The Octagon made its triumphant return to Miami for the electrifying UFC 299 event, showcasing a stacked fourteen-bout fight card headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.
In the main event, fans witnessed an absolute masterclass from Sean O’Malley in the men’s bantamweight title fight rematch. Despite the fight going the distance, O’Malley displayed impeccable striking skills, relentlessly overwhelming Marlon Vera throughout the grueling twenty-five-minute battle.
‘Suga’ capitalized on his speed advantage, dictating the pace and stifling his opponent at every turn. After a hard-fought five rounds, O’Malley rightfully claimed a unanimous decision victory, cementing his dominance in the division.
Meanwhile, the co-headliner featured a pivotal lightweight bout between Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis, delivering a thrilling spectacle for fight enthusiasts. Saint-Denis came out strong in the opening round, bombarding Poirier with a barrage of strikes and asserting control on the ground.
However, his aggressive approach backfired in the second round when ‘The Diamond’ landed a devastating left hand, sending Saint-Denis to the canvas. Despite his quick recovery, Saint-Denis succumbed to Poirier’s onslaught, ultimately falling victim to a powerful right hand from the former interim lightweight champion.
Following the conclusion of the event, UFC officials revealed the recipients of the post-fight performance bonuses during the press conference.
Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint-Denis were awarded the ‘Fight of the Night’ honors and each received $50k for their exhilarating showdown in the co-main event, culminating in Poirier’s second-round knockout victory.
Sean O’Malley secured the ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus with his dominant display against Marlon Vera in the headliner, earning an additional $50k for his striking prowess and unanimous decision triumph.
Other notable performances were recognized as well:
Jack Della Maddalena received $50k for his third-round TKO victory over Gilbert Burns.
Curtis Blaydes was awarded $50k for his second-round knockout win against Jailton Almeida in the featured prelim.
Michel Pereira earned an extra $50k for his first-round submission victory over Michal Oleksiejczuk.
Robelis Despaigne pocketed $50k for his lightning-fast 18-second knockout victory over Josh Parisian.
These bonuses not only reflect the extraordinary skill and determination showcased by the fighters but also add to the excitement and anticipation surrounding future UFC events.
