If Aljamain Sterling has one piece of advice for Sean O'Malley against Petr Yan, it’s to use his footwork.
Bantamweight champion Sterling (21-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) beat Yan twice, once by an unfortunate disqualification at UFC 259, then a more definitive win in their rematch by outgrappling him at UFC 273.
Having competed against Yan for almost nine rounds, Sterling thinks O’Malley (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) could find success against Yan (16-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) on the feet in their UFC 280 matchup if he fights long.
“You know, I don’t give a sh*t who wins that fight,” Sterling said in an interview with The Schmo. “I really don’t. But if there’s a piece of advice I can give to O’Malley, it’s footwork frustrates Yan. He has a hard time tracking guys down who have good footwork and are not just going to stand in front of him waiting for the kill shot.
“And using his range, and try not to get hit to the body, because I think he’s a little frail and a little soft around the midsection. So try not to let Yan catch you with one of those straights, because I’m telling you, it don’t feel too good.”
Sterling defends his title against T.J. Dillashaw on the same night Yan and O’Malley throw down. “The Funkmaster” will co-headline the Oct. 22 event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
