The main event at UFC 299 saw Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera meet for the bantamweight title, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Saturday, March 9. O’Malley avenged the only defeat of his career winning a shut out against the Ecuadorian. In the co-main event Dustin Poirier knocked out Benoit Saint Denis, while Michael ‘Venom’ Page defeated Kevin Holland in his UFC debut.
Thanks for following the action with us through the night. And a last reminder that TNT Sports and Discovery+ are your UK home for UFC.
Suga Sean O’Malley after defending his bantamweight title for the first time, is eyeing a second title, as he calls for a bout in Spain with featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Addressing Dana White outside the Octagon, O’Malley said: “Dana, give me a jet to Spain baby, I’m coming for Ilia Topuria.”
This appears an unlikely prospect at present and O’Malley added he is fine to stay in the division and take on the number one contender.
“Honestly, I’m here for whatever, if you want me to knockout Merab [Dvalishvili], I’ll do that too.
“Chito’s a tough kid. That feels good getting that one back.”
A unanimous decision, 50-45 (twice) and 50-44, in favour of the bantamweight champion, as he avenges the only defeat of his career.
Early shots back Vera up removing any thoughts of a dramatic overturning of proceedings. A right hand has Vera squinting and it seems he is having trouble seeing the shots coming now, with striking combinations and knees all hitting the target. Chito lands a knee and a left body shot near the end of the bout, which sees O’Malley take a seat at the bout’s conclusion. Chito will be wishing he could have landed such a blow earlier in the fight. No doubt about the scoring here. This will be a shutout.
Vera lands a couple of good combinations which bloody O’Malley’s nose, but for the most part he continues to eat shots from the champion, who contunues to put on a picture perfect display. The stats show O’Malley has landed double the number of shots and quite honestly it feels like even more.
The fight follows the same pattern. O’Malley boxing beautifully in and out of range, giving little for Chito to hit and landing with kicks to the body and shots to the head. The iron jaw of the Ecuadorian is holding up but his face is increasingly swollen. The disparity in footwork is vast and shows, but Chito landed a few shots at the end of the round to give him a little confidence going into the last two rounds.
O’Malley again starts working the body with kicks and then lands a decent right hand. Chito’s nose is reddened by the left hand and increasingly has to eat one-twos from the champion. The Ecuadorian is being cheered on by his countryman but is landing very little. A high knee busts the challenger’s nose and lead to a flurry from the champion but Vera withstands it and throws a good right hand himself, but then takes a head kick and two big right hands. A big round for the champion.
A cagey opening, O’Malley landing with leg kicks and little coming back from Vera. The first eye-catching shot was a straight left from O’Malley midway through the round. O’Malley constantly shifting stances to stop Vera being able to time his counters. O’Malley targeting the body with kicks and right hands. The champon’s round.
Both fighters are in the Octagon and ready to go.
Live coverage from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida is on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
This is a fight with the champion needing to gain something as much as the challenger. Sean O’Malley’s only defeat came against the Ecuadorian Marlon Vera when he was stopped in the first round four years ago at UFC 252 in Las Vegas. He wants to avenge this, just as much as Vera wants the UFC bantamweight title.
“I took this fight because he finished his last five opponents. He’s dangerous, he has a never-say-die attitude.
“When I saw that..I said I’ve got to take this fight, because I honour this game.
“Eddie Alvarez gave me my shot when he was a former champion. You have to pay it back.”
‘The King of Diamonds’ now has the joint-fourth number of UFC wins alongside Charles Oliveira, Neil Magny and Demian Maia.
Poirier lands with a fine uppercut which rocks Saint Denis but he goes for a guillotine once more which the Frenchman avoids and then gets on the back of the American. Poirier gets up but finds it hard to separate and eats more body shots and elbow. The American then gets some range and hurts Saint Denis with left hooks and uppercuts, after trying another hold Poirier took advantage of the distance between them before landing a huge right handhook which put Saint Denis and as Poirier looked to jump on him, the referee called a halt to proceedings.
Poirier starts with a strong leg kick, and tries in a guillotine, but Denis gets position and the American can’t keep the Frenchman off his back. Poirier shakes him off but immediately eats shots with either hand and has to avoid another hold. The Frenchman’s pace is unrelenting, he pounds in body shots and hits with either hand, but Poirier lands a couple of shots was well. Saint Denis locks in a body triangle but Poirier’s defence held out.
#3 Lightweight Dustin Poirier takes on rising star #14 Benoit Saint Denis. Saint Denis is a big betting favourite.
The legendary UFC strawweight champion is given a huge ovation and hugs from Bruce Buffer and Dana White.
Page was humble on the mic after victory. When asked where he fits in the division, he answered: “I’ve got a lot more work to do.
“But this is where I’m supposed to be.
“Anyone who doubted that I was supposed to be, saw it for yourself.”
He takes the decision on all three scorecards 29-28. A little surprising all three scored in two rounds to one, but he clearly won those two.
Page hits Holland with a one-two at the start of the round when the American was looking to touch gloves, but after a trip, Holland took him to the side of the Octagon. Page puts Holland down then does a dance, getting a telling off from the referee. A kick to the body and another no-look spinning elbow cuts Holland under the eye. Another overhand right from Page and uppercut in close. Holland’s frustration at not being able to land on Page is palpable. He even mocks Page’s dance. But Page has comfortably won his UFC debut.
Holland lands a right hand at the start of the round and holds Page against the Octagon for a spell, but the Londoner brushes his way out of it. MVP with a coupleof big right hands, One whioch leads Holland to dab his eye afterwards. Just before the mid-point, Page slips and Holland takes him down and gets a choke locked in, before landing elbows on the mat. Page does well defensively and then lands a right hand on Holland’s damaged eye. A big right hand wobbles Holland and another left puts him down. Once more Page lands a spinning elbow at the end of the round.
Page lands some flashy shots from range, but Holland takes him against the Octagon. He leaps in with an elbow, then initiates a clinch and lands a right from in close, a couple of overhand rights stuns Holland a little. Page then has control against th Octagon and lands another right shortly afterwards and a spinning elbow right at the end. Easily Page’s round. Holland looked gassed as he gets to his corner.
MVP comes out to a remixed version of the WWE Undertaker’s theme. Initially under a cloak and then dancing his way to the ring. Two hellacious strikers…What a bout this could be…
This is the fight we have been waiting for. Can Michael ‘Venom’ Page take victory and set himself on the road to a fight with fellow Brit and current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
Live coverage from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, March 10 on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
“There’s some scary people in this division, but I’m the scariest,” the Perth fighter said on the mic after the win.
“Shout out Shavkat Rakhmonov we can make a hell of an eliminator. One of the best in the business let’s go.
Della Maddalena (now 17-2) is now tied with Ian Machado Garry for the longest active winning streak in the welterweight division.
A dramatic end to the fight! Della Maddalena landed with strong right and left hands early on and then after Burns missed with a head kick, the Brazilian was hurt with a right-left combination. Burns then took his opponent down and, while the crowd booed, held his opponent against the Octagon. Della Maddalena rolled and reversed out of a hold and then landed a big knee which totally turned the fight. With Burns on his back on the mat, Della Maddalena landed with punches and brutal elbows leading to the referee ending the contest.
The Perth fighter starts the round forcing the fight, but Burns takes him down and locks in a cradle. An elbow from Burns creates a swelling on Della Maddalena’s cheek. The Aussie lands more combination shots and they have a cumulative effect. Burns with another big right and a couple of takedowns from Burns, ending with a body triangle see him take the round.
Della Maddalena defending well early as Burns looked to lock in a hold and then he flips the Brazilian and lands a knee which looked to bleed Burns’ nose. As Burns looked to force the fight Della Maddalena waited and landed counter lefts to body and head. Gilbet does record a takedown and lands a right hand on the mat at the end of the round. A good round for the Aussie overall though.
The welterweight contest between the former title challenger #4 Gilbert Burns of Brazil, takes on #11 Australian Jack Della Maddalena.
A fairly easy one to score, he wins 29-28 on all three cards. Song had no complaints.
Yan wearing down Son with uppercuts. He lands with a spinning kick. Song bleeding over both eyes keeps pushing forward but Yan’s defence holds out and he reverses a takedown to get Song with his back on the mat in the last 90 seconds. Yan keeps the hold on until the end of the fight.
Song takes advantage of fake takedowns to land big shots early but Yan increasingly had moments in this round, with a number of big uppercuts, then taking Yan down and landing kicks to the body, one after avoiding a takedown briliantly. Yan then takes his opponent down in the last thirty seconds and with cuts his opponent above the eye with a slicing elbow on the ground. All to play for in the last round, but it feels like Yan has turned the contest.
A dominant round for Son, combining lead leg kicks with big right hands which have left their mark on Yan. As the two went to the mat Song remained in control mostly despite a fine rolling reversal from Yan. A big round for the Chinese fighter.
Live coverage from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, March 10 on TNT Sports 1 and on discovery+.
First up we have #4 Petr Yan taking on #7 Song Yadong in the bantamweight division.
“As he goes for the takedown he keeps his head down, I used my belly and then it was the hammer fists,” Blaydes said.
“I know how to anchor and pound it.”
The American then called out Britain’s interim heavyweight champion who Blaydes beat when Aspinall suffered a knee ligament injury in their fight back in July 2022.
“I believe me and Aspinall got some unfinished business. I’d like that one next, Aspinall.”
What a turnaround from the American veteran. Almeida looked to take Blaydes down again but Blaydes caught him with an uppercut in close then continued to pound him with hammer fists until the referee stepped.
Almeida in control. The crowd boo but Almeida takes Blaydes down nine times (a heavyweight record) in the round with Blaydes unable to get his hands unlocked.
Curtis Blaydes takes on Jailton Almeida in a battle of great grapplers.
30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 in favour of ‘The Future’ whose record improves to 14-2.
Barber comes out charging like a raging bull, swinging wildly but is then taken down briefly by Cerminara. Both exchange big right hands and Barber forces her opponent against the Octagon. Barber with a great block of a kick then right hand in close and she forces Cerminara to the mat, but once more her opponent gets up and they engage toe-to-toe as the fight ends, with Barber landing a vicious elbow on the buzzer. You would think Barber takes this decision.
Cerminara cleaner from range early on but Barber initiated a clinch, landed good shots and took down Cerminara twice which may just have secured her the round. All to play for in the last round.
Both have moments of control against the Octagon with Cerminara getting a brief takedown. Barber lands big blows in close and then as Cerminara went for a takedown, Barber countered and almost bulldoged her opponent. Barber a bull in close with shouklder strikes. Cerminara with holds in close and kicks from range, it will be a case of what the judges prefer.
Americans #4 Katlyn Cerminara and #6 Maycee Barber will go at it.
Speaking directly to the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Gamrot says: “I need one, maybe two more fights then I fight the champion.
“I have message to the champ Islam. Islam wait for me don’t go anywhere, we will see who is the better wrestler.
All three judges give the fight to Gamrot, 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27, his record improves to 24-2 (1 no contest).
You can’t help agree when Joe Rogan says on commentary: “You just wonder how it would have played out in RDA’s prime.” Gamrot just controlling the round taking down his 39-year-old opponent then leaning on him against the fence. 11 of 19 takedown attempts from Gamrot. He ends the fight landing some straight right hands from the southpaw stance.
A less exciting round but that is exactly what Gamrot wants, controlling the first two minutes with a takedown and then locking a hold on the Brazilian against the Octagon. Dos Anjos’ nose is bloodied, probably from an elbow. Gamrot has another takedown late to secure a comfortable round, but he was breathing heavily at the end and the Brazilian’s corner is imploring him to take advantage, telling him “he is out of it.”
Dos Anjos hurt Gamrot early with a knee catching the Pole as he was ducking and then a beautiful right hand as he was getting up from the mat. Another left hand from a southpaw stance also landed. We could be on for an upset here. Gamrot got a takedown with a couple of minutes left, but Dos Anjos’ round. Never count out a champion…
Polish #6 lightweight Mateusz Gamrot has a chance to show he is the man to disrupt the division’s hierarchy as he faces former champion Rafael Dos Anjos of Brazil.
The judges will have harder contests to score tonight. Phillips won 30-27 on all three cards. His record improves to 12-2 and Phillips makes a belt gesture after the decision is announced. He will certainly be ranked after this win.
The Matrix looks to be taking his fighting style to a new level, so relaxed, while dominating with his striking and kick combinations while avoiding Munhoz’s attempts to close the distance. Phillips celebrates his certain victory with a cartwheel at the end.
A less explosive round but Phillips still landing more and with greater impact when moving in from distance. Phillips missed with a roundhouse kick early, but landed one close to the end of the round. Munhoz needs a stoppage, but it doesn’t look like happening.
Big round for the Matrix. Munhoz first takes down Phillips, then while getting up the American pokes an eye at the Brazilian and gets a warning from the referee.
A fantastic flurry including a big uppercut has Munhoz rocked and Phillips lands a few more high knees in close, before another eye poke, but the referee makes clear the blood from the Brazilian’s eye was from a punch.
Kyler ‘Matrix’ Phillips takes on (these days, not so) ‘Young Punisher’ Pedro Munhoz (#13) in a bantamweight contest.
As always there are highly competitive matches coming up, before we get to the main card.
Lins (Brazil) Decision over Cutelaba (Moldova)Pereira (Brazil) Submission (Round 1) Oleksiejczuk (Poland)Despaigne (Cuba) KO (Round 1) Parisian (USA)Almabayev (Kazakhstan) Decision over Vergara (USA)Wood (Scotland) Decision over Moroz (Ukraine)
Live coverage from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, March 10 on TNT Sports 1 and on Discovery+.
Brazilian star Michel Pereira danced on his way to the Octagon, won his fight against Michal Oleksiejczuk with a rear-naked choke and then busted out the moves once more.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page makes his long-awaited UFC debut taking on #13-ranked welterweight Kevin Holland.
Here Venom speaks about his career to date and his UFC ambitions.
Scotland’s MMA legend Joanne Wood ended her glittering career with victory over Maryna Moroz.
We will be with you all the way to the main event where Sean O’Malley defends his bantamweight title against former conqueror Marlon Vera.
Live coverage from Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida begins at 01:00 UK time on Sunday, March 10 on TNT Sports 1 and on Discovery+.
UFC 299 is part of a stacked few months of mixed martial arts action on TNT Sports. For full details, click .
Live coverage starts at 01:00 in the UK on Sunday, March 10.
Prelims
Main card
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