no effect, and O’Malley is still faster with higher volume. O’Malley drives two punches to the body, and he blocks a body kick and pushes Vera back with a pair of long left hands. O’Malley connects with a left to the head and right to the body, and he ducks out of the way of a leaping right hand from “Chito.” O’Malley forces Vera to retreat with a left hand, and he absorbs a front kick to the body because it is a one-and-done shots while he measures a few more. O’Malley gets off a left to the body and comes up top with a right to the head, and Vera’s response is not there. Vera swings wildly, and O’Malley slips and rips a left to the liver. O’Malley jumps in with a knee in the midst of a punch combination, and he is backed off by “Chito” who swarms him with power punches. Vera lands a right hand and a head kick, bloodying the champ’s nose. Vera falls over after landing the kick, and O’Malley pounces on top and rides out the round on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 4
Reaching the championship rounds, the two meet in the middle and trade. Vera lands his own punches, and he jumps at the champ and pops him with a knee. O’Malley backs off to measure distant strikes to the body, and a kick to the ribs punctuates a combo. O’Malley chains punches to the body into head shots, and Vera is impossibly tough as he just kicks right back at him without flinching. Vera fakes a lunge, and he gets jabbed in the face before snapping the head back with an uppercut. Vera races forward throwing bombs, and he catches O’Malley with a jump knee. O’Malley backs him away with sharp punch combinations, and Vera does not care as he again charges in to attack. Vera sticks out a heavy jab, and O’Malley doubles up on his own and sticks a right hand down the middle. Vera continues to give chase, and he lands and gets his legs kicked out beneath him. Vera looks shocked, and he jumps back up to keep trading. O’Malley welcomes him back to the feet and lands combinations, with his punches as accurate as ever. Vera connects on the nose and chin, opening O’Malley’s mouth as blood pours from the nostrils. Vera shakes off punches to the head and body, and he prods out a front kick. O’Malley triples up on a jab and takes a low kick, and chants for “Chito” energize the Ecuadorian enough to land a left hand. O’Malley jabs him back with fists and feet, and Vera surges into action with a combination that drives the champion back. O’Malley measures and fires several straight punches on Vera’s bloody face, and he cannot miss as he rams a right hand into Vera’s chin. Vera kicks the body, and he then lands a low kick, but O’Malley picks him apart with jabs and straight shots. O’Malley jabs away, and Vera races at him and clips him with a left hook. O’Malley answers back with jabs, and Vera scores a low kick and flies past his target with a jump knee at the end of the round, one much closer than the others.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 5
The fighters trade jabs to lead off the final round, with Vera needing a stoppage in order to win the title. He opens up with multiple low kicks, and O’Malley smashes him in the face with a straight right hand that hurts him. The challenger ducks a spinning wheel kick, and he backs himself up to the wall. O’Malley lands to the cheek, and Vera is compromised as O’Malley points up in the air. Vera squints out of his eye, struggling to see, and O’Malley takes advantage of this and jumps at him with a knee. Vera takes a clean head kick, possibly with his orbital damaged, and he closes his left eye several times. O’Malley jabs his way in, aiming punches to the swelling eye of his opponent, and he lets go with a big right hand. O’Malley chains three punches together and hops back to avoid the counter, and Vera goes after him with a body kick. O’Malley drives two punches home and then aims three to the body, with “Suga” mixing up punches without fear of reprisal. Vera chops at the lead leg, and he surprises the champ with a left hook. O’Malley lands a leg kick, and “Chito” spins with a back kick that lands on the body. Vera continues to wince out of his left eye, and he kicks with to the body and swings a right hand over the top. Vera jabs twice and takes a body shot, and he gets driven back by the straight punches of his opponent. Vera lands a body kick and spins with a kick to the side, and O’Malley pays it no mind as he strings punches together up high and low. O’Malley looses a head kick, and Vera defends it and leaps forward with a left hand. Vera slaps a front kick off the chin, and he chases after the champ with big punches and a knee. O’Malley backs himself up to the wall and rings Vera’s bell with several punches. Vera throws back to the liver, and O’Malley tees off on him. Vera kicks the lead leg and swings with bad intentions, and O’Malley throws right back at him. The two go right down to the bitter end, with Vera driving a left hook to the body as O’Malley winces right at the bell. The fight comes to a close, and O’Malley collapses to his seat, totally spent after 25 minutes of furious action. When he gets his victorious post-fight interview, O’Malley gives props to the incredibly tough Vera and is happy about avenging a past loss, and he has his sights set up a division against featherweight champ Ilia Topuria. Top bantamweight challenger Merab Dvalishvili might disagree, especially as O’Malley has registered exactly one title defense. If the UFC decides to oblige “Suga” with a chance at two-division gold, or if they make him face “The Machine,” we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (50-45 O’Malley)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (50-45 O’Malley)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 O’Malley (50-45 O’Malley)
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Marlon Vera via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady thinks O'Malley will win a close decision, edging out two of three rounds. He notes O'Malley's striking advantage and Vera's slow starts, but worries about Vera's durability and potential grappling. He considers the line too wide and sees value on Vera.
Daniel Levi picks Marlon Vera despite acknowledging O'Malley is the rightful favorite. He is biased toward Vera because Vera was an early guest on his show. He questions O'Malley's chin and how he will react when hit hard, noting Vera's durability against power punchers like Lineker and Yadong. He thinks Vera can take O'Malley into deep waters and get a third-round TKO, similar to Diaz vs McGregor. He was leaning toward Vera at plus 275 but still picks him at plus 240.
O'Malley has superior footwork, distance management, and striking IQ; he will use his reach and speed to keep Vera at range and land a fight-ending shot. Vera is a slow starter and tends to fade in the third round, but O'Malley's cardio is not a major concern. The line is a bit wide at -325, but O'Malley should win by first-round KO.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley, arguing that Vera consistently loses the first round of his fights, which is dangerous against a powerful striker like O'Malley. He believes O'Malley's length and precision will catch Vera, who brings his guard up high, leaving him open to front kicks.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Eddie Wineland | 1 | 13 of 20 | 65% | 13 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Eddie Wineland | 1 | 13 of 20 | 65% | 13 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Eddie Wineland | 13 of 20 | 65% | 5 of 10 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 13 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Eddie Wineland | 13 of 20 | 65% | 5 of 10 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 13 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Kicking off the pay-per-view main card is yet another one of those bouts pitting an up-and-coming prospect of “Sugar Sean” O’Malley (11-0, 3-0 UFC) against former WEC champ Wineland (24-13-1, 6-7 UFC) at bantamweight. Will O’Malley remain undefeated, or can Wineland show that he is not a spent force at 35? Like referee Herb Dean, we will find out very soon. Wineland comes out charging hard, and O’Malley starts with a few low kicks and just misses with a head kick. Wineland takes a few more kicks up the middle while trying to close the distance, and the vet is looking to land that big right hand. Wineland ducks another head kick, and whiffs on a right while stalking him down. Wineland tries to swing his way in, and O’Malley ducks away and bounces off the fence before scoring with a solid right hand and two kicks to the body. Wineland cracks him with a right hand, and he stands O’Malley up and makes him backpedal. Another thumping right lands on the shoulder, and O’Malley visibly reacts to the shot. O’Malley recovers and scores a spinning back kick, and then a body kick. He clips Wineland with a right hand at the end of that exchange, and backs off to reset. O’Malley fakes with an uppercut, unloads a blistering right hand on the jaw, and Wineland crashes to the canvas. It’s good night Irene! The former champ is out cold, and O’Malley walks away to celebrate. Seeing that Wineland is done like dinner, Dean indeed stops the fight, and this is by far the biggest win of O’Malley’s career. The “Sugar” show keeps on rolling, ladies and gentlemen.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Eddie Wineland R1 1:54 via KO (Punch)
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady confidently picks Sean O'Malley by first-round knockout, citing Wineland's poor striking defense and O'Malley's power and volume. He notes Wineland holds his hands low and is hittable, and O'Malley should exploit that. He thinks the fight stays on the feet and O'Malley finishes early. He considers the line too wide to bet but suggests looking at the KO prop.
Daniel sees a clear stylistic advantage for O'Malley because Wineland fights with his hands down and chin up, which plays into O'Malley's counter-striking. He recalls betting on Johnny Eduardo to beat Wineland for the same reason. He predicts O'Malley will knock Wineland out, likely in the first round, citing O'Malley's speed, accuracy, and creative striking.
Sean O'Malley has a significant reach and height advantage, and his movement and kicking should keep Eddie Wineland at range. Wineland is a heavy puncher but telegraphs his shots, and O'Malley's footwork should allow him to avoid danger. O'Malley will likely take a measured approach, working the outside before opening up. The over 1.5 rounds is also a good play.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley over Eddie Wineland. He believes O'Malley is on a different level, too quick and rangy for the older Wineland. He predicts a first-round KO, noting that Wineland's win over Grigory Popov doesn't prove he's back. He also discusses O'Malley's marketability and the need for impressive finishes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 18 of 22 | 81% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| José Alberto Quiñónez | 0 | 0 of 11 | 0% | 0 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 18 of 22 | 81% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| José Alberto Quiñónez | 0 | 0 of 11 | 0% | 0 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 18 of 22 | 81% | 9 of 11 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
| José Alberto Quiñónez | 0 of 11 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 18 of 22 | 81% | 9 of 11 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 13 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 |
| José Alberto Quiñónez | 0 of 11 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
To headline the prelims, Mexico’s Quinonez (8-3, 5-2 UFC) will look to make O’Malley (10-0, 2-0 UFC) feel unwelcome in the latter’s long-awaited return to action. “Sugar” last competed in March 2018, having been sidelined due to multiple failed drug tests that later saw him cleared of wrongdoing. The undefeated MMA Lab prospect will try to jump-start his career once more while referee Dan Miragliotta oversees the proceedings. O’Malley opens up by not touching gloves, but instead throwing a stomp kick. He throws a kick to the leg and makes Quinonez falls over, but the Mexican gets back to his feet before any danger ensues. O’Malley lands a front kick, and then evades a right hand from his opponent before aiming to that knee with a stomp kick once more. O’Malley dodges a few reaching punches before firing a front kick to the body, and scores a spinning back kick right to the breadbasket. Quinonez marches him down, but cannot land flush. It is O’Malley who connects with a big looping punch, and immediately follows it with a thudding body kick. O’Malley circles along the outside of the cage, and back him off with a punch.
O’Malley cracks him a right high kick, and immediately follows with a huge uppercut, and Quinonez crashes to the canvas. “Sugar” chases him down with some powerful Donkey Kong-esque hammerfists, and Miragliotta very quickly steps in to rescue the doomed fighter from Mexico.
Welcome back to the Sugar Show, ladies and gentlemen. Still undefeated, Sean O’Malley is back in dramatic fashion, and he has now finished seven different opponents in the opening round.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Jose Albert Quinonez R1 2:02 via TKO (Head Kick and Punches)
Expert Picks (3)
Daniel picks Sean O'Malley to win, likely by knockout, citing his superior striking and power. He notes that Quiñónez has a suspect chin and has been wobbled in fights he should have dominated. He believes O'Malley's feints, movement, and power will be too much, and he predicts a one-two down the pipe for the finish.
O'Malley has diverse striking and power, but the long layoff and added muscle raise cardio concerns. Quiñónez has more UFC experience, good takedowns, and pressure. O'Malley's head movement is questionable. The host is passing on betting but picks O'Malley by first-round KO, agreeing with guest Josh P that the value is on Quiñónez.
The MMA Guru picks Sean O'Malley, noting his long layoff may have been beneficial as he has been improving his jiu-jitsu. He believes O'Malley's leg kicks will limit Quiñónez's movement, and O'Malley's reach advantage (7.5 cm) will be key. However, he predicts a decision win rather than a finish, as Quiñónez has a good chin and O'Malley is unlikely to submit him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 63 of 111 | 56% | 73 of 121 | 0 of 0 | --- | 3 | 1 | 0:55 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 0 | 25 of 60 | 41% | 42 of 79 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 5:58 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 28 of 54 | 51% | 28 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 0 | 4 of 19 | 21% | 4 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 23 of 35 | 65% | 31 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 3 | 1 | 0:55 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 0 | 5 of 18 | 27% | 13 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:23 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 12 of 22 | 54% | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 0 | 16 of 23 | 69% | 25 of 34 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 3:35 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 63 of 111 | 56% | 41 of 83 | 15 of 21 | 7 of 7 | 53 of 100 | 1 of 2 | 9 of 9 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 25 of 60 | 41% | 7 of 37 | 9 of 12 | 9 of 11 | 16 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 9 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 28 of 54 | 51% | 15 of 36 | 7 of 12 | 6 of 6 | 28 of 53 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 4 of 19 | 21% | 1 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 23 of 35 | 65% | 17 of 28 | 6 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 9 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 5 of 18 | 27% | 2 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 12 of 22 | 54% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Andre Soukhamthath | 16 of 23 | 69% | 4 of 8 | 7 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 8 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
O'Malley takes the center of the cage and switches stances in front of Soukhamthath as the Rhode Island native cuts angles around the outside. "Sugar" lands an inside leg kick that leaves Soukhamthath limping, though the limp seems to have gone away a minute later. O'Malley goes orthodox and feints stepping inside, threatening to throw a long knee at his opponent's body. Soukhamthath is biting hard on feints from the prospect, and now he has his lead leg chopped out from under him by an O'Malley low kick. O'Malley fires a right high kick that lands under Soukhamthath's left arm with a loud thwack. O'Malley throws a kick with the left leg now and grazes Soukhamthath's midsection. Soukhamthath eats the next left kick from O'Malley, but "The Asian Sensation" does well to hide any damage. O'Malley is still stalking with 60 seconds on the clock, slamming a left kick into Soukhamthath's ribs. A right hand to the temple buckles the legs of Soukhamthath, but he jumps back up and seems to recover in record time. O'Malley tries to polish off his wounded foe with spinning kicks, but Soukhamthath will survive to see round two.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 O'Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 O'Malley
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 O'Malley
Round 2
Soukhamthath comes out with guns blazing, firing at O'Malley with both hands and backing up the flashy young prospect to the fence. O'Malley circles back to the center and reestablishes his range, popping Soukhamthath with a left high kick through the glove. Soukhamthath catches a body kick, can't make anything of it. O'Malley, working from southpaw, flashes long jabs in the face of Soukhamthath before blasting down the middle with a hard, straight left. Soukhamthath hits a quick takedown with 3:15 on the clock and immediately finds himself in deep trouble. O'Malley throws up a triangle choke, trapping Soukhamthath's head and left arm, but he can't quite cinch the submission. Soukhamthath unwittingly turns into the choke, allowing O'Malley to lock his left ankle under his right knee. O'Malley switches to an armbar, but Soukhamthath stands up and pulls free. Suddenly, it's Soukhamthath on top with two minutes left, having escaped two dangerous submission attempts. O'Malley sits up against the fence and catches Soukhamthath in a no-arm guillotine, then rolls him over. Soukhamthath pulls his head free and stays on his knees as O'Malley stands up and kicks him in the body. Soukhamthath complains to referee Mark Smith, but the strike appeared perfectly legal. O'Malley jumps on the kneeling Soukhamthath's back and goes for a last-second rear-naked choke, but time runs out.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Round 3
Soukhamthath quickly closes the distance on O'Malley and jams the youngster against the fence with a bodylock, looking for an early trip takedown. O'Malley keeps his balance and limp-legs away from Soukhamthath's subsequent single-leg attempt. O'Malley fires long left hands from southpaw, switches to orthodox and then back again to resume his jabbing. Soukhamthath is looking tired as he takes a stomping kick to the breadbasket, then a right hand to the chin. O'Malley lands awkwardly after throwing a right high kick, and Soukhamthath makes matters worse by buckling the knee with a leg kick. Soukhamthath hits a fast takedown and stands over O'Malley with three minutes left to fight. Referee Smith calls for work from Soukhamthath on top; the Rhode Island fighter obliges by posturing up and then passing to side control. Soukhamthath catches O'Malley sitting up and looks for a guillotine, but he can't find the choke. O'Malley posts and stands, barely putting any weight on his right leg. Soukhamthath lands another takedown, allowing O'Malley to stay in the fight. O'Malley climbs back to his feet and drops Soukhamthath with a spinning elbow. Soukhamthath gets right back on his feet and takes the barely mobile O'Malley to the ground again, much to the frustration of the blue corner. Soukhamthath keeps O'Malley on the mat for the final 30 seconds, and this one will go to the judges.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Soukhamthath (29-27 O'Malley)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Soukhamthath (29-27 O'Malley)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Soukhamthath (29-27 O'Malley)
The Official Result
Sean O'Malley def. Andre Soukhamthath via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) R3 5:00
Dec 01, 2017
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 141 of 252 | 55% | 142 of 255 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Terrion Ware | 0 | 88 of 288 | 30% | 96 of 296 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 32 of 71 | 45% | 32 of 71 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Terrion Ware | 0 | 23 of 79 | 29% | 26 of 82 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 58 of 89 | 65% | 59 of 90 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Terrion Ware | 0 | 46 of 124 | 37% | 51 of 129 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:32 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 51 of 92 | 55% | 51 of 94 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Terrion Ware | 0 | 19 of 85 | 22% | 19 of 85 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 141 of 252 | 55% | 119 of 224 | 20 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 131 of 241 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 4 |
| Terrion Ware | 88 of 288 | 30% | 59 of 241 | 17 of 27 | 12 of 20 | 83 of 271 | 5 of 17 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 32 of 71 | 45% | 24 of 60 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 32 of 71 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Terrion Ware | 23 of 79 | 29% | 13 of 60 | 5 of 11 | 5 of 8 | 22 of 78 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 58 of 89 | 65% | 50 of 80 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 51 of 82 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 |
| Terrion Ware | 46 of 124 | 37% | 36 of 110 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 4 | 43 of 113 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean O'Malley | 51 of 92 | 55% | 45 of 84 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 48 of 88 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 |
| Terrion Ware | 19 of 85 | 22% | 10 of 71 | 3 of 6 | 6 of 8 | 18 of 80 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Ware opens with a low kick, then slides backward to avoid O'Malley's first offering, a spinning back kick aimed at the body. O'Malley has a head kick blocked, so he goes twice to the body of Ware with hard, loud kicks. Ware blocks a spinning backfist and sticks out his tongue at O'Malley before moving inside and pressing the UFC newcomer against the fence with double underhooks. O'Malley breaks free and now goes to his back foot, looking to draw Ware forward and counter. Ware lands a nice right hand, but O'Malley switches to southpaw and slugs "Flash" with a straight left. Back to orthodox goes O'Malley, splitting Ware's gloves with a straight right. O'Malley slides backward to dodge a punch from Ware, leaving him swinging at air, then cracks Ware with a step-off right hand. Ware clinches up and gets tossed to the ground by O'Malley with a foot sweep. O'Malley allows him to stand as they enter the final minute of the round. Ware denies a takedown attempt from O'Malley in the closing seconds.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 O'Malley
Round 2
Ware drives forward, touching O'Malley with a few jabs, but O'Malley is sniping back with even harder, more accurate punches as he circles off his back foot. Ware goes to the body with a right hand, then barely gets his left mitt up to block an O'Malley head kick. Ware connects with a nice overhand right, but O'Malley seems unfazed as he continues to duck in and out of range. Ware finally gets hold of O'Malley on the fence and makes the UFC newcomer pay with a few hard knees to the body. O'Malley breaks free, but suddenly his offense seems to be dropping off. Ware hits O'Malley with an overhand right-left uppercut, bloodying the unbeaten fighter's nose. O'Malley has all but stopped striking as they enter the final two minutes of the middle stanza. Ware is turning up the heat, stepping inside with some more clinch knees. O'Malley throws a high kick and slips, dropping to the ground, and Ware follows him to the floor. O'Malley rolls to his knees, then blocks Ware's attempt to take his back and stands. O'Malley hits Ware with a back-elbow as they separate, but soon after, it's Ware back on the offensive, cracking O'Malley with another hard right hand. O'Malley slugs back with a left to the jaw, then one to the body. O'Malley grabs Ware in the collar tie and tries a flying triangle, but Ware pulls out almost immediately.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Ware
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Ware
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ware
Round 3
Ware pushes the action from the center of the cage as the final frame begins, keeping O'Malley on the outside, his back near the fence. O'Malley comes back to the center with a spinning back kick to Ware's body, then pops the Californian with a hard, straight left to the jaw. Ware's punches are coming slower now, while O'Malley seems to have recovered from his sluggish second round. Ware lands an inside leg kick, eats a jab and continues chasing after O'Malley on the outside. Halfway through the round, Ware ducks under a punch and clinches, but it's O'Malley breaking out of the clinch with a body kick, then a pair of punches. Ware dodges a spinning backfist but takes two hard right hands to the chin right afterward. O'Malley hits a takedown with 80 seconds left, then stands and lets Ware come back to his feet. Ware clinches and gets tripped to the floor, now with 50 seconds left to fight. O'Malley catches Ware kneeling and tries to set up a D'arce choke, but Ware breaks the grip and stands, now trying to take O'Malley's back on the feet. O'Malley busts out and dodges a few last-ditch kicks from Ware. The last action of the fight is Ware being denied a takedown, forced to the ground and elbowed in the face by O'Malley.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 O'Malley (29-28 O'Malley)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 O'Malley (29-28 O'Malley)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 O'Malley (29-28 O'Malley)
The Official Result
Sean O'Malley def. Terrion Ware via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
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