Aljamain Sterling will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292 tonight.
O’Malley’s rise has been a curious one, with the striking specialist attracting a strong following over the last six years but finding himself in this title fight without having faced the stiffest competition. The American did win a controversial decision against former champion Petr Yan in October, but his more testing match-ups before that did not inspire as he would have hoped; “Sugar Sean” suffered a TKO against Marlon Vera, before fighting Pedro Munhoz to a No Contest.
Meanwhile, Sterling has proven a divisive champion since taking the belt from Yan via DQ. He has won narrow decisions against the Russian and Henry Cejudo, and he stopped another former champion last year in an injured TJ Dillashaw. In any case, the Jamaican-American is the favourite in Boston this weekend, with his grappling skills expected to trump O’Malley’s striking.
In the co-main event, two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends her title against Amanda Lemos. Here’s all you need to know.
When is it?
UFC 292 takes place tonight, Saturday 19 August, at the TD Garden in Boston.
The early prelims are set to begin at 11.30pm BST (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am on Sunday (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then scheduled for 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday).
How can I watch it?
The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights.
In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the Sean O’Malley vs Aljamain Sterling fight then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market.
Odds
Sterling – 2/5; O’Malley – 2/1
Zhang – 2/7; Lemos – 13/5
Via Betway.
Full card (subject to change)
Zhang Weili defends the strawweight title in the co-main event of UFC 292
(Getty Images)
Main card
Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Sean O’Malley (bantamweight title)
Zhang Weili (C) vs Amanda Lemos (women’s strawweight title)
Ian Machado Garry def. Neil Magny via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-24)
Mario Bautista def. Da’mon Blackshear via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Marlon Vera def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Prelims
Brad Tavares def. Chris Weidman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Gregory Rodrigues def. Denis Tiuliulin via first-round knockout (elbows, 1:43)
Kurt Holobaugh def. Austin Hubbard via second-round submission (triangle choke, 2:39)
Brad Katona def. Cody Gibson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Early prelims
Andre Petroski def. Gerald Meerschaert via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Natalia Silva def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Karine Silva def. Maryna Moroz via first-round submission (guillotine choke, 4:59)