Sean O’Malley Avenges Loss to Chito in Flawless Title Defense

Sean O’Malley avenged his only career loss with a decisive victory over Marlon Vera at UFC 299. In a match that filled the Kaseya Center with energy and anticipation, O’Malley demonstrated superior skill and tactics, outclassing Vera through five rounds to retain his title unanimously.

The fight was marked by O’Malley’s effective use of feints, agility, and precision striking, which left Vera struggling to find his rhythm. Despite a valiant effort, including a brief surge in the third round that electrified the audience, Vera was unable to overcome the champion’s onslaught. O’Malley’s dominance was evident, particularly in the second round with a significant knee strike that epitomized the fight’s direction. Vera’s toughness was undeniable, yet it wasn’t enough to secure victory against a focused and determined O’Malley.

After his triumph, O’Malley called out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, indicating his ambition to climb higher in the UFC ranks. However, he remains open to other challengers, demonstrating his willingness to defend his title against all comers.

The event also featured a memorable performance from Dustin Poirier. Poirier bounced back from a previous defeat with a knockout victory over Benoit Saint Denis, showing that at 35 years old he is still a top contender in the Lightweight Division. His victory reminded fans why he remains a formidable contender in the lightweight division. Michael “Venom” Page made a successful UFC debut by outpointing Kevin Holland, while Jack Della Maddalena scored a late knockout win against Gilbert Burns, adding to the night’s excitement.

A notable preliminary bout saw Curtis Blaydes overcome Jailton Almeida’s grappling with a powerful display of hammer fists early in the second round, securing a TKO victory. Blades now wants a rematch with Sergei Pavlovich who defeated him recently. With the win Blaydes is an immediate title contender joining Pavlovich, Aspinall and Gane as potential challengers to Jon Jones throne.

UFC 299 Results
Sean O’Malley (c) def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis via second-round knockout (punches)
Kevin Holland def. Michael Page via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jack Della Maddalena def. Gilbert Burns via third-round knockout (punches)
Petr Yan def. Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Curtis Blaydes def. Jailton Almeida via second-round TKO (punches)
Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Kyler Phillips def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Michel Pereira def. Michał Oleksiejczuk via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian via first-round knockout (punches)
Assu Almabayev def. C.J. Vergara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Joanne Wood def. Maryna Moroz via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

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