UFC 299 results, highlights: Sean O'Malley outclasses Marlon Vera to avenge lone loss, retains title

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 5: O'Malley landed a crushing right hand that had Vera hurt and backing up into the cage. Vera backed off the attack entirely, covering up against the cage and trying to prevent O'Malley from finding the finish. O'Malley kept the pressure up and Vera, who needed to be going for broke, had almost nothing to offer and looked to have been badly compromised by the big punch from O'Malley in the opening seconds of the round. Vera did connect with a good knee with roughly 40 seconds left in the fight but ate one in return. Tremendous showing from the champion, who battered the only man to have ever defeated him. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (50-45)

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 4: Vera tried to pressure more to open the round but O'Malley's defense shut that down quickly as he got back to his preferred range and got right back to sniping Vera with quick strikes. Vera caught O'Malley coming off the cage with a knee but again it was O'Malley who got the fight back into his preferred range. Again, Vera had a bit of success with a blitz, drawing blood from the champion's nose. Vera's pressure produced some much better results in the round, but any time he wasn't actively coming forward, O'Malley was picking him apart at range. Vera connected with a good left hook late but O'Malley tagged him with a straight left. That was Vera's best round of the fight and still O'Malley likely won the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (40-36)

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 3: Vera picked up his pace coming out, throwing some leg kicks and punches before O'Malley landed a hard counterpunch. Vera landed a good body kick but every time he has connected well, O'Malley tags him with several hard strikes moments later. O'Malley also has continually put in work to the body with punches and kicks. O'Malley landed a heavy right hand as he continued to pick Vera apart with seeming ease. Vera did manage to get in a right hand and threw a head kick but slipped to the canvas. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (30-27)

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 2: O'Malley just missed with a spinning back kick and another moments later. O'Malley hit a good jab before Vera landed a hard leg kick. Vera continued to look like he was having trouble dealing with O'Malley's twitchiness and speed. Vera started to throw more low kicks but O'Malley continued to dart in from the outside and crack before getting back to a safe range. O'Malley unleashed a few one-two combos that connected well. O'Malley connected with a massive knee to Vera's chin but somehow Vera ate the strike and was barely wobbled by the strike. O'Malley began headhunting, letting go with big shots as Vera was cut. Vera landed his own right hand but ate a head kick. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (20-18)

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 1: Both men threw leg kicks coming out of the corner. Vera missed with a front kick thrown at the face. O'Malley connected with his own front kick to the stomach and a heavy body kick after. O'Malley connected with a low kick to Vera's lead leg. O'Malley continued to do well to quickly get in and out with kicks, taking advantage of Vera's slow start. O'Malley connected with a step-in straight left hand. Vera came back with a body kick and a left hand of his own. O'Malley connected with a few solid body punches late in the round and a kick to the body that followed. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley

Vera and O'Malley are making their walks to the cage now. The UFC 299 main event will begin shortly. Can O'Malley retain the bantamweight title in his first defense or will history repeat itself with Vera putting O'Malley down once again?

All that remains is the main event. Sean O'Malley looks to avenge the only loss of his career against Marlon "Chito" Vera. It's O'Malley's first bantamweight title defense since knocking out Aljamain Sterling to win the belt.

Official result: Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis via second-round knockout: Saint Denis immediately back in Poirier's face. Poirier rocks Saint Denis with an uppercut combo! Poirier jumped for another guillotine despite his corner demanding that he stop between rounds! Saint Denis gets the mount, takes the back and starts working for a neck crank. Poirier slips free but eats a knee to the head. Poirier teased a standing guillotine but let go. Poirier rocked Saint Denis badly! He hunted another standing guillotine but gave up on it and knocked out Saint Denis with an amazing right hook. Great stuff.

Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis -- Round 1: An exchange of leg kicks to open. Poirier landed a hard one that would make Justin Gaethje proud. Saint Denis moved into range with a solid punch and shot the double leg takedown. Poirier jumped into a tight arm-in guillotine. Saint Denis was in trouble but avoided disaster by spinning out and taking the back. Poirier shook him off. Saint Denis with nice knees to the body and a boxing combination that thudded! Poirier with a standing guillotine but Saint Denis escapes. Saint Denis with more hard boxing combinations. Poirier landed a punch that paused Saint Denis. The Frenchman will not get out of Poirier's face! Saint Denis with a stinging combo. Poirier answers back with a hard combination. Saint Denis is cut. Poirier with a high guillotine but Saint Denis shakes him off. Poirier gives off the back. Saint Denis settles into back control with a body triangle.Saint Denis goes for an armbar with seconds left but Poirier escapes. A wild round. Poirier got his licks in but I think Saint Denis landed harder and better. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Saint Denis.

Our co-main event is up next. Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint Denis meet in a five-round co-main event. The winner will put themselves within reach of a UFC lightweight title shot.

Joanna Jędrzejczyk will be inducted into the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame!

Official result: Michael Venom Page def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).