Hours Before UFC 292, Israel Adesanya Makes Shocking Pick as “Nice Guy” Aljamain Sterling Gets Snubbed for Sean O’Malley

As the world waits in anticipation of the main Bantamweight title fight of UFC 292, speculations are plenty in number. Numerous theories of fight breakdowns and probabilities circle the internet as fans all over try to figure out who will prevail- Aljamain Sterling, or Sean O’Malley. For fans who are scouring the internet for insight, the ‘Stylebender’ Israel Adesanya provides some respite. The MiddleWeight Champion weighs in on the debate with his interesting take on various angles of the fight.

The title fight sees the current Bantamweight Champion ‘Funkmaster’ Sterling attempting to defend his title against ‘Sugar’ O’Malley. Just hours before the main event, the Champ took to his YouTube channel to talk about the main event. While his revelation might come as a sudden surprise to many, the ‘Stylebender’ adequately reasons out his predictions. In the video, Adesanya pits Sean O’Malley against Aljamain Sterling and compares aspects of their technique and style.

Israel Adesanya makes his prediction

‘Izzy’ kicks off the discussion by talking about Sterling. He said, “Aljamain is a nice dude. I like him, I’ve been around him”. He goes on to acknowledge the ‘Funkmaster’s solid reputation with the fighting world as well. He stated, “As a champion he gets respect. He’s what? The greatest Bantamweight ever? Look at the resume. He’s beaten all the big dogs”. After his nod to the Champ’s prowess, he takes some time to discuss the different styles of the fighters. Speaking on Aljamain’s striking, Israel Adesanya said, “Once he catches you it’s like ‘Boom’. It’s like you have a f**king muscle ninja turtle on your back. He beats you up”.

However, Izzy soon turned to Sean O’Malley. He revealed how he was partial toward the challenger’s style. Izzy clarified, “I think cause of my striking background I’m really partial towards Sean’s style and the way he flows”. He elaborated, “Cause Sean can find the target better than those guys. He’s accurate with it. He’s like me, he’s not only going to hit hard he’s going to hit sharp”. After taking everything into consideration, the champ finally zeroed in on his pick. At the big reveal, the ‘Stylebender’ confessed, “I’m gonna go Sean. Official pick I’m going to go Sean with this one. Sometimes you just feel like it’s time, it’s destiny”. Assigning his support and faith to ‘Sugar’, Izzy felt that O’Malley was “locked in”.

‘The Last Stylebender’ on appreciating ‘flow’

Izzy clarified that he believes that Aljamain is capable too. In his assessment, he acknowledges the incredible capabilities of both the fighters. He said, “They can both fight. They can both grapple”. But as he went on, Izzy’s pick became quite apparent. He continued, “But like, I like Sean’s flow. His work. The way he fights, the way he moves, his footwork. His taunts. His kicks, his selection, his combination. The way he picks his shot, the way he dots in and out. It’s pretty to watch. It’s beautiful to watch. I’m an artist and I appreciate beautiful art”.

Read More: Watch: Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley Send Out a Final Message to Each Other Through Joe Rogan, Before Fighting at UFC 292

As Israel showers praise on Sean O’Malley’s ‘flow’, fight fans have new reasons to speculate. Israel’s predictions give critics new angles to consider and an important voice to listen to as well. With the revelation of his prediction, the stakes are higher now for O’Malley. As he looks for the big upset, Aljamain will do everything in his power to put an end to ‘Sugar’s sweet run. Who are you betting on for this fight? Will it be O’Malley who steals the show? Or will Sterling prove once again why he’s the Champ?

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