To open the UFC 264 main card, Sean O’Malley landed over 80% of his strikes on Kris Moutinho over nearly three rounds of action. Yet, in the end, his opponent was the bigger story from an incredible display of chin durability.
Sean O’Malley overcomes the toughest chin he’s ever encountered at UFC 264
From the first minutes of the fight, the skill and speed divide between O’Malley and Moutinho was Grand Canyon-sized. However, just as big as the talent divide was, the 28-year-old Moutinho showed a Massachusetts-sized heart in spite of the battering he took. Whatever “Suga” through he landed. Yet Moutinho kept coming forward.
Rocked late in Round 1 😱 @SugaSeanMMA
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— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 11, 2021
The pressure from Moutinho did have an effect as O’Malley, 26, looked up at the clock twice in the first round. The first round ended with one of several moments where Moutinho fooled fans into thinking it might be over and endured after O’Malley badly hurt the CFFC veteran.
He's miming like he's playing basketball 😅 @SugaSeanMMA
Stream #UFC264 on @ESPNPlus ▶️ https://t.co/m1HK2qwiEF pic.twitter.com/wzS7o8nLJj
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 11, 2021
The second was more of the same as Moutinho chased, and chased, but couldn’t land the clean shot he needed to change the momentum. His heart and willingness to take damage started to become the story in the fight even though he was badly losing as points were being racked up against him on the scorecards.
Landed right on the head 🎯@SugaSeanMMA isn't holding back in RD 2.
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— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
By the third, the question was if O’Malley would get tired enough for Moutinho to land a strike of substance. Although he did have problems at times keeping his opponent at bay, the native of Montana always had more than enough to pound away with thudding shots on his foe.
These exchanges 😳 #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/oJhygs274y
— UFC (@ufc) July 11, 2021
With only 30 seconds left in the fight, the unmatched beating Moutinho was taking–including 230 strikes landed–became too much for referee Herb Dean to watch and he put a halt to the fight with 29 seconds left. Despite taking a statistically historic drubbing, the crowd booed Dean’s decision, and even the broadcast’s announce team questioned the decision to not let the gutsy Moutinho finish the fight.
Another striking masterclass by @SugaSeanMMA 🎯
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— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 11, 2021
The victory is a second straight for O’Malley and moves his record to 6-1 inside the Octagon, following his Dana White’s Contender Series contract winning performance in 2017. O’Malley needs to face a ranked opponent next, after getting a promotional first-timer on short notice, following original opponent Louis Smolka dropping out of the fight last week.
In defeat, UFC debutante Moutinho put forth a legendary show of toughness that likely earned a bunch of new fans, and will bring some interest to his next outing in the Octagon.
