The UFC bantamweight champion has a surprising prediction for UFC 280. Sterling is set to defend his title against T.J. Dillashaw in the co-main event, with Sean O’Malley scheduled to face former champ and Sterling’s most recent opponent Petr Yan, on the same card. While Yan is a heavy favorite heading into the fight, Sterling told Submission Radio that he expects to see a masterclass from “Suga” Sean. “I think it’s a good technical matchup for both guys.
If you look at it on paper, O’Malley is untested. The one time he had a test, he failed, that was to [Marlon] ‘Chito’ Vera. Obviously it was a weird injury that he had with that leg kick, because not every day someone is going to kick you in the leg and you get drop foot. He’s got good footwork, he’s got good range, he’s got good movement, and then you have Yan, who is super durable, super tough, as people say he ‘downloads data’… I hate when people say that, it’s the stupidest thing.
Aljamain Sterling Predicts Sean O’Malley To Defeat Petr Yan
If he could have punched you in the face, he would have punched you in the face. He can’t, so he’s trying to get a read on you. They make it sound like he’s this unbeatable robot. Dude, whatever.” This “downloading data” might well be Yan’s downfall against a highly technical striker like O’Malley.
“If he starts behind the eight ball like that, and gives O’Malley a chance in a three-round fight, an opportunity to run up the score on him, pick the shots, it could be a miserable night for Yan.
But if Yan is able to touch him up, go to the body, chop down O’Malley’s legs — I’m not saying O’Malley’s legs are his weak point because people tend to keep talking about that, but I do think with a tall, rangy fighter, who is tough to hit up top, how else do you get him?
You attack the body, that’s going to be a lot more stationary, and you attack the legs, that’s going to be a lot more stationary. You can’t get the legs out of the way the same way you get the head out of the way. So I think Yan has to come in with a smart I.Q., otherwise he’s going to go 0-3.”
Is this just more trash talk from Aljamain Sterling about his old foe, or is he right? Let us know what you think in the comments.
