MIAMI – And still.
Bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley avenged his only career loss Saturday when he defeated longtime rival Marlon Vera in the UFC 299 main event at Kaseya Center. O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) battered Vera (21-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) for five rounds to win a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44).
The environment was raucous with support for both fighters heard, though the chants of “Chito, Chito” were the loudest. O’Malley seemed unfazed, however, as he battered the lead leg of Vera and snuck punches through the Ecuadorian’s guard. With feints and light-on-his-feet footwork, O’Malley dictated the pace – a successful one for him in Round 1.
