UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley and Chito Vera title fight goes all five rounds
Re-live updates after ‘Sugar Sean’ defended his bantamweight title against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera
Sean O’Malley avenged the only defeat of his professional career on Saturday, outpointing Marlon Vera to retain his bantamweight title at UFC 299.
It was a masterclass by “Sugar Sean”, who outstruck “Chito” across five rounds to secure a unanimous-decision win (50-45, 50-45, 50-44). With the victory, O’Malley made his first title defence a successful one, having knocked out Aljamain Sterling to win the title in August. The American also took revenge upon Vera, who beat him via TKO in 2020.
The standout moment of the fight saw O’Malley drill a knee into his challenger’s face in round two – a shot that the Ecuadorian somehow survived. O’Malley then dropped Vera to a knee just before the buzzer signaled the end of the round.
Vera, 31, showed spirit to muster a decent spell of offence at the end of round three and early in round four, with O’Malley briefly retreating. However, the champion hurt Vera with a cross in the fifth and final round and saw out a clinical performance in the remaining minutes.
Re-live updates and results from the UFC 299 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 299 LIVE: Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint-Denis via second-round KO (punch, 2:32)
Poirier fought through adversity so well there.
Joe Rogan asks him about the guillotines. “I’ll never stop doing it!” Poirier laughs.
UFC 299 LIVE: Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Round two
“No more guillotines,” Poirier is told by his coach, Mike Brown. Ha.
OH! Poirier drops his fellow southpaw with an uppercut! BSD falls to a knee! Aaaaaaaaand Poirier tries for a gullotine despite his coaches’ advice!
AGAIN BSD slips out, and he mounts Poirier! Now he takes the back and flattens out Poirier...
Somehow Poirier is able to scramble free and stand! Saint-Denis with a knee, uppercut and hook! Poirier fires back with his own shots!
OH! Poirier drops BSD then tries ANOTHER guillotine! It doesn’t work – surprise, surprise – but in the ensuing frenzy, Poirier KNOCKS SAINT-DENIS OUT COLDDDDDDDD!
Both the final two knockdowns came via lead right hooks! What a comeback by Poirier – in this fight and following his last one!
He’s talking to Donald Trump through the cage.
UFC 299 LIVE: Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Round one
Poirier with a leg kick early. Saint-Denis shoots for a takedown, and Poirier defends with a guillotine choke...
It looks like it’s in tight, but BSD rolls out! Saint-Denis grabs Poirier as the American stands, taking the back.
Poirier has actually said before that he needs to stop jumping guard and trying guillotines, yet he did it immediately in this fight...
Poirier is able to shake BSD off his back, but the Frenchman lands a good knee to the body and a hook. He shoots for another takedown, and Poirier tries another guillotine – standing, this time. Again it fails. He lands a nice left hook, though.
Lots of pressure from BSD early, as expected. Hard elbows by the American, but Poirier fires back with a right cross.
Poirier goes back to his usual southpaw stance. Someone is cut – I *think* BSD. Saint-Denis backs Poirier up, and for the third time already, Poirier uses a guillotine to defend. For the third time tonight, it fails.
Saint-Denis is able to drag down Poirier and take the back. He’s working on a rear naked choke. He transitions to an armbar on the buzzer.
UFC 299 LIVE: Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis, 28, is on a streak of five straight stoppage wins. The Frenchman is a former special services operative, and you can read more about that in the interview in the post below!
Poirier, 35, is looking to bounce back from a head-kick knockout loss to Justin Gaethje from last July.
The American has a big advantage in terms of experience here, but some fans fear for him after that KO defeat last time out... In fact, Poirier is a betting underdog tonight.
This is a huge opportunity for BSD; he is ranked 12th at lightweight, while Poirier is 3rd.
Here we go!
UFC 299 LIVE: Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis
Next up, it’s the co-main event!
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier faces rising French star Benoit Saint-Denis, with five rounds scheduled here.
Read our exclusive pre-fight interview with BSD:
How Benoit Saint-Denis went from fighting terrorists to fighting in the UFC
Exclusive interview: The Frenchman looks back on his time in the special forces, and ahead to his biggest fight yet – against Dustin Poirier
UFC 299 LIVE: Joanna Jedrzejczyk enters Hall of Fame
Former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame!
UFC 299 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Michael ‘Venom’ Page def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Page gets the decision win on his UFC debut! He’s straight into the rankings, too. Impressive stuff.
MVP: “I do think the UFC got to me a bit, that brand. But they got me here in great condition, I’m the best I’ve ever felt. Kevin’s just a tough guy.
“I’ve got a little more work to do – a lot more work to do – but this is where I’m supposed to be. Anybody that doubted that I’m supposed to be here, now you can see.”
He shouts out the Miami crowd.
UFC 299 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round three
Final round! We could be looking at one round apiece. Holland again gets Page to the fence and is able to drag him down.
Holland has a history of not using his grappling enough, and getting embroiled in striking exchanges, but he’s been wise in wrestling tonight. Again Page defends well, however, and stands and moves into space.
Heavy right cross by Page! Holland drops to the mat and pulls guard, and Page dances to mock him! Holland stands. Again he eats a back elbow. He’s cut... Hard body kick by Page and another right hand.
Great spell for Page here. He is on track to take this fight. The welterweights briefly grapple against the fence. Back in the open, Page lands a good left straight.
Clean cross by Page now! Holland taunts Page, mocking his dancing and stance, but that’s purely out of frustration. Page responds with yet another big right hand.
A solid showing from MVP on his UFC debut.
UFC 299 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round two
“He’s faster than we thought,” Holland tells his team between rounds. The American lands a good right hand to close range early in round two, though.
He holds Page against the fence, but not for long. Holland soon reinitiates a grappling exchange, however, and eventually manages to drag Page to the mat!
Holland is on top, in half-guard, looking to advance the position but also throwing some elbows. Brilliant work from Page to eventually stand!!
Body kick by Holland, then a high kick. Another back elbow by Page, and again it’s in the final 10 seconds of a round!
UFC 299 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round one
Lots of bouncing from both men early on. Each stands orthodox. A bit of dancing from Page.
Lots of feints from Page, who steps back to evade a one-two. Holland clinches him against the fence.
We get the first “USA” chant of the fight, inevitably! Good control from Holland, until Page reverses the position and hurls the American away from him!
Now it’s Page who surprisingly initiates a grappling exchange! He rolls under a punch and grabs the back. Holland gets free but then eats a body kick and a quickfire jab.
Page loves sneaking in follow-up shots like that at awkward times. Cross lands for him, then he overshoots one and falls. He stands, and we have another clinch.
An “MVP” chant now! He’s content to get some control time at the moment. Eventually the fighters separate, and Page lands another big right hand. Holland tries a trip but settles for driving MVP back to the fence.
A good first round for Page, who lands a great back elbow in the final 10 seconds!
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