Tim Welch doesn’t see Aljamain Sterling standing with Sean O’Malley for too lengthy.
O’Malley (16-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sterling (23-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) on Aug. 19 in the primary occasion of UFC 292, which takes place at TD Backyard in Boston and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
O’Malley’s coach isn’t any stranger to prepping his star pupil towards wrestle-heavy sport plans. He sees Sterling’s distinctive type enjoying of their favor.
“Everybody’s sport plan towards Sean has been pin him towards the cage and attempt to take him down,” Welch advised Submission Radio. “And also you see superb guys attempting to stalk him, and it’s approach more durable than they assume. However I feel Aljo is such an excellent athlete. He’s so funky that he’s going to take dangers, and he’s going to attempt to seize Sean. He’s going to take a giant threat.
“And that’s additionally going to have the ability to open up the knockout for us. Sean can knock individuals out with each one among his limbs, so if he lunges in on the flawed time, he might get some knuckles bounced off his chin, and it might be the top of the night time.”
Welch doesn’t count on Sterling to spend an excessive amount of time on the ft with O’Malley and if he does, he expects O’Malley’s energy to make him resort to grappling straight away.
“I feel particularly as soon as he feels one thing buzz by his face or crack him slightly bit, he’s going to be diving at Sean’s legs,” Welch mentioned. “I feel he’s going to dash proper at him, attempt to reduce him off, after which put him towards the fence and take him down. However I imply, he’s so funky. He’s so funky. You a few of his takedowns towards the fence – they’re such good entries. There’s not even a spot to crack him.
“When he pins individuals on the fence and he’s punching, and he’s in all probability going to shoot in a second, he’s so good at punching and stepping into entry, there’s not even room for him to get KO’d. So I undoubtedly assume that’s his plan, particularly once we’re within the open. He’s in all probability going to face about three, 4 ft away, throw some silly stuff and attempt to get Sean to overcommit, after which drop down right into a double leg. For positive, the longer it’s on the ft, the upper the probabilities that Sean’s going to KO him.”
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