UFC 299 Sees Champions Retain Titles
UFC 299 concluded with several notable results, including champions retaining their belts and the emergence of new contenders. The event featured significant upsets and action across multiple weight divisions.
In the main event, Sean O'Malley defended his bantamweight title for the first time, securing a unanimous decision victory over Marlon "Chito" Vera. The win was a redemption for O'Malley, as Vera was the only fighter to have previously defeated him. The judges scored the bout 50-45, 50-45, and 50-44 in favor of O'Malley. The co-main event saw former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier score a dramatic second-round knockout victory over the surging Benoît Saint Denis. After a challenging first round where Saint Denis showcased his strength, Poirier rallied in the second, ending the fight with a powerful right hook. In a key welterweight matchup, Jack Della Maddalena remained undefeated in the UFC with a third-round TKO of Gilbert Burns. Despite being down on the scorecards, Della Maddalena landed a devastating knee in the final round that led to the finish. Michael "Venom" Page made a successful UFC debut, earning a unanimous decision win against Kevin Holland. Page, a long-time Bellator standout, utilized his unique and unorthodox striking style to control the fight. The judges all scored the contest 29-28 for Page. The main card was opened by former bantamweight champion Petr Yan, who snapped a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Song Yadong. Additionally, Maycee Barber extended her winning streak to six fights with a unanimous decision over Katlyn Cerminara.
