UFC Bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling feels Sean O’Malley is being forced bu the promotion into becoming a “knockoff” Conor McGregor, and he feels O’Malley lacks the skills to become so.
People don’t got the formula or the juice to be Conor: Aljamain Sterling
Following his split decision win over the returning Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 earlier this month, “Funk Master” had a confrontation with O’Malley in the cage, setting up a future title fight headlining UFC 292 in August.
In recent weeks, while Sterling has insisted that he may need more time to recover, UFC prez Dana White has stated that the 135-pound championship has to be put at stake in August.
In the meantime, O’Malley’s trainer Tim Welch claimed that the promotion is wanting “Sugar” to win the belt. During a recent video published on Sterling’s YouTube channel, the champion agreed to Welch, additionally stating that both the fighter and the promotion are acknowledging that he’s the next McGregor.
However, Sterling doesn’t believe O’Malley has the skills to match “The Notorious”.
“I agree. I do think the UFC does want that,” said Sterling. “Then, when [Tim Welch] started going into why [the UFC wants O’Malley to be champion], and started calling him a knockout artist. Like, not saying he’s never knocked anybody out, but it’s just very different now that he’s swimming with the big boys.”
“We haven’t quite seen these magic knockouts. This, wannabe, knockoff, Conor McGregor, that was the trajectory he was on. But for some reason, people don’t got the formula or the juice to be Conor,” he added. [H/T BJPenn.com]
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