Aljamain Sterling has criticized Sean O'Malley's rise to the bantamweight title, claiming that the UFC provided him with a favorable path akin to the 'Jake Paul route'. Sterling argues that O'Malley only fought one ranked opponent before receiving a title shot, suggesting the UFC orchestrated advantageous matchups to enhance his marketability. He expressed frustration over receiving a shorter recovery time before facing O'Malley, which he believes hindered his own performance. Despite O'Malley’s success, including a TKO victory at UFC 292, Sterling remains skeptical about his legitimacy as a champion. O'Malley is set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306, where he will have the opportunity to prove his critics wrong. The debate continues over whether O'Malley's achievements are genuinely earned or strategically facilitated by the UFC.