Daniel Cormier detailed the difference between Sean O’Malley’s decision-making power as a UFC champion compared to Aljamain Sterling’s.
Between March 2021 and August of this year, Sterling established arguably the most accomplished title reign in UFC bantamweight history. Yet, ‘Funk Master’ seemed to never fully be on the same page as Dana White and the UFC brass.
During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier discussed an interesting topic about the difference between O’Malley and Sterling as the UFC 135-pound champion. Cormier started by saying:
“So Aljo, after the competition today, says [to Sean O’Malley], ‘Fight me and give me my rematch, or fight Merab [Dvalishvili]. Do what I did. Fight the number one contenders. Stop ducking.’ Here’s the issue, Aljo. It’s not the same. It sucks, but it’s not the same.”
Throughout his title reign, Sterling claimed several times that he wanted an extended break to recover. Things didn’t go according to plan as ‘Funk Master’ fought in four title defenses in less than one and a half years.
Daniel Cormier mentioned Sterling’s active schedule by saying:
“It’s not the same based on decisions that the champ made or the former champion Aljamain Sterling made. Why? Because I recall when he won or defended his title for the first time in Jacksonville, he said right away, ‘I’m gonna take some time off.’ I said [to] Ryan [Clark], ‘He’ll be back sooner than he’s saying. Because they’re gonna back the truck up to him, and they’re gonna pay him.’”
Daniel Cormier concludes why Sean O’Malley’s title reign is different than Aljamaim Sterling’s
On August 19, Sean O’Malley finished Aljamain Sterling in the second round to become the new UFC bantamweight champion. Since then, O’Malley has voiced his interest in fighting Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera next instead of a Sterling rematch or a matchup against top-ranked Merab Dvalishvili.
During the same YouTube video, Daniel Cormier concluded his point of view about the difference between the title reigns of Sean O’Malley and Aljamsin Sterling:
“I said immediately, ‘This dude’s [Sterling is] gonna get active. He’s gonna be very, very active. He’s gonna be put to work more often than most champions.’ And that right there is why it’s different than Sean O’Malley. Because Sean O’Malley has shown time and time again that he is going to do what he wants to do, when he wants to do it, and he’s done it publicly…O’Malley moves to the beat of his own drummer.”
In August 2020, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera secured a first-round knockout win against Sean O’Malley, handing ‘Sugar’ his only loss in the Octagon.
Three years later, number six-ranked ‘Chito’ has found himself in a position to potentially get a title shot against O’Malley, which would satisfy fans’ craving for the rematch. It’ll be intriguing to see what the UFC decides to do next with the new 135-pound king.
Watch Daniel Cormier discuss the difference between Sean O’Malley and Aljamain Sterling below:
