Johnny Fisher: Knocking Out Obstacles from Rugby to Boxing
Sean O’Malley avenged the one defeat of his skilled profession on Saturday, outpointing Marlon Vera to retain his bantamweight title at UFC 299.
It was a masterclass by “Sugar Sean”, who outstruck “Chito” throughout 5 rounds to safe a unanimous-decision win (50-45, 50-45, 50-44). With the victory, O’Malley made his first title defence a profitable one, having knocked out Aljamain Sterling to win the title in August. The American additionally took revenge upon Vera, who beat him through TKO in 2020.
The standout second of the combat noticed O’Malley drill a knee into his challenger’s face in spherical two – a shot that the Ecuadorian by some means survived. O’Malley then dropped Vera to a knee simply earlier than the buzzer signaled the tip of the spherical.
Vera, 31, confirmed spirit to muster a good spell of offence on the finish of spherical three and early in spherical 4, with O’Malley briefly retreating. Nonetheless, the champion damage Vera with a cross within the fifth and ultimate spherical and noticed out a scientific efficiency within the remaining minutes.
Re-live updates and outcomes from the UFC 299 foremost card and prelims, beneath.
UFC 299 LIVE
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UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Right here’s our full report from tonight’s foremost occasion:
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:39
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Vera’s face is soooo badly swollen. He thanks the Ecuadorian followers for travelling to look at him.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:27
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Sean O’Malley def. Marlon Vera through unanimous choice 50-45, 50-45, 50-44
O’Malley says he felt one thing break in Vera’s face when he landed that knee.
Sean calls out featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, saying he’ll face the Georgian-Spaniard in Spain.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:25
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Arduous cross by O’Malley, who hurts Vera with that! O’Malley misses with a spinning again kick. He then backs off ever so barely, remembering Wekch’s recommendation.
However Vera is retreating and overlaying up. O’Malley goes again to the physique. Head kick now. Southpaw cross.
Extra clear crosses by Sean, who’s southpaw in the meanwhile. Spinning again kick to the physique.
Head kick by Sugar. Entrance kick to the pinnacle by Vera, it’s narrowly vast. Good knee by the challenger, although. O’Malley responds in type.
And we’ll go to the scorecards! O’Malley is on his knees, he would possibly even have been caught with a physique shot earlier than the buzzer.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:18
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
“Don’t attempt to knock him out,” O’Malley is advised by his coach, Tim Welch.
Welch says O’Malley is up 4-0, and he’s in all probability proper, though Vera was higher in spherical 4 than within the earlier frames.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:16
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Into the championship rounds. Cross lands for Vera. Now a leaping knee! That is what he must do: let go, stress Sean.
O’Malley with a cross. Good left hook by Vera! One other knee! One-two by O’Malley, then a head kick!
Two exhausting crosses by O’Malley, who switches stances between them. Vera backs him up, although. That is higher from the Ecuadorian.
Good journey by O’Malley. Vera pops again up. Sean’s nostril is bloodied now, as is Vera’s.
Each males are touchdown to the pinnacle. O’Malley is staying as composed as potential, nonetheless various his offence.
Numerous straight pictures are touchdown for O’Malley.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:12
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Vera wants this spherical to offer himself an opportunity. Or he wants a stoppage, after all.
O’Malley is simply beating Vera to the punch in each alternate. First rate left hand by Vera, and one other.
O’Malley switches stances backwards and forwards. Each males land physique kicks. Vera chases O’Malley with a wild flurry upstairs.
Arduous left hook to the physique by O’Malley. Good left cross. Now a proper hand. One other, to the physique.
Sugar simply seems to be leagues forward of Vera. Something can occur on this sport, although. Can Chito discover the KO he wants?
Good left cross for O’Malley. Two hooks to the physique. Leaping knee by the champ.
Double-jab by Vera. Good proper cross by the challenger! And a jab! He wants to only let go like this.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 06:05
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Spinning again kick by O’Malley. It partially winds up prime. First rate step-in knee for Vera. Entrance kick to the physique by O’Malley.
The champion slings a proper cross to the physique of Vera. Numerous stance-switching by O’Malley, who blocks a head kick. One other proper cross to the physique by O’Malley, who provides a head kick.
Vera’s nostril seems to be a little bit bloody. He kicks low. And once more. O’Malley catches a physique kick and throws one other cross to the physique. Now one to the pinnacle.
First rate left hook by Vera. O’Malley goes southpaw and opts for one more physique cross. OH! BRUTAL KNEE TO THE HEAD OF VERA! And one other! Vera is retreating!
He simply ate that first one! What?! Even so, O’Malley is feeling himself now. He tries one other knee. Arduous jab, proper hook.
Cross, and one other by O’Malley. Physique kick. Numerous exercise. Vera with a one-two! And a physique kick of his personal. Head kick by O’Malley.
OH! Sugar drops Vera to a knee on the buzzer!
Realllllly good spherical for the champ. A enjoyable body total.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 05:59
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
No contact of gloves… There’s a “Chito” chant within the crowd. Each males stand orthodox.
O’Malley kicks low early. Vera goes southpaw. Entrance kick to the physique of Vera, who has by no means been stopped earlier than by the way in which.
O’Malley goes southpaw now, too. “USA” chant from the group. Spinning again kick to the physique by O’Malley, then one other exhausting kick below the arm of Vera.
First rate cross by O’Malley from an orthodox stance. He’s out of vary as Vera tries a head kick. Low kick by O’Malley, then a tidy southpaw jab.
One other good left as O’Malley flits between stances. Arduous low kick by Vera, then a left hand. Entrance kick to the physique by O’Malley, who narrowly avoids a facet kick upstairs.
Jab by O’Malley, who simply misses with the follow-up cross. Arduous cross to the physique by O’Malley, and one other. He’s orthodox for now. Superman punch by Vera. Physique kick by O’Malley.
One other physique cross by O’Malley, who narrowly misses with a straight upstairs on the buzzer.
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 05:53
UFC 299 LIVE: Sean O’Malley vs Chito Vera
Now right here comes Sugar Sean, to a combined response. In a UFC first tonight, O’Malley will probably be combating in pink shorts!
Bruce Buffer is bringing plenty of vitality as he makes the introductions; he at all times does, however for some cause it looks like he’s going additional exhausting tonight.
Right here we go!! 5 rounds scheduled!
Alex Pattle10 March 2024 05:45