UFC 299 Delivers Fireworks

UFC 299, held on March 9, 2024, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, generated the fourth-highest gate in UFC history at $14.14 million with an attendance of 19,165. The main event featured a highly anticipated bantamweight title rematch between champion Sean O'Malley and Marlon "Chito" Vera. The headline bout was a grudge match stemming from their first encounter at UFC 252 in 2020, where Vera handed O'Malley his only professional loss via TKO after a leg kick caused a nerve issue in O'Malley's foot. O'Malley, who has often downplayed the legitimacy of that first loss, avenged it with a dominant unanimous decision victory, with judges scoring the bout 50-45, 50-45, and 50-44. In the co-main event, veteran Dustin Poirier entered as a betting underdog against surging French contender Benoît Saint Denis. Despite early pressure from Saint Denis, Poirier secured a dramatic knockout victory in the second round, earning the pair "Fight of the Night" honors. The main card also featured the highly anticipated UFC debut of former Bellator star Michael "Venom" Page, known for his unorthodox striking. Page secured a unanimous decision victory over Kevin Holland, successfully translating his unique style to the UFC's welterweight division. Australian welterweight Jack Della Maddalena extended his winning streak to 17 with a dramatic come-from-behind knockout of Gilbert Burns. After being controlled on the ground for much of the third round, Della Maddalena escaped, landed a devastating knee, and finished the fight with ground-and-pound, earning a "Performance of the Night" bonus.