Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera has scored a huge upset, knocking out an injured ‘Suga’ Sean O’Malley in the co-main event at UFC 252 in Las Vegas.
The heavily promoted O’Malley was a massive favourite heading into the bout, but injured his lower right leg or foot midway through the first round.
With his movement seriously limited, O’Malley hit the canvas in the closing 20 seconds of the opening frame, with referee Herb Dean stopping the action after Vera began landing some heavy ground and pound.
A devastated O’Malley, who spent two years out of the sport due to injury, was transported to hospital on a stretcher after the fight.
“When he was throwing kicks, he landed a calf kick, but I made adjustments and he changed,” Ecuadorian Vera said.
“If you’re gonna kick with a kicker, make sure you’re ready for a kick.
“I throw a lot of kicks in sparring, I made adjustments.
“He has a big right hand but doesn’t throw numbers.
“He had a lot of hype, but he doesn’t have the dog I have.”
O’Malley, who had dyed his hair the colour of the Ecuadorian flag, landed some heavy early legkicks in a cagey opening two minutes.
A patient Vera took the centre of the Octagon, using the first round to gauge O’Malley’s attacks.
The American injured himself pushing off his right leg, immediately stopping in the centre of the Octagon. He was obviously seriously limited in his movement, and Vera wasted no time in getting the stoppage.
Here’s the moment of the injury.
Get well soon, Sean, who needed a stretcher to exit the Octagon after the announcement… RT @MMAFighting: Here’s the moment where it looks like something went wrong with O’Malley’s leg ? #UFC252
(? @ufc)pic.twitter.com/f12aBF2sLb
— PHSports LiveScores (@LiveScoresPH) August 16, 2020
Here’s the finishing sequence.
Marlon Vera KO's Sean O'Malley#ArrechoChito ??#UFC252 pic.twitter.com/hYnE9vMrJM
— Francisco Córdova L. (@PanCordova) August 16, 2020
Grosse blessure pour Sean O’Malley #UFC252 pic.twitter.com/M8GbWooMZ8
— Ilies Mkt (@IliesMekkiat) August 16, 2020
Some viewers felt Herb Dean – who was seriously criticised for a slow stoppage three weeks ago – stepped in too early.
Thoughts on the stoppage? In real time, seemed a tad early, but O’Malley seems done. Don’t hate it but it’s an interesting one.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 16, 2020
Man that sucks….I think the stoppage early if he wasn’t injured. I hate seeing fighters in there like that.
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) August 16, 2020
So, from what I can tell:
1. O'Malley injured his leg early, but maybe his nerves were dead?
2. Chito landed a vicious elbow from guard that is maybe fight ending?
3. Maybe there was an early stoppage?— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) August 16, 2020
Weird, weird fight. Chito deserves credit for dropping some bombs to finish things. But looked like freak injury to O'Malley's leg, plus an early stoppage there no?
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) August 16, 2020
That stoppage felt early. Herb Dean maybe took into consideration the potential injury? #UFC252
— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) August 16, 2020
It’s worth noting that O’Malley had no issues with the stoppage in the cage after the fight.