Sterling guarantees he'll 'fold' O'Malley 'in half' within 1 round

Aljamain Sterling doesn't think it'll take him long to beat Sean O'Malley.

The UFC bantamweight champion retained his title with a split decision over Henry Cejudo at UFC 288 on Saturday, but he views his next opponent as a much easier challenge.

"That motherf----r is frail. Frail," Sterling said at the UFC 288 postfight press conference, according to MMA Fighting. "You think if I can take down a short, stocky guy like Henry, who's actually a gold medalist and has good takedown defense, what am I going to do to Sean O'Malley?"

He added: "I guarantee you, we step in there, I think I fold that man in half in one round. ... I'm going to body lock him, and I'm going to fold him in half like a lawn chair, and that's going to be the fight."

Sterling and O'Malley faced off in the Octagon after the UFC 288 main event. They traded words, and their teams almost got physical. UFC president Dana White said afterward that Sterling-O'Malley is being targeted for an August pay-per-view event in Boston.

"There's no more running," Sterling said, claiming that O'Malley previously turned down a title shot. "You either want to swim with the big boys, or you don't. If not, get the f--k out of the pool or go up a weight class or some shit. Don't keep sitting around here talking and barking and not saddling up and taking the opportunities that are given."