20 August 2023 , 09:56
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Sean O'Malley has received big praise from Dana White as the UFC boss compared his rise to that of Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
O'Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling on Saturday night at UFC 292 in Boston to win the bantamweight title. 'Suga' is just the second fighter who was signed to the UFC from the Contender Series to become a world champion, as light-heavyweight Jamahal Hill achieved the impressive feat earlier the year.
White was in awe at the number of fans walking around Boston during fight week with multi-coloured hair in tribute to O'Malley. The UFC president admitted that he hasn't seen the same level of buzz around a fighter since UFC legends McGregor and Rousey shot to fame in the promotion.
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"I've not seen it since the rise of Conor McGregor and Ronda too. When Ronda really started to take off, she had that buzz too, and Chuck Liddell," White said. "When Conor McGregor exploded onto the scene he ignited Europe and other parts of the world. Now with Sean O'Malley coming into Boston, everywhere I went... hair, shirts, the whole deal. Everybody was wearing O'Malley stuff and you saw the reaction when he won tonight in how the place just erupted.
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"He went in there and delivered tonight. When you think about the fight and Sterling, you say to yourself 'How did he beat this guy? He's not going to be able to stop the takedown'. You never know because styles make fights and things happen that you don't expect, he got caught and he got stopped. O'Malley isn't going to be a star, he is a star."
Sean O'Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 to win the bantamweight titleO'Malley was the betting underdog to beat Sterling, who hadn't lost in over five years heading into his fourth title defence. 'Suga' already has the first defence of his newly-acclaimed bantamweight title as he wants to face old rival Chito Vera in a rematch at UFC 296 in December.
White reflected on O'Malley's UFC journey by praising his Contender Series show for producing an array of UFC talent: "When you think about this, I said it every Tuesday. The Contender Series is the best show on television, it's incredible. Two world champions from the Contender Series and multiple up and coming stars coming off that show."