SEAN O’MALLEY’s surge up the bantamweight ranks was stopped in a it’s tracks due to an accidental eye poke in his showdown with Pedro Munhoz.
The surging bantamweight contender returned to the octagon early on Sunday morning on the main card of a stacked UFC 276 in Las Vegas.
O’Malley had hoped to kickstart a run-up of fights against the 135lb division’s elite with a statement-making victory over tough UFC vet Munhoz.
But an accidental eye poke in the second round means he’ll have to wait a bit longer to test himself against the bantamweight division’s big boys.
As he was being tended to by the doctor, Munhoz said: “All I see is black.”
O’Malley started the contest light on his feet and looked to use his feint-heavy entrances.
READ MORE IN UFC
Young Punisher Munhoz looked to negate the significant reach and height advantages possessed by O’Malley with heavy calf kicks.
O’Malley checked several of them, although a number found their mark.
A good right hand found a home for O’Malley after he checked a series of calf kicks, although the contest was soon paused for an accidental low blow.
O’Malley partially landed a spinning heel kick after the intermission, which drew a pop from the crowd.
Munhoz attempted a spinning kick of his own moments before the end of the first but was well wide of the mark, so much so O’Malley mocked him.
O’Malley feinted less in the second and was more commital with the strikes he threw.
He nearly closed the show with a spinning wheel kick that just narrowly missed the mark after a good right hand.
Munhoz continued to go to the calf kick well but ended up eating another good right hand after biting on a feint.
O’Malley looked to be getting into his flow state with a series of jabs, although it soon came to an end after he scrapped Munhoz’s left eye when he tried to post off.
The poke didn’t seem to be too bad, but it soon became apparent Munhoz couldn’t see.
The cageside doctor made no mistake with his assessment of the injury, prompting referee Jason Herzog to wave off the contest.
