Since the UFC began a mere 30 years ago there have been many side projects President Dana White has introduced. Notably “The Ultimate Fighter” and “Dana White’s contender series”.

One of the notable alumni hailing from DWCS is the tall and lengthy bantamweight by the name of “Suga” Sean O’Malley.

The Suga show has made it to the top of the mountain and at UFC 292 in Boston, he has a chance to climb it. Standing in his way is the man who is ready to put the greatest of all time at 135lb status to rest.

Aljamain Sterling is coming off a 5 round war with Henry Cejudo a few months ago and with a relatively quick turnaround is looking to pass Dominick Cruz with 4 title defenses and become the bantamweight GOAT.

This fight truly incapsulates the 135lb division as a whole. Personality, Skill, Style and a whole lot of cringe

In the co-main event newly crowned Strawweight Queen Zhang Weili returns to the octagon after 9 months. And the 5th ranked Brazilian badass Amanda Lemos is waiting for her with a chance to walk out of August 19th, Undisputed Champion.

Zhang Weili vs Amanda Lemos

In 2019, Zhang Weili was on top of the world. She had just become World Champion with a win over Jessica Andrade, and later in 2020 put on a fight of the year contender with Joanna Jędrzejczyk.

In 2021, Weili came crashing down. Rose Namajunas headkick Ko’d her to win the title back at UFC 261 and later that year, Namajunas beat her again.

Her world came crashing down. Back to back losses out of the title nearly always spells doom for your average contender . Not for Weili.

She came storming back with a spinning elbow knockout win over Joanna to put herself back into title contention. Later that year in november she struck gold again.

While Weili had her rises and falls in her career Lemos was on the come up, building her resume and sharpening her skills, ready to pounce at any time.

Lemos has taken out some of the elite in the strawweight division and is now ready to face the toughest task of her entire career

Unfortunately, she has to face the BMF of the 115lbs division.

Weili is the proud owner of the fight of the year in 2020 with Joanna Jędrzejczyk. And that fight might as well be fight of the decade.

In an era where we have very few long reigning champions at Strawweight, Weili will have the chance to usher in a new era at 115lbs. But first she has to get through the ultra dangerous Amanda Lemos

Taking out Mariana Rodriguez in her last outing, Lemos has had highlight reel knockouts, incredible ground work and overall heart rivaled by none at 115lbs.

Weili will have both the striking and ground game advantage, but Lemos has been known to go up against more skilled opponents and hold her own.

Lemos will have a hard time dealing with Weili’s speed and power which have put away a who’s who of Strawweight elites.

No matter who is Undisputed champion come August 20th, this division remains wide open and with an open division comes a world of opportunities.

Sean O’Malley vs Aljamain Sterling

When it comes to disrespected fighters their are so so many names that come to mind. But a list of disrespected champions, well that list is razor thin.

Aljamain Sterling (while on the list) has further proved himself to be what the belt around his waist says he is; A champion.

After a razor close fight with Petr Yan and a finish over a one armed TJ Dillishaw, Cejudo was next in line. Cejudo was supposed to be the one, he never lost his 135lb title, he’s an olympian, he’s a MMA legend.

At UFC 288 Aljamain not only beat Cejudo but outdid him at his own game. He outstruck him on the feet and outgrappled him using what UFC Hall of famer Daniel Cormier called “MMA Wrestling”

After his win at UFC 288, the UFC wasted no time making clear who the next challenger for Aljamain’s title was. After the whole fiasco in the ring after the fight, the fight was basically official. The pressure was on Sterling

While the top contenders were putting on masterclasses, the biggest star at 135lbs was clearly happy putting on masterclasses against people clearly less skilled than him.

It was a smart buisness move as every highlight reel knockout only added to his popularity. After negotiating a new contract with the UFC, O’Malley took a big step-up in competition against Pedro Munoz, but the fight basically did nothing for either guy.

After a unfortunate eye-poke, O’Malley one upped himself again taking a fight against the then #1 contender at 135lbs at UFC 280. “No Mercy” Petr Yan.

This was viewed as a terrible decision for Sean. Yan was still two fights removed from having undisputed gold around his waist and overall was still in his physical prime.

Nonetheless O’Malley marched into Abu Dhabi with all the momentum in the world and despite a controversial decision, he walked out of Abu Dhabi knowing that he was next.

Almost a year after his fight of the night with Yan, O’Malley is back and he is hungry. For his own sake I hope he’s worked on his wrestling, because against a guy like Aljo, he’s going to need it.

Sterling has proven time in and time out that he is not only one of the best grapplers in the 135 division but the UFC as a whole. With a takedown defense (TDD) of 60% Sean is not the greatest wrestler in the world. Yan took him down and had some control time.

But every fight starts on the feet and Sean is an absolute sniper. His range and movement will surely test not only the stand up of Sterling but his chin as well.

Aljamain has only been KO’d once in his career but if anyone can do it, it’s Sean.

All of this aside the biggest question of all remains, is Aljo at 100%?

He did just go through a 5 round war with Henry Cejudo and one doesn’t normally fully recover in 4 months not to mention the gruesome weight cut down to 135lbs, who knows how well Aljo will be at. 90, 70 percent? who knows.

The champ has to be on his A game nonetheless because Sean O’Malley is legit and if he’s off for even one second, he may get murked.

If Sterling wins, his 135lbs career is likely over as he will take the journey up to 145lb with his title belt in toe.

If O’Malley scores the Ko victory, Sean will usher in the golden age at 135.

This is one of the most important Bantamweight title fights in recent memory. Legacy is on the line, braggin rights are on the line andarguable most importantly, the UFC Bantamweight title is on the line at UFC 292.

The flashy striker vs the gritty grappler. The corporate favorite vs the shunned. The most popular star vs the most successful champion.

Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O’Malley is all that and more. No matter who wins a new chapter will begin at Bantamweight. Featherweight title contention for Sterling or a new bantamweight era under O’Malley.

UFC 292 is shaping up to be a spectacle and I can’t wait for it.