Sean O’Malley is set to defend his UFC bantamweight title against Marlon Vera on March 9 at UFC 299, while former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier will face Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event.
Here’s the scoop, folks. Sean O’Malley is about to defend his UFC bantamweight title. And guess what? We’ve got the official poster!
Who’s he up against? Marlon Vera. That’s right, the main event of UFC 299 is O’Malley vs. Vera. The date? March 9. The place? Kaseya Center, Miami.
But wait, there’s more. The co-main event is just as exciting. Former UFC interim lightweight champ, Dustin Poirier, is putting his ranking on the line. He’s going toe-to-toe with Benoit Saint-Denis, a rising star in the MMA world. And it’s a five-round non-title bout.
Want a peek at the UFC 299 poster? Check it out below.
Now, let’s talk history. O’Malley, 29, and Vera, 31, have been in the ring together before. Remember UFC 252 in August 2020? “Chito” Vera took the win with a first-round knockout.
Since then, O’Malley’s been on a roll. Undefeated in the UFC. Climbed up the bantamweight rankings in 2022 with a win over Petr Yan. Captured the title in 2023 after knocking out Aljamain Sterling in the second round. And now? He’s MMA Fighting’s No. 9 ranked male pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Vera’s not to be underestimated, though. This is his first UFC title shot, and he’s won five of his last six bouts. He’s taken down Dominick Cruz, Rob Font, Frankie Edgar, and Pedro Munhoz. Currently, he’s MMA Fighting’s No. 9 ranked bantamweight in the world.
The co-headliner? Poirier and Saint-Denis. They’re at different stages in their careers, but both are fierce competitors. Poirier, 34, is making what could be his last push for an undisputed title. He’s still feeling the sting of losses to Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. On the other hand, Saint-Denis, 28, is a rising star with five straight UFC stoppage wins.
Want to see the updated UFC 299 fight card? Check it out below.