UFC 299 storylines — Can Marlon Chito Vera beat Sean O’Malley once more?

“17-0.”

That was the tweet. Nothing extra, simply that one line. That one lie.

Sean O’Malley was not 17-0 when he posted on X final March about supposedly having an unblemished skilled preventing file. On the time, he was truly 16-1 with a no contest. However hours after seeing the previous opponent who was liable for his “1” — Marlon “Chito” Vera — lose a UFC battle, “Suga Sean” felt impressed to leap on social media and rewrite historical past.

MMA, maybe greater than some other sport, is a sport of delusion. Fighters are at all times making an attempt to persuade the world — and themselves — that they’re invincible. Such sleight-of-hand self-trickery is comprehensible, given what this combative sport calls for of its athletes, particularly mentally. Think about strolling right into a cage in entrance of a blood-thirsty enviornment crowd, listening to the metal door lock behind you after which wanting throughout at a educated killer who cannot wait to place their arms on you. Anybody in that scenario would possibly really feel a necessity to speak themselves into the assumption that they belong in there.

O’Malley actually does belong. When he put out the “17-0” delusion a 12 months in the past, he was not but the UFC males’s bantamweight champion, however he was solely months away from reaching that wonderful vacation spot. He gained the belt in August with a second-round TKO of Aljamain Sterling, and he’ll defend it for the primary time Saturday within the UFC 299 major occasion towards none apart from “Chito” Vera (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET).

What a sport, proper? MMA perpetually pulls us right into a cleaning soap opera plotted out with “Because the World Turns” melodrama. On this weekend’s episode, “Suga Sean” appears to stay undefeated inside his personal twisted headspace.

O’Malley has been taking part in these thoughts video games ever for the reason that 2020 TKO loss to Vera. Shortly after the battle, he consoled himself with a sideways look into the 2 fighters’ shared future. “OK, let us take a look at his profession in 5 years, let us take a look at mine,” O’Malley stated on his “Timbo Sugar Present” podcast. “I am gonna be f—ing world champ, he is gonna be a journeyman.”

Now, one would possibly query the knowledge of calling somebody who knocked you out in lower than a spherical a journeyman, however O’Malley did have his finger on the heart beat of the place he and the 135-pound division have been headed. In lower than three years from that prediction, O’Malley claimed UFC gold, whereas Vera misplaced his subsequent battle to Jose Aldo and dropped one other one a 12 months in the past to Cory Sandhagen. However “Chito” did not fade into oblivion. He is gained 5 of his previous six bouts, and now he is difficult for the title.

What a journey, man.

Saturday’s major occasion is simply the ultimate act in a UFC 299 lineup that is brimming with intriguing collisions and backstory. Listed here are six storylines to observe for.

Buy UFC 299 on ESPN+ PPV

1. Feels just like the very first time? In actuality, no

Males’s bantamweight title battle: Sean O’Malley (c) vs. Marlon Vera 2

play

O’Malley, Vera rewatch first battle forward of UFC 299 rematch

Brett Okamoto sits down with Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera to rewatch their battle at UFC 252 forward of their rematch at UFC 299.

He can spin a whimsical narrative all he desires, however O’Malley (17-1, 1 NC) is aware of in his soul that he misplaced a battle to Vera 3½ years in the past. He felt the leg kick that numbed his proper foot and despatched him to the canvas. He felt the elbows to the face that completed him.

Extra importantly, Vera (23-8-1) felt all the sentiments as effectively. He felt the influence of these elbows on O’Malley, felt the arms of the referee pushing him away, felt the emotional raise of the ref elevating his hand. “Chito” remembers what actually occurred the primary time he and O’Malley tangled, and that emboldens him for the rematch with real-world confidence.

The belt is an incentive driving each males, however there’s extra at stake for O’Malley. The UFC is auditioning for its subsequent megastar, and the bantamweight champ has a cabinet filled with the required components. Even within the Vera loss, O’Malley was main the dance proper up till a well-placed kick rendered him unable to two-step anymore. “Suga Sean” has proven himself to be who he says he’s. On Saturday, he must remind us — for actual.

2. Who’re you calling a gatekeeper?

Light-weight: Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis

A little bit over two years in the past, Poirier was preventing for the light-weight championship for the second time. He had additionally simply completed beating up Conor McGregor two occasions in a row. “The Diamond” was glimmering among the many main lights of the 155-pound division.

Now he is being tasked with guarding that thin-air territory towards an bold climber.

It is a precarious place to be in, heading off the rise of Saint Denis. The Frenchman is 13-1 with a no contest, and he has delivered finishes in each one in every of his wins. Poirier poses a higher-level problem than any he is but confronted, however that is the battle Saint Denis requested for. And Poirier is keen and keen, at age 35, to show himself as soon as once more.

3. First time strolling within the door of the funhouse

Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Web page

What a pleasant one-man welcoming committee the UFC has lined up for Web page. I imply, think about what MVP thought when he began learning video of Holland.

Wait, did he simply knock out Jacare Souza whereas mendacity on his again?

Did he simply ask fighter-turned-broadcaster Daniel Cormier for mid-fight wrestling recommendation?

Web page might need an idiosyncratic fashion as soon as the bell rings, however Holland simply has an idiosyncratic fashion in his being. Masterful matchmaking.

4. Inevitably, the climb will get steeper

Welterweight: Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena

Della Maddalena has gained 16 in a row, which is the sort of run that makes you must-see. It began early in his six-fight UFC run, when he appeared like the subsequent massive factor. As he stored successful and the UFC began placing greater hurdles in entrance of him, his victories turned tougher gained, spectacular in a extra nuanced method.

But none of these crushed opponents have the pedigree of Burns. If Della Maddalena is not tripped up by this subsequent step up, he is going locations.

Burns must get transferring as effectively. At age 37, he might actually use the moment profession surge that derailing a hype prepare would possibly deliver. He is 2-2 in his previous 4 fights, 3-3 in his previous six. Not dangerous, however one step ahead and one step again is getting him nowhere.

5. Comings and goings on the crossroads

Males’s bantamweight: Petr Yan vs. Track Yadong

play

Track Yadong, Chris Gutierrez battle it out on the bottom in major occasion

Track Yadong dominates the bottom sport in the principle occasion of UFC Combat Night time.

In March 2021, Yan was the boys’s bantamweight champ and searching untouchable. Then, whereas within the midst of totally controlling a title protection towards Sterling, he was disqualified for touchdown an unlawful knee, costing him the belt. Yan misplaced the rematch as effectively, after which dropped two extra fights after that. However all of those defeats got here towards championship-level opponents, and two have been cut up selections, so it is unclear whether or not Yan, at 31, is fading or simply skidding.

Track will function a measuring stick. He has gained 5 of his final six, and the one loss was towards a high man, Cory Sandhagen. Track has had the label of “potential” hooked up to him for years, and now he has an opportunity to commerce it in for “contender.” If in want of a confidence builder, he can take a look at the occasion poster depicting the 2 fighters within the headlining title bout. Track owns a win over Vera.

6. Massive battle for floor management

Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida

play

Jailton Almeida takes down Derrick Lewis a number of occasions on technique to win

Jailton Almeida dominates the bottom sport vs. Derrick Lewis in his dwelling nation of Brazil en path to victory.

Almeida, the winner of 15 fights in a row, has already executed sufficient to warrant a title shot, however he is caught in line behind interim champion Tom Aspinall, who’s inexplicably caught in line behind former champ Stipe Miocic. By the point the 32-year-old Almeida reaches the entrance of the queue, he may very well be 41, like Miocic.

So Almeida seeks to bide his time by solidifying his place. He’ll be put to work in a battle that ought to be a grappler’s delight — if there’s any justice within the MMA world and these two do not simply stand there and throw arms. Twelve of Almeida’s 20 profession wins have come by submission. And Blaydes’ wrestling has made many an opponent’s night time depressing. However Blaydes hasn’t fought since a TKO loss to Sergei Pavlovich almost a 12 months in the past. Who’ll deliver the larger grind?