UFC 292 Results: Sean O’Malley TKOs Aljamain Sterling In Round 2 To Become UFC Bantamweight Champion
UFC 292 Results: Sean O’Malley Defeats Champion Aljamain Sterling With Round 2 TKO
UFC 292 Main Card Results
#2 Sean O’Malley Def. Champ. Aljamain Sterling Via Rd. 2 TKO (Punches) – 5 Round Bantamweight Championship
Fight Notes: After a very measured round 1 from both men, O’Malley was able to time a beautiful right-hand counter to send the champion face first on the canvas. He was able to land some ground and pound shots to force the stoppage. Sean O’Malley becomes UFC champion by round 2 TKO, living up to what many fans thought he could become when he first stepped into the octagon back in 2017.
Champ. Zhang Weili Def. #5 Amanda Lemos Via Unanimous Decision (50-43 50-44 49-45) – 5 Round Women’s Strawweight Championship
Fight Notes: Despite this being a rather one-sided fight it was still extremely entertaining. In round 1 Lemos had a very close D’arce choke submission attempt but Zhang was able to slip out. From there Zhang unleashed ground and pound. Lemos showed extraordinary heart and was able to land on occasion with power but it was too few and far between. Zhang was able to dominate with ground control and escape any submission Lemos attempted. Zhang topped off the dominant title defense with a round 5 knockdown.
Ian Machado Garry Def. Neil Magny Via Unaimous Decision (30-24 30-26 30-26)
Fight Notes: One of the rising stars of the division, Ian Machado Garry, made easy work of UFC veteran Neil Magny. His main weapon was his leg kicks which were on display from start to finish, dropping Magny on multiple occasions. I was a bit disappointed he was not able to find the finish since it was so one-sided but it was still an incredible performance where he sustained no damage. He improves to 6-0 in the UFC. He called out Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in his post-fight interview, which would make for a great striking chess match.
Mario Bautista Def. Da’mon Blackshear Via Unanimous Decision (30-27 29-28 29-28) – Bantamweight
Fight Notes: Blackshear came on strong in round 1 mixing in his stand-up with takedown attempts. Bautista did a great job defending the offensive serge from Blackshear. In the final two rounds, Blackshear’s pace slowed noticeably and Bautista was able to capitalize. Bautista’s win-streak moves to 5, as his UFC record improves to 7-2. He deserves a ranked opponent sooner than later and I think he will get one.
#6 Marlon Vera Def. #10 Pedro Munhoz Via Unanimous (30-27 30-27 29-28) – Bantamweight
Fight Notes: A typical slow start for Vera had Munhoz having some success early in the fight. However, the damage began to accumulate by the third round as Vera’s jab was busting up Munhoz’s face. Although, Munhoz was as tough as ever and he never backed down and made it a very competitive fight. That becomes Vera’s first victory since his loss to Cory Sandhagen, making him 5-1 in his last 6.
UFC 292 Prelim Results
Brad Tavares Def. Chris Weidman Via Unanimous Decision (30-27 30-27 30-27) – Middleweight
Fight Notes: Tavares was quick to welcome Weidman back after his gruesome leg injury in 2021. He broke down the uninjured left leg. This caused Weidman to have to rely on his freshly recovered right leg, which suffered that injury in 2021. This greatly compromised his movement, however, he was able to keep fighting and make it to the end of the fight. It was a spirited performance but a clear decision victory for Tavares.
Gregory Rodrigues Def. Denis Tiuliulin Via TKO (Ground and Pound Elbows) – Middleweight
Fight Notes: Rodrigues wasted no time getting the fight to the ground, slamming Tiuliulin on his back. He quickly transitioned to the mount position and began raining down elbows that finished the fight and put Tiuliulin out. A good bounce-back win for ‘Robocop’ following his KO loss in January, making him 5-2 in the UFC.
Kurt Holobaugh Def. Austin Hubbard Via Rd. 2 Submission (Triangle Choke) – The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 Lightweight Finale
Fight Notes: Hubbard was able to land some takedowns early however Holobaugh was able to get to his feet every time. Holobaugh was even starting to land on the feet before eventually ending up on top. Where he attempted an Armbar and was able to transition it to a Triangle choke as Hubbard attempted to defend. Very high-level ground game from Holobaugh as he returns to the UFC an Ultimate Fighter Season 31 winner. He even sneaked in a Paddy Pimblett callout in his post-fight interview.
Brad Katona Def. Cody Gibson Via Unanimous Decision (30-27 29-28 29-28) – The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 Bantamweight Finale
Fight Notes: Super fast-paced standup fight with Gibson constantly pressuring with offense on the feet but Katona landing counters in between. The fight evolved into an all-out war in round 3 as Gibson’s eye began to swell badly. Despite the swelling, he kept on swinging away. What a performance from both men, who both took each other best shots and kept on coming. Katona showcased his superior cardio with such a strong closing. An absolute classic for the finale of The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 as Katona becomes a two-time Ultimate Fighter winner.
UFC 292 Early Prelim Results
Andre Petrovski Def. Gerald Meerschaert Via Split Decision (29-28 29-28 28-29) – Middleweight
Fight Notes: Petrovski came out absolutely swinging on Meerschaert, not connecting clean though. That is until round 2 where he was able to drop Meerschaert, however was not able to finish him. All that effort toward getting the finish had Petrovski fatigued by round 3. This resulted in Gerald going for the opportunity to finish, both men started to throw down in the last 20 seconds, but the fight did see the final bell. Both men left it all in the octagon.
Natalia Silva Def. #13 Andrea Lee Via Unanimous Decision (30-27 30-27 30-27) – Women’s Flyweight
Fight Notes: Silva was able to control almost all of the action on the feet, where the entire fight took place. Very impressive movement and offensive volume for Silva. Lee seemed to be unable to solve the puzzle of the feints and movement of Silva. The 26-year-old Silva improves to 4-0 in the UFC and will be a fighter to watch in the division.
Karine Silva Def. Maryna Moroz Via Rd. 1 Submission (Guillotine Choke) – Women’s Flyweight
Fight Notes: Impressive 1st round submission for Karine Silva right before the closing bell of round 1. She moves on to 2-0 in the UFC following her victory in Dana White’s Contender Series in October of 2021.
By Max Rhoades
Also, Read; Dana White’s Contender Series August 15 Results