Sean O’Malley’s head coach: Aljamain Sterling ‘most dangerous bantamweight champion there’s ever been’

Sean O’Malley’s head coach Tim Welch is heaping excessive reward upon present bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling forward of their potential bantamweight title combat this summer season.

This previous Tuesday, UFC President Dana White introduced that the bout will headline UFC 292 in Boston on Aug. 19, though Sterling has mentioned that the combat isn’t totally executed simply but on account of lingering accidents following his profitable title protection in opposition to Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 earlier this month.

Ought to the combat occur as scheduled, Welch informed ESPN in a current interview that his pupil can be making ready to face the cream of the crop within the historical past of the UFC’s 135-pound division.

“Stylistically, I feel that is probably the most harmful bantamweight champion there’s ever been,” Welch mentioned. “I actually suppose that.

“He’s so athletic, lengthy and powerful. He’s not only a good wrestler, he’s an excellent wrestler with good jiu-jitsu, and he’s very funky. He switches stances, throws spazzy issues at you, he’s good at chaining his wrestling collectively. [He’s the] most harmful bantamweight ever, in my view.

“In case you make one easy mistake, he’s going to be in your again the entire time. His cardio has gotten higher. He’s not solely good at grappling, however MMA grappling. The timing goes to be proper when he’s prepared to begin punching you, or advancing to half guard, or mounting and forcing you to surrender your again. He’s superb bodily and technically.”

Following UFC Vegas 73, White proclaimed that the combat between Sterling and O’Malley is a go for the promotion’s return to the TD Backyard in Boston.

Even with a fast turnaround for Sterling, Welch understands why persons are choosing in opposition to O’Malley from a stylistic perspective — but additionally cautions those that really feel like O’Malley received’t be ready for Sterling’s fashion of preventing.

“If anyone goes to [take the title from Sterling], it’s ‘Suga,’” Welch mentioned. “[For] his complete profession, the sport plan in opposition to Sean has been to place him on the fence and take him down. His complete profession has been that means.”