UFC 299 full results: Sean O'Malley outclasses Marlon Vera to retain bantamweight title
The moment Sean O'Malley had been waiting for since 2020 finally arrived Saturday and the 29-year-old bantamweight champion delivered a shutout.
O'Malley avenged his only loss in the headlining event of UFC 299 at Kaseya Center in Miami with a dominant performance over Marlon "Chito" Vera. Judges scored it 50-45, 50-45 and 50-44 for the champion.
Vera defeated O'Malley, who was an undefeated rising star, back in 2020 with a first-round TKO. O'Malley turned things around since then and won the bantamweight championship with a commanding victory over Aljamain Sterling in August.
O'Malley put his belt on the line to even the score with Vera. It was Vera's first UFC championship bout, and he had won five of his last six fights, but Saturday was not his night and he lost a wide decision.
Also on the action-packed card, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier surprisingly knocked out Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event. Petr Yan got back in the win column with a decision over Song Yadong and UFC newcomer Michael "Venom" Page outpointed Kevin "Trailblazer" Holland.
Here's how the entire card unfolded:
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RESULT: Sean O'Malley def. Marlon Vera by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
O’Malley put a hell of a beating on Chito. Then asks for a jet to Spain to fight Ilia Topuria. That would honestly be a huge fight and a really, really tough one for O’Malley.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) March 10, 2024
O'Malley calls for a champion vs. champion matchup with featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Then says he's take Merab Dvalishvili next if that's what the fans want.
Official decision is 50-45, 50-45, 50-44 all for O'Malley.
That was a pretty entertaining one sided fight. Chito gave him something to remember at the end. Phenomenal performance from O’Malley.
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 10, 2024
That was a great fight. What a performance by Sean O'Malley. In total control. Dictated everything. He's one of those guys who thrives the bigger the spotlight.
— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) March 10, 2024
Whatever they say about Chito Vera, they will never say he’s not tough. That guy is as game as they come. It just wasn’t enough against O’Malley.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) March 10, 2024
Best round yet for Chito. When he was coming forward hard he managed to do some damage. But when he sat back later in the round he was back to getting picked apart by O’Malley.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) March 10, 2024
Vera's best round so far, but he's still getting worked over #UFC299
— Anthony Walker (@AntWalkerMMA) March 10, 2024
Extremely close third round and Chito's best of the fight. O'Malley slowing down.
O’Malley is just that guy. Shows levels in every fight. Damn near flawless performance. #UFC299
— Hyon Ko (@KoreanJohn_) March 10, 2024
Better round 3 for Vera, but it's still an O'Malley shut out.
But here come the championship rounds. This is usually where if Chito is going to shine, it tends to start here.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) March 10, 2024
Three rounds in and it's been one-way traffic for O'Malley. Chito's going to need a finish in the championship rounds if he wants to lift the belt.
Faints ,distance, speed.. Sean is very good
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 10, 2024
This is the best O'Malley has looked in his entire UFC run.
UFC 299 main card results
• Bantamweight championship: Sean O'Malley def. Marlon Vera by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
• Lightweight: Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis by KO (strikes) at 2:33 of R2
• Welterweight: Michael Page def. Kevin Holland by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Welterweight: Jack Della Maddalena def. Gilbert Burns by TKO (strikes) at 3:43 of R3
• Bantamweight: Petr Yan def. Song Yadong by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 299 preliminary card results, highlights
• Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes def. Jailton Almeida by TKO (hammer fists) at 0:36 of R2:
• Women's flyweight: Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Lightweight: Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael Dos Anjos by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 299 early prelims card results, highlights
• Light heavyweight: Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Middleweight: Michel Pereira def. Michal Oleksiejczuk by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:01 of R1:
• Heavyweight: Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian by TKO at 0:18 of R1:
• Flyweight: Asu Almabayev def. CJ Vergara by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Women's flyweight: Joanne Wood def. Maryna Moroz by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
