Media Cameron Saaiman thinks O'Malley will finish Sterling

[Adamant__]

There's a huge gap in age between 27 year old Umar and 22 year old Saaiman. If Umar defeats Sandhagen and then fights for the title, there's a reasonable chance their paths never overlap. Khabibs team recognizes that your prime years are 27-33 in MMA at best and guys like Umar, Islam, Usman just like Khabib have been dedicating their life to combat sports and this pursuit since much younger ages than their piers (Umar for instance has been training with team Abdulmanap and Khabib since 15 or so and was training in things like Wrestling and Muay Thai from much younger). Umar won't be hanging around at 33 if he ends up winning the title this early, he will defend 3 or 4 times and then probably try to move up or retire. Saaiman at this rate is still 2 or 3 more wins away from scratching the top 15 and there's things about his game that worry me....He seems too easy to take down and physically weak compared to some of the guys above him, I think it's going to take a mauling or complete controlling and stifling from a grappler to wake him up. Standing he's real nice but super aggressive and gets hit.

O'Malley most likely gets strangled by Aljo, I think Saaiman just sees himself more in O'Malley and is kinda rooting for him or sees ways he can win out of bias. Fighters seem to do this a lot when predicting things. The way Aljo has been able to get down guys like Yan and Cejudo, two guys with some of the best defensive wrestling in the sport and the way Aljo is able to pressure and be frustrating standing is just so significant. And like Cejudo said, the thing that surprised him about Aljo was just how game he was...in his face, in the fight, in each round, pushing, looking for openings for 5 rounds straight. Aljo is a dog and I keep thinking back to the way O'Malley choked vs Munhoz which was a spoonfed matchup and the way he looked for a way out vs Chito when injured, I think Aljo is ready to go to hell and back for his W.

“I think it's going to take a mauling or complete controlling and stifling from a grappler to wake him up”
Hope he can fix his holes before that happens lol. I really like the kid and would like to see him go straight up.

DJ got Cejudo down, too. And that was prime Cejudo. He only got Yan down because Yan is a moron and gave his back. 2/22 is just embarrassing. The only frustrating part about Sterling’s game is him being on his knees. I really think Sean will threaten him with front headlock chokes and take that away, too. Yan fought like a dumbass in the second fight, TJ was having his way with him on the feet with one arm (wtf lol) and Cejudo had a 7 inch reach disadvantage and was still catching Sterling on the feet. I don’t think Aljo is that guy. Yes, I dislike him, but even looking at it objectively, you can see that. Nothing about him or his run make you hype up. Just underwhelming split decisions and snooze fests. Also, did O'Malley quit against Yan? I don’t know why we skipping that part. Yan hurt him but he was still there and composed. He made Yan shoot, has great power. He has the reach to bother Sterling and he uses it very well. I really think this will surprise a lot of you guys.

 

[Lost_Cause]

Cameron isn’t qualified to make such assertions. Think he may have issues. Possibly just growing pains.

 

[InThySight]

I certainly hope so. Sterling is the worst champ since Bisping, and the only one that can make me root for Cuck O'Malley of all people.

 

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

i don't think o'malley will even be competitive in this fight.

 

[flektarn]

I doubt O'Malley a lot but his stand up is better than Sterling's. His TDD and wrestling we'll have to see. He's had a year to work on body triangle escapes, though. It would be foolish for sterling to try and prove a point and attempt any stand up. His stand up is awkward but not good, he could get clipped.

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

Fighters are notoriously awful at predicting fights for the most part.

Not as bad as fans like 50% of sherdog thought a regional replacement fighter was going to beat Bo the Dagestani Killer Nickal

 

[Adamant__]

Bo the Dagestani Killer Nickal

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

It's too bad Dagestan is unable to develop a 185lber that can actually make the UFC roster

 

[ElLunico]

I think O'Malley KO's him too. Too quick of a turn around for Aljo plus I just don't see him avoiding Sean's power for 5 rounds

 

[Local Plata]

I mean the UFC is doing their best to give Sean the most opportunity to win. Making guys fight earlier than they want to/injured is kind of their MO when it comes to their hype job projects. I could see it happening, but still favor Aljo.

 

[Connection Lost]

I’m not an Aljo fan, but I think he finishes Sean in the first round.

I just hope when sean wins, the fix isn't TOO obvious