UFC Odds – UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley

A pair of championship matches highlights the fight card on Saturday at UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley. Current bantamweight champ and winner of nine consecutive bouts, Aljamain Sterling is a big favorite on the UFC betting line over ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley in the main event. Sterling won the belt at UFC 259 in 2021 when Peter Yan was DQ’d for an illegal strike. Sterling became the first fighter in the history of the promotion to win a title by disqualification. I guess it doesn’t matter how you get it as long as you get it. And Sterling doesn’t want to give up the belt successfully defending in his last three bouts.

With one loss in 18 professional fights, O’Malley is an underdog for only the second time priced at +220 at UFC betting sites. And he’s catching Sterling just three months after the champ went the distance in a split decision over Henry Cejudo. Meanwhile, it’s been 10 months since O’Malley earned a split decision victory over Peter Yan at UFC 280 in his last fight.

Zhang Weili puts her women’s strawweight strap on the line as a huge UFC favorite against Brazilian Amando Lemos in the co-headliner. After losing the title with consecutive setbacks to Rose Namajunas, Weili won her last two fights, including a rear-naked choke submission of Carla Esparza at UFC 281 to regain the title. Lemos has looked unstoppable at times winning seven of her last eight fights with five of them by stoppage. A top contender in the division, she finally gets her first title shot on Saturday.

Bet on UFC online at BetRivers sportsbook with odds for every fight on the ticket. The action takes place on Saturday, August 19, 2023 from TD Garden in Boston, MA. The main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN pay-per-view.

UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley Main Card Odds

Sean OMalley +220 vs. Aljamain Sterling -260

Amanda Lemos +270 vs. Weili Zhang -320

Neil Magny +380 vs. Ian Garry -505

DaMon Blackshear +180 vs. Mario Bautista -210

Pedro Munhoz +175 vs. Marlon Vera -205

It probably wouldn’t have been a big deal if Sterling ( 23-3, 3 KOs, 8 SUBs ) kept his mouth shut. The champ is fighting sooner than he wants with only three months off since his last title defense against Cejudo on May 6. And it becomes more of an issue when you realize ‘Funk Master’ has a history of neck and bicep injuries. “I’m going to fight, even though it’s literally against my will,” Sterling said recently.

Sterling fought with three months between bouts in 2017 earning a unanimous decision over Augusto Mendes in April followed by a UD over Renan Barao in July. Of course it’s easier to do when those bouts capped at three rounds and Sterling was 28-years-old. Not so much now with less tread on the tires.

Sterling also hinted this could his final fight at 135 pounds citing the weight cut as a major factor while throwing shade at his opponent as well. “Even if I didn’t get my hand raised it damn sure ain’t because of Sean O’Malley running me out of the division,” he added.

An unstoppable force over the last few years, Sterling uses his grappling as a major weapon. He’s more likely to win by submission or decision since only three wins were by KO. He did KO T.J. Dillashaw in his second title defense, though the challenger was impacted by a dislocated shoulder. Sterling doesn’t get the recognition he deserves after nine consecutive wins over ranked foes with the last three over former champions.

Often boasting that he’s the best fighter in the weight class, O’Malley ( 16-1-1 NC, 11 KOs, 1 SUB ) gets a chance on Saturday to prove it. His list of opponents isn’t quite as glossy as Sterling’s, but O’Malley did what he had to in order to get a shot at the title. His only setback was a first round TKO to Marlon Vera at UFC 252. There was some controversy surrounding his most recent fight, a split decision over Peter Yan last October. There was some outrage over the verdict since 25 of 26 media outlets covering the bout scored in favor of Yan.

More powerful with his strikes, O’Malley needs to stay on his feet to have a chance. That’s easier said than done against one of the best grapplers in the sport. I’m not placing a UFC bet on Sterling at 26/1 but I have no problem putting the odds in my favor with a stoppage. The champ will wear down O’Malley with is superior grappling getting a win before it goes to the judges.

UFC Prediction: Aljamain Sterling / Submission ( +180 )

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