UFC 299 takeaways: O’Malley exhibits one other stage; 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 finest within the sport and Michael ‘Venom’ Web page placed on a present in his debut within the new promotion. However what have been the largest moments from UFC 299 and who ought to be subsequent for the largest standouts on the cardboard? Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim supply their closing ideas.

MIAMI — There have been a variety of questions concerning Sean O’Malley and the way huge of a star he’s or could possibly be.

The UFC has pushed him onerous, there is not any 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 thought being to get as many eyes on that as doable. O’Malley was in a position to put on customized pink combat shorts fairly than the standard black and gold. The listing of the way the UFC has tried to get O’Malley over with the followers, to borrow a pro-wrestling time period, is an extended one.

Folks can commute on that stardom subject till their faces are as blue because the teal in O’Malley’s cornrows Saturday evening. O’Malley may not be the subsequent Conor McGregor or something even shut. However he is additionally unquestionably a fantastic 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 stunning 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 spherical knee up the center cracked Vera onerous and opened up a reduce under his proper eye.

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

There’s at all times this disconnect about talent stage when a fighter rises in recognition shortly and will get the promotional rocket ship strapped to them by the UFC. They get known as a hype prepare, that they are not almost pretty much as good because the UFC desires individuals to imagine. It occurred to McGregor himself and different huge stars like Ronda Rousey. Many doubters sprout up, balancing out that followers are getting behind them en masse.

Even when McGregor knocked out Jose Aldo to change into the UFC featherweight champion in 13 seconds, individuals mentioned it was a fluke. McGregor nonetheless does not get the credit score he deserves for being as nice as he was. It wasn’t till possibly the efficiency towards Eddie Alvarez when McGregor’s greatest critics needed to acknowledge his high quality.

Saturday wasn’t essentially an Aldo or Alvarez second for O’Malley. However to do what he did towards an excellent fighter in Vera, mixed with the knockout of Sterling final yr, he has to get his flowers – pink-colored ideally – for being a unbelievable fighter.

Subsequent huge 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 prime stars after UFC 299?

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Dustin Poirier grabs exhilarating KO victory over Benoit Saint-Denis

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

Sean O’Malley, bantamweight champion

What Needs to be Subsequent: Merab Dvalishvili

I respect the decision out of Topuria, and if issues proceed to go effectively for each, that callout shall be a pleasant piece of content material for the sizzle reel. But it surely’s not taking place 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 buzzsaw of a method that seems like each fighter’s kryptonite, not simply O’Malley’s. However O’Malley has been as much as each process to date, so doubt him at your personal threat.

Wildcard: Cory Sandhagen

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

Dustin Poirier, light-weight

What Needs to be Subsequent: Max Holloway

If Holloway have been to beat Justin Gaethje in subsequent month’s BMF title combat at UFC 300. If Holloway wins that combat, it is 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 towards Poirier. They’ve already fought twice — Poirier has received each — however these have been a very long time in the past, and considered one of them was at 145. If Holloway seems good at 155 and upsets Gaethje, the urge for food shall be there to maintain him at light-weight, at which level it is sensible to do Poirier vs. Holloway 3.

Wildcard: I am undecided

That is the draw back of preventing 30 instances within the UFC. Ultimately, you begin to run out of opponents. If it is not Holloway, possibly Poirier seems at one thing at welterweight? The one factor left for him is profitable the light-weight championship, however it’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

What Needs to be Subsequent: Kamaru Usman

I simply do not see a cause to fiddle with Web page. Let’s discover out what he’s. I do know some have been disenchanted on this debut. I wasn’t. Web page landed some unbelievable pictures. Numerous them. Holland’s chin simply held up. His model did what it is supposed for — 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 have to see him towards within the division aside from the highest? I need not see if Web page can “hold” within the UFC. I might wish to know if he might hold with the perfect. And Usman is in a spot the place there aren’t apparent opponents for him. This might be an enormous combat and useful for each.

Wildcard: Stephen Thompson

This seems like the plain matchup for apparent causes, however the two are pleasant with each other and would like to not combat one another. I feel there are different choices for Web page I am simply as considering 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

What Needs to be Subsequent: Shavkat Rakhmonov

This is not the primary time Della Maddalena has known as out Rakhmonov. He is received a behavior of it, frankly. And it’s important to respect him for it. It will be a giant leap within the rankings, however why not? He is the one one calling Rakhmonov out, and Rakhmonov is likely to be ready for a bit if he is attempting to sit down issues out till he will get a title combat. Rakhmonov can be favored, however Della Maddalena has proven a ton of ending energy, and this win over Burns exhibits his capacity to rise beneath adversity. If he can escape a possible again take towards a fighter like Burns in a do-or-die state of affairs, is it so wild to assume he could not beat Rakhmonov?

Wildcard: Ian Machado Garry

I have been asking for this combat for over a yr, and nothing has occurred to minimize its attraction. At this level, possibly the UFC will proceed to delay this matchup, as a result of reserving them towards one another means you are guaranteeing considered one of them a loss, however my tackle that has at all times 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 might like to seek out out.

Petr Yan, bantamweight

What Needs to be Subsequent: Henry Cejudo

Cejudo has known as for Brandon Moreno on Mexican Independence Day, which I like. That is an excellent combat for that occasion. However truthfully, it does not make a lot sense for the division. This combat is sensible for the division. Yan was a pound-for-pound candidate as a champion, earlier than he went on a skid. Similar with Cejudo (retirement and a skid). Each just lately misplaced to Merab Dvalishvili, however they do not look carried out. 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.

Wildcard: Kyler Phillips

This one is on the market. However Yan is coming off a skid, and lots of the prime of the division are tied up in fights which can be already booked or extremely probably. There’s not an apparent opponent for him close to the highest, aside from Cejudo. Phillips regarded nice at UFC 299. It will be an entertaining combat, I can promise you that. Does it take advantage of sense when it comes to rankings? Maybe not, however it’s additionally not out of left area. You possibly can justify it, however 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 enormous 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 principle occasion at all times 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 check.

Their success price was blended. A few fighters made advances into the lofty world of contenders. Others had the gate slammed of their faces. Probably 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 one-time welterweight title challenger and a grappling ace, maintained floor management, it gave the impression to be his combat. However Della Maddalena in some way 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 received her combat towards one-time ladies’s flyweight challenger Katlyn Ceminara, however she absorbed too many punches and kicks from Cerminara, who shouldn’t be identified for her energy. Defensive lapses might value Barber as she strikes up the rankings. However a minimum of she’s transferring up.

A few others gave the impression to be on the street to success however ended up in a ditch. Jailton Almeida landed 9 takedowns within the first spherical towards top-five heavyweight Curtis Blaydes, and managed the elite wrestler on the canvas for almost your complete 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.

Track Yadong additionally had early success, however he was in with a former champion, Petr Yan, and that was an training. Yan stored coming at him, opened cuts on Track’s face, and took over the second half of the combat. Track, 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.