The bantamweight title is on the line.
In the main event of UFC 299, UFC Bantamweight Champion Sean O’Malley seeks to avenge the first and only loss of his career. That came to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in 2020 as O’Malley was out of commission after a leg kick to the perennial nerve. Four years later, the rivals run it back for bantamweight gold and bragging rights.
UFC 299: O’Malley vs. Vera 2 takes place from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Round 1:
O’Malley opens the championship fight with feints and then leg kicks. O’Malley throws a spinning back kick to the body. Leg kick lands for the champ. Vera goes to the body with a kick that is partially blocked. O’Malley tags the body with a punch. Left hand connects for O’Malley. Vera lands a few strikes. Leg kick lands for Vera.
O’Malley works to the body with punches. Vera eats a body kick from O’Malley.
CDS: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 2:
O’Malley fires a spinning back kick at Vera. O’Malley chops Vera with a leg kick. O’Malley punches to the body, follows it up with a headkick. O’Malley finds his rhythm in the striking department, piecing up Vera with a mix of strikes. Vera jabs O’Malley. Huge knee lands for O’Malley which backs Vera up. O’Malley unloads on Vera, looking for a finish. Vera takes much punishment from O’Malley, but stays standing. Vera gets busted up with another right hand from the champ.
CDS: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 3:
Vera turns up the heat, being more urgent in his striking approach. O’Malley tags Vera with shots to the body and to the head. Body kick lands for O’Malley. O’Malley spams Vera with the right hand. Teep kick up the middle connects for O’Malley. Vera eats another solid punch to the body. Vera attempts to return with shots of his own, but is unable to find the moving target that is ‘Sugar’.
O’Malley lands a crisp cross on the challenger. O’Malley steps in with a knee. Vera lands a right hand and loses balance off an exchange.
CDS: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 4:
Vera starts off the round aggressively. Vera presses forward with some shots getting through. O’Malley retaliates, pushing back with punches. O’Malley works behind the jab and hits to the body. Vera tries to swarm but O’Malley keeps his distance, landing his shots from range. Vera eats a jab. O’Malley’s combos keep landing. Vera throws a teep kick and loads up big on punches that don’t land.
CDS: 10-9 O’Malley
Round 5:
O’Malley cracks Vera with a right hand. O’Malley is on the prowl, keeping Vera at bay with his back against the cage. O’Malley stays active, tagging Vera with shots throughout the final round. Vera is peppered with shots to the face. Vera returns fire. O’Malley clubs Vera with a spinning back kick to the body. A knee lands for Vera. The bantamweights swing for the fences before the bell and O’Malley eats a big body shot from Vera.
CDS: 10-9 O’Malley
Official result: Sean O’Malley defeats Chito Vera by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
Check out the highlights below:
He is who he says he is 🤩@SugaSeanMMA takes home the unanimous decision to retain his bantamweight title! #UFC299 pic.twitter.com/Ybi9fc9Z6g
— UFC (@ufc) March 10, 2024
