UFC 299 takeaways: O’Malley reveals one other degree; what’s subsequent for Poirier and MVP?

A 14-fight UFC 299 in Miami was headlined by a dominant title combat efficiency from Sean O’Malley. Within the co-main occasion, Dustin Poirier reminded the world that he is nonetheless one of many pound-for-pound greatest within the sport, and Michael “Venom” Web page placed on a present in his debut within the promotion. However what have been the largest moments from UFC 299 and who must be subsequent for the largest standouts on the cardboard? Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim supply their remaining ideas.

MIAMI — There have been numerous questions relating to Sean O’Malley and the way massive of a star he’s or could possibly be.

The UFC has pushed him exhausting, there is no doubting that. The promotion pumped out his title-winning knockout of Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 final August on all its social media channels, the concept being to get as many eyes on it as potential. O’Malley was in a position to put on customized pink combat shorts slightly than the standard black and gold. The checklist of the way the UFC has tried to get O’Malley over with the followers, to borrow a professional wrestling time period, is a protracted one.

Folks can shuttle on that stardom subject till their faces are as blue because the teal in O’Malley’s cornrows Saturday evening. O’Malley won’t be the subsequent Conor McGregor or something even shut. However he is unquestionably an important fighter — higher than many individuals give him credit score for.

O’Malley’s efficiency was masterful at UFC 299. He pieced Marlon “Chito” Vera up for 5 rounds, displaying off lovely footwork and timing. “Suga” landed punches and kicks from a number of angles, together with a sniper-like energy jab from a stance swap place. O’Malley’s second-round knee up the center cracked Vera exhausting and opened up a reduce beneath his proper eye.

If folks did not understand simply how glorious a fighter O’Malley is after he knocked out Sterling sublimely seven months in the past, it is exhausting to disclaim him after this weekend.

There’s all the time this disconnect about talent degree for these fighters who rise in recognition rapidly and get the promotional rocket ship strapped to them by the UFC. They get known as a hype practice; critics say they don’t seem to be practically pretty much as good because the UFC needs folks to imagine. It occurred to McGregor himself and to different massive stars like Ronda Rousey. Many doubters sprout up, balancing out the followers who’re getting behind the fighters en masse.

Even when McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to turn into the UFC featherweight champion, folks stated it was a fluke. McGregor nonetheless would not get the credit score he deserves for being as nice as he was. It wasn’t till perhaps the efficiency in opposition to Eddie Alvarez that McGregor’s greatest critics needed to acknowledge his high quality.

Saturday wasn’t essentially an Aldo or Alvarez second for O’Malley. However having performed what he did in opposition to an excellent fighter in Vera, mixed with the knockout of Sterling final 12 months, he has to get his flowers — ideally pink — for being a improbable fighter.

Subsequent massive star or not. Subsequent McGregor or not. O’Malley is the actual deal, and other people ought to begin conceding that. — Marc Raimondi

Okamoto: What’s subsequent for high stars after UFC 299?

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Dustin Poirier grabs exhilarating KO victory over Benoit Saint-Denis

Dustin Poirer lands a barrage of sturdy punches to seize a win through knockout vs. Benoit Saint-Denis.

Sean O’Malley, bantamweight champion

Who must be subsequent: Merab Dvalishvili

I recognize the callout of Topuria, and if issues proceed to go properly for each, that callout will probably be a pleasant piece of content material for the sizzle reel. However it’s not occurring subsequent, actually not. I feel even O’Malley is aware of that, which is why he hedged his guess and talked about Dvalishvili by title within the Octagon. Even coming off this wonderful efficiency, O’Malley goes to face some doubters when he takes on Dvalishvili, just because Dvalishvili has a buzz noticed of a mode that looks like each fighter’s kryptonite, not simply O’Malley’s. However O’Malley has been as much as each activity to this point, so doubt him at your individual threat.

Wild card: Cory Sandhagen

I say this solely as a result of Sandhagen could be the backup weigh-in fighter for an O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili title combat. I feel Sandhagen will find yourself taking over yet one more opponent earlier than getting his shot, but when one thing unlucky strikes the O’Malley-Dvalishvili matchup, Sandhagen could be first in line.

Dustin Poirier, light-weight

Who must be subsequent: Max Holloway

If Holloway have been to beat Justin Gaethje in subsequent month’s BMF title combat at UFC 300, it will be simple to ask him to remain at that weight, let Ilia Topuria tackle one other challenger at 145 within the meantime, and have Holloway defend the BMF belt in opposition to Poirier. They’ve already fought twice — Poirier has gained each — however these have been a very long time in the past, and certainly one of them was at 145. If Holloway appears good at 155 and upsets Gaethje, the urge for food will probably be there to maintain him at light-weight, at which level it is smart to do Poirier vs. Holloway 3.

Wild card: I am unsure

That is the draw back of preventing 30 instances within the UFC. Finally, you begin to run out of opponents. If it isn’t Holloway, perhaps Poirier appears at one thing at welterweight? The one factor left for him is profitable the light-weight championship, but it surely’s a foggy, doubtlessly lengthy path to get there. Not when it comes to fights, however simply time. And one thing tells me Poirier is not going to need an prolonged layoff.

Michael Web page, welterweight

Who must be subsequent: Kamaru Usman

I simply do not see a motive to fiddle with Web page. Let’s discover out what he’s. I do know some have been upset on this debut. I wasn’t. Web page landed some improbable pictures. Lots of them. Holland’s chin simply held up. Web page’s model labored as supposed — it visibly annoyed and confused Holland for 3 rounds. When Web page wanted to counter-wrestle and keep on his ft or get again to his ft, he did it for probably the most half. What do we actually must see him in opposition to within the division aside from the highest? I needn’t see if Web page can “dangle” within the UFC. I would prefer to know if he can dangle with the easiest. And Usman is in a spot the place there aren’t apparent opponents for him. This might be an enormous combat and helpful for each.

Wild card: Stephen Thompson

This looks like the plain matchup for apparent causes, however the two are pleasant with each other and would favor to not combat one another. I feel there are different choices for Web page who curiosity me as a lot as Thompson, and I haven’t got to see this combat subsequent if they do not need it, but when the UFC feels that is the matchup the followers are asking for, historical past suggests they’ll pursue it.

Jack Della Maddalena, welterweight

Who must be subsequent: Shavkat Rakhmonov

This is not the primary time Della Maddalena has known as out Rakhmonov. He is acquired a behavior of it, frankly. And you must respect him for it. It might be an enormous leap within the rankings, however why not? He is the one one calling Rakhmonov out, and Rakhmonov is perhaps ready for a bit if he is making an attempt to take a seat issues out till he will get a title combat. Rakhmonov could be favored, however Della Maddalena has proven a ton of ending energy, and this win over Burns reveals his capability to rise beneath adversity. If he can escape a possible again take in opposition to a fighter like Burns in a do-or-die scenario, is it so wild to assume he might beat Rakhmonov?

Wild card: Ian Machado Garry

I have been asking for this combat for over a 12 months, and nothing has occurred to reduce its attraction. At this level, perhaps the UFC will proceed to delay this matchup as a result of reserving them in opposition to one another means you are guaranteeing certainly one of them a loss, however my tackle that has all the time been these two are younger sufficient {that a} loss would not set them again too far. I do not know who wins between Della Maddalena and Machado Garry, and I would like to search out out.

Petr Yan, bantamweight

Who must be subsequent: Henry Cejudo

Cejudo has known as for Brandon Moreno on Mexican Independence Day, which I like. That is a very good combat for that occasion. However actually, it would not make a lot sense for the division. This combat is smart for the division. Yan was a pound-for-pound candidate as a champion earlier than he went on a skid. Identical with Cejudo (retirement and a skid). Each just lately misplaced to Merab Dvalishvili, however they do not look performed. Cejudo has talked about retirement, but when he beats Yan, he is nonetheless not that far off from a title combat. A win over Yan means greater than a win over Moreno at 135 kilos. That is the one which makes probably the most sense.

Wild card: Kyler Phillips

This one is on the market. However Yan is coming off a skid, and lots of the high of the division are tied up in fights which are already booked or extremely seemingly. There’s not an apparent opponent for him close to the highest, aside from Cejudo. Phillips seemed nice at UFC 299. It might be an entertaining combat, I can promise you that. Does it take advantage of sense when it comes to rankings? Maybe not, but it surely’s additionally not out of left discipline. You may justify it, and I do not see many different choices that I like higher.

Wagenheim: Rising contenders take their title contender checks

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Jack Della Maddalena lands big knee that results in KO win vs. Gilbert Burns

Jack Della Maddalena lands an enormous knee after which throws a flurry of punches to seize a knockout win over Gilbert Burns.

The primary occasion all the time will get the highlight, however sprinkled on each combat card are undercard bouts that includes these auditioning to be future stars. These fights are the lifeblood of the game, and UFC 299 overflowed with them. There was a run of 4 straight fights, bridging the prelims and the primary card, that every featured a fighter on the rise dealing with a take a look at.

Their success charge was combined. A few fighters made advances into the lofty world of contenders. Others had the gate slammed of their faces. Essentially the most surprising success story was Jack Della Maddalena’s. The 27-year-old Australian was on the verge of shedding to Gilbert Burns, who had again management halfway by means of the ultimate spherical and was fishing for a submission. Even when Burns, a onetime welterweight title challenger and a grappling ace, maintained floor management, it seemed to be his combat. However Della Maddalena by some means escaped to his ft, and as quickly because the fighters got here towards one another, the Aussie landed a knee to the face that led to a end — Della Maddalena’s seventeenth straight win. That is how contenders are made.

Maycee Barber additionally had success, though hers was a bit extra muted. The 25-year-old gained her combat in opposition to onetime ladies’s flyweight challenger Katlyn Ceminara, however she absorbed too many punches and kicks from Cerminara, who just isn’t identified for her energy. Defensive lapses might value Barber as she strikes up the rankings. However no less than she’s transferring up.

A few others seemed to be on the street to success however ended up in a ditch. Jailton Almeida landed 9 takedowns within the first spherical in opposition to top-five heavyweight Curtis Blaydes and managed the elite wrestler on the canvas for practically your entire 5 minutes. Then he got here out for Spherical 2, went for an additional takedown — and Blaydes defended by touchdown a hammerfist to the aspect of the top. And one other and one other, till Almeida was turtled up, defenseless, and the referee jumped in.

Tune Yadong additionally had early success, however he was in with a former champion, Petr Yan, and that was an training. Yan saved coming at him, opened cuts on Tune’s face, and took over the second half of the combat. Tune, 26, nonetheless has a future, as does Almeida, who’s 32, however as a heavyweight, he’s in a division the place contenders skew older.