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UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera 2

 

 

Main Card / SAT, MAR 9 / 10:00 PM EST

Kaseya Center 

Miami, FL, USA

 

 

Finally, UFC299 is upon us. We head down Vice City for this one - a place that shines with more color than Sean O’Malley’s curly afro.. Miami FL.

 

This card is stacked from top to bottom. I’ll cover all fights on the main card for this one. It is not surprising a lot of fans think 299 is better than UFC 300. It’s close, but I’m just happy we have such great events back to back.

 

Without further ado, let’s get into it.

 

 

Bantamweight Bout

Petr Yan (16-5, #4) vs Song Yadong (21-7-1 #7)

 

This is a critical matchup for these bantamweights. This division is absolutely stacked with killers, and these two are no exception.

 

Case for Petr Yan:

 

 

Petr must have walked under a ladder, brushed by a black cat, or something.. for he has had some bad luck as of late. He lost two close split decision fights againts former and current champs Aljomain Sterling and Sean O’Malley (which many think he won), and then was forced to deal with Merab Dvalishvili. Merab then proceeded to attempt 49 takedowns on him over the course of 5 rounds.

 

The Russian boxer is likely to enter a striking matchup with Song Yadong, which certainly favors him as opposed to someone like Merab and his grueling wrestling. As long as the fight is on its feet, Petr Yan is as dangerous as anyone in the division.

 

Case For Song Yadong:

 

 

 

He is potentially one of the most underrated fighters in the division. He exemplifies what Chinese fighters are best known for - that sweet science. 

 

One of the smoothest boxers in the UFC, it seems like every other fight he’s securing a knockout. He’s great at setting up the big punch, and Petr Yan will have to be careful not to get lured into that knockout.

 

He has won 5 of his last 6 fights, his loss in that span coming from top contender Cory Sandhagen. If you watch that fight, you will come away thinking Song Yadong is a savage. He gets a vicious cut on his eye and continues to fight like a champion and keep it competitive until the doctor had to step in and stop it.

 

UFC Cory Sandhagen vs Song Yadong - UFC Fight Night 210

 

Prediction:

 

Song Yadong wins a close fight. I don’t know if he will secure a finish, but I think he outboxes him and avoids any serious danger from Yan.

 

 

 

Welterweight Bout

Gilbert Burns (22-6, #4) vs Jack Della Maddalena (16-2, #11)

 

Case For Gilbert Burns:

 

 

Gilbert burns is a warrior and always fun to watch fight. Unfortunately, he got out jabbed and leg kicked by Belal Muhammad his last time out. He seemed injured the entire 5 round fight, and Burns later let us know exactly what he was dealing with:

 

A torn left AC joint (second to third grade); 

A torn left deltoid; 

A torn left trapezius muscle; 

A sprained C4/C5.

 

I’m no doctor so I am not certain what all those are, other than it’s his shoulder and neck area. In the fight, he seemed to have trouble punching, or doing much of anything. Toughness was on full display, but he was never going to beat Belal with those injuries.

 

If the version of Gilbert that dropped contender Khamzat Chimaev in thier fight had shown up, he probably would have fought for a championship by now. 

 

Khamzat Chimeav vs Gilbert Burns

 

Anyway we know who this man is… great striker, endless amounts of heart, and on top of it all a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu blackbelt. He has a chance to win anytime he fights.

 

Case for Jack Della Maddalena:

 

 

Another day, another awesome and fun Aussie fighter. Do they just love fighting or what?

 

 

 

Another Dana White Contender Series product, Jack is 7-0 in the UFC. As a matter of fact, the only two losses he has in his professional fight career are his first two. He hasn’t lost in sixteen pro fights dating back to 2016, which is quite the win streak.

 

He has all the tools a great boxer needs.. combinations, speed, and power. He loves to mix head and body shots together to overwhelm opponents. If he can get Burns up against the cage, it could spell trouble for the Brazilian.

 

Prediction:

 

This is a tough one, but I’m rolling with Gilbert Burns. Just based of experience and how well rounded he is, I think he stays out of trouble with the boxer.

 

 

Welterweight Bout

Kevin Holland (25-10, #13) vs Micheal “Venom” Page (21-2)

 

This is a match made in heaven. Two people who love getting style points during fights, and two people who love to talk trash in and out of the cage. 

 

Case for Kevin Holland:

 

Holland is a legit martial artist. His ranking of #13 to me only really speaks to his high activity level and competition than it does his talent. He is coming off a loss, but he’s looked better and better each time we see him.

 

 

His style is the UFC version of Venom Page. He loves to talk shit in the middle of a fight.

 

Kevin Holland TRASH TALKING During Fights

 

He has a better ground game and jujitsu game than MVP, and will look to use it. Look at this D’Arce Choke he landed two fights back. If he can do this type of thing he will come away with the win.

 

 

Case for Micheal “Venom” Page:

 

MVP is the Chad Ochocinco of MMA. He is flamboyant, flashy, and has epic celebrations after his wins. In the below fight, he proceeded to knock out someone with a flying knee then throw a pokeball at him (while he legit had a shattered skull).

 

 

 

 

Must watch video of all of his crazy antics:

Michael Venom Page Is The Most DISRESPECTFUL Fighter Of All Time

 

He is often dancing in the middle of the octogon, in the middle of rounds. This man is a showboat - not just after the match but during the match. He has loads of talent, but I for one can’t wait to see him againts a legit UFC ranked opponent. 

 

With all that said, he’s a legit striker who can find a chin extremely well. He will look to use his kickboxing and stay on his feet, looking for an exciting finish. If he takes his UFC debut seriously, he has a chance to be a fun new addition to this division.

 

Prediction:

 

I am going with Micheal "Venom" Page to get a victory in his UFC debut. I want to go with Holland because of his UFC experience and the ground game he brings.. but I just cant pick againts MVP here. I mean, who doesn't want to see this in a UFC octogon?

 

 

 

 

Lightweight Bout

Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (29-6, #3 vs Benoit “The God of War” Saint Denis (13-1, #12)

 

The co-main of this fight card feels like main event material. Both of these fighters are going to put on a show for us all, and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy.

 

Case for Dustin Poirier:

 

 

 

Poirier is and has been one of the best fighters in the world. Him even taking this fight, which many say has zero upside for him, shows what kind of competitor he is. The man just wants to fight the best, and his record proves it.

 

 

Saint Denis hasn’t fought anything near this level of competition, and taking on Dustin is a big step up.

 

I would be lying if I said he didn’t have his hands full with BSD, but Poirier has been fighting the best of the best now for so long.. he’s the perfect guy to bring his talented but inexperienced opponent back down to earth.

 

Case For Benoit Saint Denis:

 

This is the most interesting lightweight in the UFC right now in my opinion. He started training MMA in 2017, and had his first pro fight in 2019. Before that, he was in the special forces in France. No other fight experience. 

 

I don’t really know what fighting style I would say he is - he can wrestle, he has multiple victories via choke in the UFC, and he won his last fight via head kick. Let’s just say he’s well rounded and good everywhere.

 

 

In his only loss, he also showed insane will and determination. Since that fight he’s done nothing but improve - don’t be suprised if he’s world champion in a few years.

 

Dos Santos vs Saint Denis Insane Round

 

Prediction:

 

Dustin Poirier gets this done in Miami, but expect a war. One fighter has seen war in real life, and the other we have seen go to war 100 times in the octagon. 

 

 

 

Bantamweight Bout

Main Event

Sean O’Malley (17-1, C) vs Marlon Vera (21-8-1, #5)

 

The Suga State Athletic Commission may have wiped the first bout between these two bantamweights from the record books – but have no doubt that Chito Vera remembers his first round TKO of the current champion Sean O’Malley.

 

Case for “Suga” Sean O’Malley:

 

 

 

O’Malley is fresh off his stunning knockout of former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Before the latter will test his luck at featherweight at UFC 300, O’Malley will have his first title defense against the one man who managed to get the better of him back at UFC 252 in 2020. 

 

Sean would tell you that the “loss” is a result of an early low kick that hit O’Malley’s peroneal nerve, causing him to not be able to use his leg, leading to Chito’s ground and pound stoppage in round one. 

 

 

 

Since this fight, O’Malley has not lost and has looked like one of the best strikers in the division, if not the entire UFC. He has also shown elite counter striking, which poses a significant risk for anyone who wants to stand and trade with him.

 

 

Case for Marlon “Chito” Vera:

 

 

Since his win over Sean O’Malley, Marlon Vera has had a 5-2 record against some of the divisions best. Despite being called “boring” by O’Malley during his octagon callout in August, “Chito” has finished 76% of the fights he has won, a mixed bag of submission and KO/TKO victories. 

 

For those two losses since the O’Malley fight, Vera lost them both by decision against Jose Aldo and Cory Sandhagen, opponents O’Malley hasn’t been tested against. While we are on that subject – some would say O’Malley has had an “easy” path to the title, avoiding a lot of the divisions top talent and having a narrow victory against top competitor Petr Yan.

 

Prediction:

 

I think O’Malley has better takedown defense than we know about or have seen. We saw a little bit of this in the Aljamain Sterling fight in the first round, then again when Sean made a critical mistake of falling while throwing a kick to open the second round. Suga Sean should be able to keep this fight standing, where he will get his first title defense with his elite and creative brand of striking.

 

 

 

Gambling Perspective

 

This event I am rolling with a decent amount of underdogs, so tail at your on peril. Or, follow me to extreme riches if your not a coward. Your choice.

 

Petr Yan: +142

Song Yadong: +120

 

I am betting Song more than likely. If I want to be a little more cautious, I think the over is also safe here.

 

Gilbert Burns: +114

Jack Della Meddalena: -135

 

Gilbert burns, stay off the cage and deliver us some money.

 

Kevin Holland: -130

Micheal Page: +110

 

Coin flip - but I am rolling with Micheal "Venom" Page, who makes a statement win in his UFC debut.

 

Dustin Poirier: +154

Benoit Saint-Denis: -185

 

Dustin Poirier at plus money? I will be taking my chances with that.

 

Sean O’Malley: -245

Marlon Vera: +200

 

I am betting Sean O'Malley here. Chito has never been finished, so I think the over here might be a smart bet as well. We might finally see championship round O'Malley here.

 

"O'MALLEY! O'MALLEY! O'MALLEY!"

- Snoop Dogg

 

 

 

Well there you have it. See you down in Miami for one of the best cards of the year, maybe all time. Gotta love Vice City.