UFC 299 results, highlights: Sean O'Malley outclasses Marlon Vera to avenge lone loss, retains title

O'Malley did everything short of pulverizing Vera's granite chin

Sean O'Malley is hell-bent on being a combat sports superstar. Performances like the one he turned in against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 will go a long way to realizing that dream.

Debates raged all week about how O'Malley's star potential might be overblown. But if he continues to churn out performances like he did at the Kaseya Center in Miami, it won't matter what people say. O'Malley was a smooth operator on the feet. His speed, power and footwork picked apart a notoriously slow starter in Vera. The bantamweight champion repeatedly stunned his challenger for a clean sweep on the scorecards.

It's a genuine toss-up between what was more impressive: O'Malley's stand-up game or Vera's chin. O'Malley hit Vera with one of the cleanest knees you'll ever see. It sounded like "Chito" was cracked across the skull with a metal bat. Yet the bloodied challenger absorbed the blow and subsequent barrages to keep his 33-fight unfinished streak intact.

"I felt something in his face break. I don't know if it was his nose or his cheek…" O'Malley told UFC commentator Joe Rogan during his post-fight interview.

"Chito" found his most success in the final three rounds when engaging in violent brawls. But O'Malley evoked the spirit that carried him through a tough fight with Petr Yan -- albeit with an improved ability to slip out of danger -- to take those rounds from the challenger as well.

O'Malley called out UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria post-fight but expressed his willingness to defend the bantamweight title against top contender Merab Dvalishvili.

"Dana, get me a jet to Spain!" O'Malley said.

UFC president Dana White is high on O'Malley. White labeled O'Malley the biggest star in UFC bantamweight history during the UFC 299 post-fight press conference and said O'Malley might eventually reach Conor McGregor status. White was not keen on booking Topuria vs. O'Malley next when asked about it.

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Elsewhere on the card, Dustin Poirier reminded many why he's one of the best fighters to step into the Octagon and has one of the biggest hearts in the sport. Poirier rallied from a pair of submission attempts and constant pressure from rising contender Benoit Saint Denis to score a second-round knockout that sent shockwaves through the arena. Poirier, fresh of a knockout loss of his own to Justin Gaethje, could still be a factor at 155 pounds if he's able to put together performances like that.

"This is the shit that make you a f---ing legend," UFC CEO Dana White said. "These are legendary fights when you go in and you face a guy who is a savage, and it looks like you can't win this fight or people think you can't win this fight and then you do it, in spectacular fashion in the way he did tonight. We don't determine whether you lose or whether you win, you do. What we try to do is put on the best match-made fight that we can possibly do, and that's why big stars are built in the UFC and legendary fights happen every weekend."

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 299 below.

UFC 299 card, results

• Sean O'Malley (c) def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
• Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis via second-round knockout (punches)
• Kevin Holland def. Michael Page via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jack Della Maddalena def. Gilbert Burns via third-round knockout (punches)
• Petr Yan def. Song Yadong via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Curtis Blaydes def. Jailton Almeida via second-round TKO (punches)
  
• Maycee Barber def. Katlyn Cerminara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  
• Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  
• Kyler Phillips def. Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  
• Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Michel Pereira def. Michał Oleksiejczuk via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
  
• Robelis Despaigne def. Josh Parisian via first-round knockout (punches)
  
• Assu Almabayev def. C.J. Vergara via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  
• Joanne Wood def. Maryna Moroz via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 1:24 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Official result: Sean O'Malley def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 1:21 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 5: O'Malley landed a crushing right hand that had Vera hurt and backing up into the cage. Vera backed off the attack entirely, covering up against the cage and trying to prevent O'Malley from finding the finish. O'Malley kept the pressure up and Vera, who needed to be going for broke, had almost nothing to offer and looked to have been badly compromised by the big punch from O'Malley in the opening seconds of the round. Vera did connect with a good knee with roughly 40 seconds left in the fight but ate one in return. Tremendous showing from the champion, who battered the only man to have ever defeated him. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (50-45)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 1:15 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 4: Vera tried to pressure more to open the round but O'Malley's defense shut that down quickly as he got back to his preferred range and got right back to sniping Vera with quick strikes. Vera caught O'Malley coming off the cage with a knee but again it was O'Malley who got the fight back into his preferred range. Again, Vera had a bit of success with a blitz, drawing blood from the champion's nose. Vera's pressure produced some much better results in the round, but any time he wasn't actively coming forward, O'Malley was picking him apart at range. Vera connected with a good left hook late but O'Malley tagged him with a straight left. That was Vera's best round of the fight and still O'Malley likely won the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (40-36)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 1:09 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 3: Vera picked up his pace coming out, throwing some leg kicks and punches before O'Malley landed a hard counterpunch. Vera landed a good body kick but every time he has connected well, O'Malley tags him with several hard strikes moments later. O'Malley also has continually put in work to the body with punches and kicks. O'Malley landed a heavy right hand as he continued to pick Vera apart with seeming ease. Vera did manage to get in a right hand and threw a head kick but slipped to the canvas. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (30-27)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 1:03 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 2: O'Malley just missed with a spinning back kick and another moments later. O'Malley hit a good jab before Vera landed a hard leg kick. Vera continued to look like he was having trouble dealing with O'Malley's twitchiness and speed. Vera started to throw more low kicks but O'Malley continued to dart in from the outside and crack before getting back to a safe range. O'Malley unleashed a few one-two combos that connected well. O'Malley connected with a massive knee to Vera's chin but somehow Vera ate the strike and was barely wobbled by the strike. O'Malley began headhunting, letting go with big shots as Vera was cut. Vera landed his own right hand but ate a head kick. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley (20-18)

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:56 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera -- Round 1: Both men threw leg kicks coming out of the corner. Vera missed with a front kick thrown at the face. O'Malley connected with his own front kick to the stomach and a heavy body kick after. O'Malley connected with a low kick to Vera's lead leg. O'Malley continued to do well to quickly get in and out with kicks, taking advantage of Vera's slow start. O'Malley connected with a step-in straight left hand. Vera came back with a body kick and a left hand of his own. O'Malley connected with a few solid body punches late in the round and a kick to the body that followed. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 O'Malley

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:42 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Vera and O'Malley are making their walks to the cage now. The UFC 299 main event will begin shortly. Can O'Malley retain the bantamweight title in his first defense or will history repeat itself with Vera putting O'Malley down once again?

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:30 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

All that remains is the main event. Sean O'Malley looks to avenge the only loss of his career against Marlon "Chito" Vera. It's O'Malley's first bantamweight title defense since knocking out Aljamain Sterling to win the belt.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:27 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Dustin Poirier def. Benoit Saint Denis via second-round knockout: Saint Denis immediately back in Poirier's face. Poirier rocks Saint Denis with an uppercut combo! Poirier jumped for another guillotine despite his corner demanding that he stop between rounds! Saint Denis gets the mount, takes the back and starts working for a neck crank. Poirier slips free but eats a knee to the head. Poirier teased a standing guillotine but let go. Poirier rocked Saint Denis badly! He hunted another standing guillotine but gave up on it and knocked out Saint Denis with an amazing right hook. Great stuff.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:22 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis -- Round 1: An exchange of leg kicks to open. Poirier landed a hard one that would make Justin Gaethje proud. Saint Denis moved into range with a solid punch and shot the double leg takedown. Poirier jumped into a tight arm-in guillotine. Saint Denis was in trouble but avoided disaster by spinning out and taking the back. Poirier shook him off. Saint Denis with nice knees to the body and a boxing combination that thudded! Poirier with a standing guillotine but Saint Denis escapes. Saint Denis with more hard boxing combinations. Poirier landed a punch that paused Saint Denis. The Frenchman will not get out of Poirier's face! Saint Denis with a stinging combo. Poirier answers back with a hard combination. Saint Denis is cut. Poirier with a high guillotine but Saint Denis shakes him off. Poirier gives off the back. Saint Denis settles into back control with a body triangle.Saint Denis goes for an armbar with seconds left but Poirier escapes. A wild round. Poirier got his licks in but I think Saint Denis landed harder and better. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Saint Denis.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:06 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Our co-main event is up next. Dustin Poirier and Benoit Saint Denis meet in a five-round co-main event. The winner will put themselves within reach of a UFC lightweight title shot.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:04 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Joanna Jędrzejczyk will be inducted into the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame!

[Mar 10, 2024 at 12:04 am ET · Shakiel Mahjouri]

Official result: Michael Venom Page def. Kevin Holland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).