UFC 250 FIGHT PREVIEW: The Suga Show faces the veteran challenge

Sean O’Malley is already a huge favorite among the UFC fan base. He represents another talent discovered on Dana White’s Contender Series. There, after a spectacular performance, he “welcomed” UFC President, Dana White, to the Suga Show!

Sean “Suga” O’Malley (11-0, 3-0 in the UFC)

He is exciting, he is flashy, he speaks well and he is unbeaten! His fighting style adds to his marketability and he has won over the UFC’s good graces. He won two performance bonuses in his three fights in the UFC, which comes to prove just that. Sean O’Malley is a moving the needle in the right direction that is for sure!

Sean is very tall for 135 lbs and his reach is huge. His karate stance, fast and heavy hands plus very good lateral movement prove to be a tough puzzle to solve so far. However, his stand up is his only strong suit. His ground game is ever improving. Yes! He has 7 knockouts and only 1 submission in his career, which might mislead you. Be that as it may, he competed at Quintet Ultra (a BJJ only competition) and managed to submit Takanori Gomi with a Guilotine and went to a draw with Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt, Gilbert Melendez.

The Challenge

The next chapter in the Suga Show is facing a war-proven vet, that has been there with the best of the best at 135 pounds. I am talking about a Champion of WEC, a person who has 38 pro fights and 24 wins with 15 knockouts. A fighter who has faced many challenges, has fought for a UFC title and just keeps on doing it for the love of fighting! Enter, Eddie Wineland.

Eddie Wineland (38-24, 6-7 in the UFC)

If you ask me to sum up Eddie Wineland in a word, it must be savage. The Texas born fighter, has seen highs and lows in this sport, but always kept that “in your face”, sprawling and brawling, throw everything with 100% fighting style. He is always fit and ready to come in and try to take your head off. No matter who is in front of him, he is always with his hands low, in striking distance and ready to slip and counter with a 3-4 punch combination. This always makes up for a terrific fight, viewer wise.

Sometimes this particular characteristics of his style, has got him in trouble in the past. Slipping the wrong way at the wrong time or keeping his chin high, readily available to be battered.

So how do these two match up?

Fight breakdown

Well, after 17 years of fighting with the same style, there is no reason to believe Eddie is going to change anything is his game. He takes a good shot and evidently believes his opponent will not withstand his. So, we are pretty much guaranteed pressure from the get go and hey-makers flying Sean O’Malley’s way.

On the other hand, “Suga” Sean is consistently improving. Funny thing about him is that he has no particular background in martial arts. He doesn’t have a wrestling, kickboxing or a karate background. This guarantees him an opened mind, which provides willingness and ability to acquire new skills comfortably.

Every time we see him he is better. A phrase we have used for fighter like Israel Adesanya and Conor McGregor during their climb trough the rankings. Who passed their veteran challenge with flying colors, facing Anderson Silva and Dennis Siver respectively. That is not always the case with young upcoming prospects and veterans of the game. Just ask Yair Rodriguez. He called even picked his veteran challenge, calling out Frankie Edgar. Yair was beaten to a pulp and the fight had to be stopped in between the 2nd and 3rd round, by the doctors.

But back to the Suga Show. In his last fight Sean faced José Alberto Quiñónez, who fought him in a similar way that I expect Eddie to fight. That did not last long though. At the 2 minute mark of the very first round, “Suga”, landed a quick counter right hand that hurt Quinonez and then a high kick that proved to be the beginning of the end for the Mexican.

Will the Suga Show rise to the heavy handed challenge that is Eddie Wineland or will the veteran make it two in a row?

Buy the PPV and find out!

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