Aljamain Sterling Questions Sean O’Malley’s Rise, Draws Parallels to Jake Paul

Sterling’s Frustration with Perceived Path to the Top

Aljamain Sterling expressed his desire to see the best fighters consistently tested against each other without perceived shortcuts. He detailed his perspective on O’Malley’s ascent, suggesting that after a single ranked opponent, O’Malley was given a title shot. Sterling noted that while the decision win was clear, he believes the UFC had a plan to elevate O’Malley. This plan, in Sterling’s view, involved him fighting Henry Cejudo, which would then set up a title bout for O’Malley against Sterling himself, likely in August. Sterling feels O’Malley was strategically positioned to capitalize on a favorable situation, which he finds difficult to respect as a competitor.

The „Jake Paul“ Comparison and Matchmaking Concerns

The core of Sterling’s criticism lies in what he perceives as deliberate matchmaking designed to showcase O’Malley’s strengths and minimize his weaknesses. He explicitly compares O’Malley’s rise to that of Jake Paul, suggesting both have benefited from carefully constructed fight cards and advantageous matchups to build their records and public image. Sterling pointed to O’Malley’s first title defense against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 as a prime example. Sterling believes O’Malley should have faced Merab Dvalishvili, another highly ranked contender, before Vera, especially given Vera’s history with O’Malley. Sterling argued that Vera, ranked sixth at the time, was not a challenging stylistic matchup for O’Malley, particularly in avoiding takedowns, and that this fight presented an easier path to a successful title defense.

Future Fights and Sterling’s Ongoing Scrutiny

Sean O’Malley is slated to face Aljamain Sterling’s training partner, Merab Dvalishvili, in the main event of UFC 306 on September 14th in Las Vegas. Sterling’s critical stance suggests he will be closely watching this upcoming bout and future matchups involving O’Malley. His comments highlight a broader debate within MMA about the role of promotional strategy and matchmaking in shaping a fighter’s career and public perception. While O’Malley has achieved championship status, Sterling’s perspective raises questions about the legitimacy of that achievement when viewed through the lens of competitive integrity and the UFC’s promotional interests. Sterling’s continued outspokenness ensures this conversation surrounding O’Malley’s reign will likely persist.