UFC 299: In search of sweet revenge

The Octagon at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, is set to make its presence felt early this Sunday for UFC 299. Headlined by a championship grudge match in the bantamweight division and featuring a compelling co-main event clash, this fight show is poised to deliver a truly promising spectacle. With the event rapidly approaching, let’s have a quick look at the two main fights.

Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera

In the main event, newly crowned bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley will face off against Marlon “Chito” Vera. O’Malley, who captured the title with a spectacular, picture-perfect knockout victory over Aljamain Sterling in August last year, looks to make his first successful title defense. However, it won’t be just a title fight. No. It’s personal between these two.

The pair first met back in 2020, when Vera claimed a controversial victory over an obviously injured O’Malley. The American star rolled his ankle in the first round after Vera targeted his perennial nerve with low calf kicks. The injury was evident as O’Malley’s movement was stifled and his striking significantly restricted. He would later collapse trying to cut an angle on his Ecuadorian foe, followed by Vera’s overwhelming elbow strikes on the ground and an eventual stoppage. Now, as the king of the bantamweight division, he will attempt to avenge his only career loss to date.

Speaking of their resume, O’Mally boasts an impressive 17 wins out of 19 fights (including 12 knockouts), accompanied by a sole loss and a no-contest. The 29-year-old has won against some of the division’s biggest names, including Eddie Wineland, Petr Yan, and already mentioned Aljamain Sterling.

Meanwhile, Vera (31) has fought a total of 32 times with mixed results. And while his opponent tends to knock his opponents out most of the time, Vera’s victories have been more varied. The Ecuadorian has won eight times by knockout, ten by submission, and five by decision, totaling 23 victories. True, he might have eight losses, but none of them have finished with a knockout or submission. So far, only the judges have stood in his way to more success.

With bad blood between the two fighters and the bantamweight title on the line, we expect nothing less than fireworks inside the Octagon.

Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis

In the co-main event, lightweight veterans Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis will collide in a five-round showdown. Poirier, a former interim champion, aims to bounce back from a tough loss against Justin Gaethje and reaffirm his status as a top contender in the division. Meanwhile, Saint-Denis, riding a five-fight win streak, seeks to make a statement by taking out a seasoned opponent and solidifying his position in the lightweight rankings.

Poirier is someone who doesn’t need an introduction. A true gladiator, the 35-year-old has fought a total of 38 times, winning 29 and losing eight of those fights with one being a no-contest. Among his greatest accomplishments are victories over Eddie Alvarez, Max Holloway, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, and Conor McGregor (twice!).

His upcoming opponent is a 28-year-old Frenchman who still has quite a lot ahead in his career. So far, he has accumulated 15 professional fights, which include 13 wins, one loss and a no-contest. Interestingly, none of his fights, except his only loss, have gone the distance. He has finished his opponents either by a knockout or submission with a 100% success rate when we’re talking about the wins. That being said, Dustin Poirier is definitely the biggest name he will have fought against, as well as the biggest career challenge so far.

Both fighters are known for their aggressive fighting styles and finishing ability. That being said, we should expect excitement from start to finish.

What are the odds?

With a championship grudge match headlining the card and a compelling co-main event matchup, combat sports fans are in for a real treat. So, who are the favorites to reap the fruits of victory?

According to OlyBet sportsbook, Sean O’Malley is a clear favorite to retain his title at the odds 1.38 compared to Vera’s 3.15. As for the co-main event, Dustin Poirier will have to enter the Octagon as an underdog at the odds of 2.76, while a victory by Saint-Denis is rated at 1.47.

Will O’Malley manage to get his sweet revenge, or will the champion belt be passed to the next owner? Will Poirier prove he is still a force to be reckoned with, or will Saint-Denis get his most significant victory to date? One is clear – anything can happen in the unpredictable world of mixed martial arts, so we’ll just have to wait a tiny little longer to find out which fighters will emerge victorious.