Story is how O'Malley beat Sterling. Dont know if you know it, but I just found it out. We remember how their fight was going as a usually fight, but then Sterling pushed forwards, O'Malley threw his straight and Sterling has self-destructed on it. So why Sterling all of a sudden jumped forward with strikes when he is more wrestler against a striker ? Because O'Malley coach went to Sterling corner and shouted "Aljo you gotta go" Lol, this is so hilarious. Aljo listened to a wrong guy and it cost him belt.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ALIbRR_vjMk
Sterling is a wrestler so it's insane why he only tried taking down Sean when the 1st round is almost over. He didn't try harder to take him down; he just pressed Sean to the wall. The the second round he just lying down without trying to get up.
There must have been a verbal agreement for not taking down Sean. Somehow these fighters agree on something so they can fight. Ankalev gave his word not to take down Pereira just so he could have a title shot. I don't know what Sterling had to ask when he already had the belt before this fight. But that coach gotta be sanctioned for going to the other corner.
Merab taking down Sean right in the first round without lots of faking then this fight must be real and Sean is doomed to fail.
Do you believe in that verval agreements before the fight wheb the belt is on stake? I think as soon as fighters enter octagon, all agreements are over and it is me vs him plus tactics. Such verbal agreements are good for an excuses after fight. Personally, I would not agree to any verbal agreement, specially if they about my benefits over someone.
There have been rumors about it and it would mean a fixed fight but it is often just ignored since it really isn't said in a manner we hear it in movies. Well, everything is unbelievable until someone rats them. Didn't Mokaev said in one of his interviews that Dana ordered him not to take down or something? Ofc we discredit that claim because he's an asshole but I'm sure he wasn't the first to have said that.
Dyou think Shevchenko can win this time?
Diego Lopes should make it. I think he will.