UFC 299 Sean O'Malley vs Marlon Chito Vera live results and analysis

UFC 299 Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Chito Vera live results and analysis،

Brett Okamoto
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Brett Okamoto

ESPN Editor
- MMA columnist for ESPN.com
- Analyst for “MMA Live”
- MMA covered for Las Vegas Sun
Marc Raimondi

March 9, 2024, 10:43 p.m.

Nearly four years ago, Sean O'Malley suffered the only loss of his career and it came against Marlon “Chito” Vera. Tonight, he will try to prove that this defeat was a coincidence.

O'Malley (17-1) will defend his UFC bantamweight championship for the first time when he meets Vera (23-8-1) in the main event of UFC 299 at the Kaseya Center in Miami . O'Malley lost via TKO in 2020 after a nerve in his right foot became numb following a Vera kick. O'Malley credited Vera for landing the kick, but always maintained it was not a “real” loss due to the rarity of the nerve problem.

Both bantamweights have since enjoyed much success. O'Malley won the 135-pound championship last August by knocking out longtime champion Aljamain Sterling. Vera is 5-2, with victories over several former champions in Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz.

Also on the schedule, lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier will make his 30th appearance in the Octagon, facing French newcomer Benoît Saint Denis; Kevin Holland faces Michael “Venom” Page in Page's UFC debut; Gilbert Burns aims to stop the rise of Jack Della Maddalena; and Song Yadong looks to surpass former bantamweight champion Petr Yan.

Follow Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim and Dre Waters recapping the action or watch the fights live on ESPN+ PPV.