UFC 299 Delivers High-Stakes Upsets

In the night's co-main event, Dustin Poirier, a seasoned veteran and former interim champion, entered the octagon as a notable betting underdog with odds as high as +188 against the surging Benoît Saint Denis. Saint Denis, a former French special forces soldier, was the betting favorite at -220, riding a dominant five-fight win streak, all by stoppage. Despite being rocked and controlled on the ground in a chaotic first round, Poirier weathered the storm. In the second round, he dramatically turned the tables, knocking out the "God of War" and halting the hype train of the rising French star, once again proving his mettle against the division's fiercest contenders. The main event saw bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley avenge the only loss of his professional career in a masterful striking display against Marlon "Chito" Vera. In their first encounter in 2020, Vera defeated O'Malley via TKO after a leg kick compromised O'Malley's peroneal nerve. O'Malley dominated the rematch from start to finish, earning a lopsided unanimous decision with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 50-44. He out-landed Vera significantly, showcasing his precision and footwork and leaving no doubt about his claim as the division's best. The event also featured the highly-anticipated UFC debut of Michael "Venom" Page, a longtime star from Bellator known for his flashy and unorthodox "hands-down" fighting style rooted in kickboxing and karate. Page secured a unanimous decision victory over the always-tough Kevin Holland, successfully transitioning his unique style to the UFC's welterweight division. His win added another intriguing contender to the 170-pound landscape.