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: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Page emerges to a remix of The Undertaker’s WWE theme! He looks fired up as he dances his way to the UFC Octagon for the first time.
Now here comes Holland, also looking locked in.
Donald Trump shows up on the big screen...
And we’re under way!
UFC 299 LIVE: Kevin Holland vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Another fun welterweight bout next.
Bellator standout Michael “Venom” Page makes his long-awaited UFC debut. The Londoner, 36, takes on a fan favourite in American Kevin Holland, 31.
Read our pre-fight interview with Page here:
MVP on UFC debut versus ‘cockroach’ Kevin Holland and sparring with Leon Edwards
Interview: The former Bellator standout will square off with a fan favourite at UFC 299
UFC 299 LIVE: Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena
Jack Della Maddalena def. Gilbert Burns via third-round KO (jumping knee and elbows, 3:43)
JDM: “My plan was to come here, grab the cash, and dash.”
He calls out the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov. Not many people do that!
UFC 299 LIVE: Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena
Round three
Both rounds could have gone either way. The scorecards may end up all over the place.
Good counter right hook by JDM after blocking a head kick! Burns shoots for a takedown to change the momentum of this round.
Decent defence by Maddalena so far... Eventually he’s taken down against the fence, and Burns is racking up control time.
JDM rolls well and stands... OH! And lands a jumping knee immediately!!
He drops Burns and then seals the TKO with elbows! WHAT? OUT OF NOWHERE!
UFC 299 LIVE: Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena
Round two
Tough to score that first round. JDM maybe scored a bit more damage, but Burns had his moments and also got some control time.
Counter cross by Burns, now a body kick. He snatches a single-leg takedown! JDM does well to stand against the fence. He moves into the open.
Lovely elbow by Burns! He timed it as Maddalena threw an uppercut. Body hook by Maddalena. He misses with an up-elbow.
Nice spell from the Aussie now, though, as his striking advantage shows. OH! Until Burns lands a bigggg overhand right!
Now the Brazilian shoots for a takedown, which he just about secures! JDM tries a triangle choke in defence, but he gives up the back!
Another very close round. Almost the same pattern as the first one.
UFC 299 LIVE: Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena
Round one
Maddalena stands orthodox. Burns switches stances early and throws a body kick then a leg kick. “Gilbert” is the chant from the crowd. The Brazilian trains near Miami.
He gets a single-leg takedown and already has the back... Maddalena tries to roll away but fails.
Maddalena stands but is dragged back down. He stands again, and this time Burns pushes him to the fence. Maddalena with a good counter trip and a knee!
He times it just as Burns stands, so it’s a legal shot. Maddalena goes southpaw now. Burns steps in with a couple of winging shots; he’s leaving himself quite exposed when he does so.
Good counter left hook by Maddalena. Burns misses with a high kick. Nice body hook by Maddalena. Two good counter lefts by the Aussie.
Burns with a nice left hook now, then a low kick. Great takedown by Burns late in the round! Two big right hands, too!
UFC 299 LIVE: Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena
Next up, a welterweight clash between ex-title challenger Gilbert Burns and rising contender Jack Della Maddalena!
Australia’s Della Maddalena is a striking specialist on a 16-fight win streak (6-0 in the UFC). Brazilian Burns is a jiu-jitsu world champion with heavy hands.
Burns, 37, is fourth in the 170lbs rankings; Della Maddalena, 27, is 11th. The Aussie could leap up the rankings with a win here.
This could be a fun one. Let’s go.
UFC 299 LIVE: Petr Yan vs Song Yadong
Petr Yan def. Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lots of respect between the bantamweights. A much-needed win for Yan!
UFC 299 LIVE: Petr Yan vs Song Yadong
Round three
Final round. Beautiful spinning back kick to the head by Song! Yan returns fire with one to the body, then one to the head! Song with one to the body! This is fun.
Song with a couple of tidy hooks at close range. He snatches another single-leg, but Yan writhes free. Good takedown defence from Song now, but Yan tags him with a couple of short punches in close.
Good jabs by each man. Another single-leg by Song, but again Yan escapes. Overhand right by Song has Yan teetering away. Yan misses with a spinning back fist. More jabs by Song. Yan with one of his own.
Song is walking him down. He might steal this round on activity. The pair clinch against the fence. Yan just about completes a takedown. One minute left, will that prove decisive?
Good elbows by Yan! Song with some of his own from the bottom. Another by Yan, who finishes the fight by trying a D’Arce choke on the buzzer.
Yan might have just taken that one... It was close, though.
UFC 299 LIVE: Petr Yan vs Song Yadong
Round two
Yan’s coaches are honest with him: “It wasn’t a good round.” In Song’s corner is retired UFC veteran Urijah Faber, who once suffered a brutal KO by Yan.
Song closes range and has Yan against the fence. A few punches by Song, then a hard elbow! Yan is able to circle away.
Yan steps in on a lead uppercut, then overshoots with a cross. Decent counter uppercut by Yan, as Song feints for a takedown.
A couple of overhands land for Song. He’s able to get a body lock and take the back again, driving Yan to the fence.
There’s a brief pause in the action, as Yan needs to have some loose tape cut off his glove. We’re back under way, and Yan shrugs off a takedown attempt before trying a guillotine choke. No joy.
Song snatches a single-leg takedown, but Yan is able to stand at once; good defence by the Russian, who is having a better round here. “Let’s go, Petr,” chants the Miami crowd.
Solid uppercut by Song, then a hook! Yan doesn’t like that at all, but he times a takedown perfectly! Slicing elbow from the Russian from on top.
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