UFC 299 Recap: O’Malley Dominates Vera, Poirier Knocks Out Saint Denis

UFC 299 unfolded last night at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, featuring Sean O’Malley’s successful defense of his UFC bantamweight title against Marlon Vera and Dustin Poirier’s emphatic knockout victory over Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event.

Biggest Winner: Sean O’Malley

Sean “Suga” O’Malley showcased a masterful performance, delivering his most complete showing in his MMA career. Utilizing his reach, striking, and speed with precision, O’Malley dominated Vera throughout the five-round fight. Despite Vera having some shining moments, O’Malley controlled the bout, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory. With his stock rising significantly, O’Malley’s calls to challenge for the Featherweight title may be premature; however, continued dominance in the bantamweight division could pave his way to future opportunities.

Runner-Up: Dustin Poirier

Facing adversity in the first round against Benoit Saint Denis, Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier displayed his experience and composure to secure a comeback victory. Demonstrating calmness and calculated striking, Poirier weathered Saint Denis’s attacks before unleashing a series of devastating blows in the second round, culminating in a knockout win. With another impressive performance and a post-fight bonus, Poirier inches closer to another title shot, particularly if contenders like Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira falter at UFC 300.

Runner-Up: Jack Della Maddalena

In a dramatic comeback, Jack Della Maddalena faced Gilbert Burns with two rounds down, needing a finish to maintain his unbeaten UFC record. With just a minute remaining in the fight, Maddalena landed a decisive knee that dropped Burns, followed by a barrage of punishing elbows that forced the referee to intervene, sealing Maddalena’s victory. With this remarkable win against the No. 4 ranked welterweight, Maddalena’s ascent in the division is inevitable, likely placing him closer to the Top 5 rankings.

Biggest Loser: Josh Parisian

Unfortunately, Josh Parisian faced a daunting task against Octagon newcomer Robelis Despaigne, who boasted an impressive streak of first-round finishes in his previous fights. Parisian’s night ended abruptly after Despaigne landed a powerful right hand, sealing the victory with follow-up strikes. With this loss marking Parisian’s third consecutive defeat in the UFC, his Octagon record stands at a disappointing 2-5, raising concerns about his future in the promotion.