UFC free fight: Sean O’Malley knocks out Aljamain Sterling to claim bantamweight title

mma junkie staff

Sat, Feb 24, 2024, 8:00 a.m.·13 min read

Sean O'Malley put on a flawless performance to claim UFC gold.

At UFC 292, O’Malley knocked out Aljamain Sterling in the second round to capture the bantamweight title. He put Sterling’s division record of three consecutive title defenses to an end.

You can watch O’Malley’s big finish in the video above.

O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) makes his first title defense in a rematch against Marlon Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) in the UFC 299 main event March 9 at Kaseya Center in Miami.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Sean O'Malley

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Aljamain Sterling

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling 1(1)

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling Dana White

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling Sean O_Malley

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling 1

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UFC 292 press conference Sean O_Malley(1)

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UFC 292 press conference Sean O_Malley(2)

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling noise

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling

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UFC 292 press conference Aljamain Sterling(1)

Aljamain Sterling at the UFC 292 pre-event news conference.

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Aljamain Sterling

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Sterling vs O'Malley UFC 292 Ceremonial weigh-ins

Image via Nolan King

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) prior to the fight against Aljamin…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) prior to the fight against Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Bruce Buffer

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) prior to the fight against Sean…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) prior to the fight against Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) fights Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs OÕMalley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) is examined by a medical professional…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) is examined by a medical professional after the fight against Sean OÕMalley (blue gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) exchanges words with Sean O’Malley (blue…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) exchanges words with Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) after their fight during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; UFC President Dana White presents Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) the…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; UFC President Dana White presents Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) the UFC championship belt after defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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MMA: UFC 292 - Sterling vs O’Malley

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red…

Aug 19, 2023; Boston, MA, USA; Sean O’Malley (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Aljamin Sterling (red gloves) during UFC 292 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

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Sean O'Malley def. Aljamain Sterling, UFC 292 1

Sean O'Malley

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Sean O'Malley def. Aljamain Sterling, UFC 292 Scorecard

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Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie

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