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One of UFC’s most popular fighters finally gets a main card title shot and he gets to fight for the strap in front of a friendly crowd.
At UFC 292 on Saturday night, Sean O’Malley takes on bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling at the TD Garden in Boston. O’Malley should have plenty of supporters. Before Sterling and O’Malley throw down, Zhang Weili tackles Amanda Lemos for the women’s strawweight title.
Check out UFC lines, analysis, and free picks for the main card bouts at UFC 292.
UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley Betting Analysis for the Main Card Bouts | MyBookie MMA Betting Preview
UFC 292: Sterling vs. O’Malley
Saturday, August 19th at 10:00 pm ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
PPV
Marlon Vera vs. Pedro Munhoz
UFC Odds: Marlon Vera -200 vs. Pedro Munhoz +170
Bantamweight Bout
Vera records: 20-8-1
Munhoz records: 20-7-2
On July 2 last year, underdog Pedro Munhoz faced Sean O’Malley and the bout ended in a no contest. In his next bout, Munhoz bounced back from the no contest with a victory over Chris Guitierrez.
Favorite Marlon Vera had won 4 straight. But in his last, Corey Sandhagen ended Vera’s winning streak. Losing to Sandhagen makes sense since Corey is one of the better overall mixed martial artists at UFC.
Vera should return to his previous form in this when he knocked out Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar and beat Rob Font via unanimous decision. The favorite prevails.
UFC 292 Pick: Marlno Vera
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout
Da’Mon Blackshear vs. Mario Bautista
UFC Odds: Da’Mon Blackshear +185 vs. Mario Bautista -225
Bantamweight Bout
Blackshear records: 12-2
Bautista records: 14-5-1
Underdog Blackshear was a to be announced opponent, meaning he didn’t train to specifically fight Mario Bautista. But although Blackshear appears to have taken this bout off a late notice, he is in decent form with victories over Luan Lacerda and Jose Johnson.
Bautista has won 4 straight and 3 straight via submission. Mario has won 12-of-14 overall. Bautista’s submission skills are fantastic. So we should expect the chalk to force a tap out.
UFC 292 Pick: Mario Bautista
Neil Magny vs. Ian Garry
UFC Odds: Neil Magny +370 vs. Ian Garry -490
Welterweight Bout
Magny records: 28-10
Garry records: 12-0
Magny versus Garry is one of the more intriguing bouts on the UFC 292 main card. At one point during his career. Magny was one of the more feared fighters in the division.
Neil can still win bouts. He can also throw in a clunker like the loss to Gilbert Burns in January.
Ian Garry is 12-0 with 7 TKO/KO wins. Garry has fantastic striking skills. It’s obvious he’s trained as a boxer. Magny will put up a decent fight, but at the end, Garry ends his opponent’s night early.
UFC 292 Pick: Ian Garry
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout
Amanda Lemos vs. Zhang Weili
UFC Odds: Amanda Lemos +250 vs. Zhang Weili -320
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship Title
Lemos records: 13-2-1
Weili records: 23-3-2
Underdog Amanda Lemos has won 7-of-8. Lemos’ only loss in her last 8 came via submission to Jessica Andrade. Lemos can win via submission, knockout, or decision.
Zhang Weili is on a 2-match winning streak. The champ beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk via knockout. Then in her last, Weili forced Carla Esparza to tap out. Weili is on a different level right now. The favorite defends her title.
UFC 292 Pick: Zhang Weili
Aljamain Sterling vs. Sean O’Malley
UFC Odds: Aljamain Sterling -250 vs. Sean O’Malley +205
UFC Bantamweight Championship Title
Sterling records: 23-3
Sean O’Malley records: 16-1-1
Because the fight happens at the TD Garden in Boston, Sean O’Malley should have the fans behind him. That won’t bother the champ.
O’Malley is a good fighter but on Saturday he faces one of the better pound for pound MMA fighters on the planet. Aljamain Sterling is on a 9-match winning streak. 4 of the 9 wins were championship bouts.
O’Malley could last a while but Sterling is too good to lose. The champ keeps his strap.
UFC 292 Pick: Aljamain Sterling
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Bout
UFC 292 Fight Card | MMA
| Main Card (ESPN+) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bantamweight | Aljamain Sterling (c) | vs. | Sean O’Malley |
| Women’s Strawweight | Zhang Weili (c) | vs. | Amanda Lemos |
| Welterweight | Ian Machado Garry | vs. | Neil Magny |
| Bantamweight | Da’Mon Blackshear | vs. | Mario Bautista |
| Bantamweight | Marlon Vera | vs. | Pedro Munhoz |
| Preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+) | |||
| Middleweight | Chris Weidman | vs. | Brad Tavares |
| Middleweight | Gregory Rodrigues | vs. | Denis Tiuliulin |
| Lightweight | Austin Hubbard | vs. | Kurt Holobaugh |
| Bantamweight | Brad Katona | vs. | Cody Gibson |
| Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass) | |||
| Middleweight | Andre Petroski | vs. | Gerald Meerschaert |
| Women’s Flyweight | Andrea Lee | vs. | Natália Silva |
| Women’s Flyweight | Karine Silva | vs. | Maryna Moroz |