With his first occupation loss currently firmly in the rearview, flashy UFC bantamweight “Sugar” Sean O’Malley returned to doing what he does ideal on Saturday– providing highlight-reel surfaces.
If there was criticism for O’Malley’s performance from UFC 260 versus Thomas Almeida, nevertheless, it was the fact that he two times enabled his injured challenger a possibility to recuperate by too soon walking off believing he had ended up the fight. Lucky for O’Malley (13-1), when he provided the last boom, no one questioned whether the war mored than.
O’Malley, 26, landed a destructive jumped punch to a downed Almeida (22-5) late in Round 3 to cap a fantastic striking efficiency in a third-round ko inside the UFC Pinnacle in Las Vegas.
” I want a sweet one,” O’Malley stated of his propensity for exciting knockouts. “What occurred was great; however, I have 15 minutes to execute, possibly a couple of times a year. When I get in there, I intend to do something pleasant.”
Seven months after his upset loss using the first-round TKO to Marlon Vera when O’Malley appeared to succumb to leg strikes that triggered an injury, Montana’s citizen confirmed in the opening minutes simply how broad the void remained in regards to rate and also accuracy versus the Brazilian slugger Almeida.
O’Malley changed to southpaw early in Round 1 and also landed a flurry of great strikes, including a rotating back kick to the body as well as a left high kick that visibly stunned Almeida. O’Malley instantaneously followed with a right-hand man that dropped his challenger against the fencing, but O’Malley’s effort to leave proved too early as he let a still aware Almeida off the hook.
” I thought he was done,” O’Malley stated. “That guy is official. He’s a difficult guy.”
Although the 29-year-old Almeida was never rather able to function his back into the fight despite landing tough leg strikes throughout, his toughness got on the display screen as he got up from the knockdown and routinely attempted to stroll O’Malley down.
However, O’Malley was too dynamic in every element of his striking. He went on to land a short left cross that dropped Almeida again in Round 3. After trying to walk off a 2nd time unsuccessfully, O’Malley leapt in for the completing strike with a right hand at 3:52 of the final round to bring an end to the battle.
” There was a huge storyline entering this battle,” O’Malley stated. “A lot of clever individuals that I thought were wise were discussing how you need to kick his legs. I have had a lot of amateur battles, and I know exactly how to inspect a kick. I had to verify to a lot of silly individuals that they are stupid.
” He was out like before I tossed that. He wasn’t there; he was out. The ref informed me after the first round; he stated, ‘Hey if I do not stop the battle, you need to maintain fighting.’ It was an unnecessary shot– nothing to the ref. However, I looked into his eyes and also he was gone. However, if I need to land another bomb, I’ll toss it.”
With the loss, Almeida dropped his fourth straight fight and also fifth in his last 6.
