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Sean ‘Suga’ O’Malley successfully defended his bantamweight title in the UFC 299 main event after outclassing long-time rival Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in Miami.
O’Malley had been handed his first and only defeat in MMA by Chito back in 2020, but a repeat never looked likely as he produced a dominant display at the Kaseya Centre.
The American brutally caught his challenger with a knee in the second round, with Chito somehow withstanding the blow to remain in the contest.
Chito produced his best shot of the night in the final seconds of the fifth round, but it proved too lated with O’Malley having delivered a complete performance across the 25 minute contest.
O’Malley was unanimously awarded the victory with two scorecards giving the American a 50-45 margin, with the other reading 50-44 in his favour.
Sean O’Malley produced a dominant performance to retain his bantamweight title at the UFC 299 main event in Miami
O’Malley dominanted the only man to have beaten him in MMA, with Vera surviving a knee to the face and several punches
O’Malley was confirmed as the winner with the scorecards unanimous, as he secured a successful first defence of his title
Former US President Donald Trump, who attended alongside his daughter Ivanka and UFC supremo Dana White, gave O’Malley a thumbs up cage side to congratulate the American.
The Republican presidential nominee’s appearance came just hours after he addressed a crowd of supporters in Rome, Georgia.
The 29-year-old’s triumph came after Dustin Poirier earned an incredible knock-out win over Benoit Saint-Denis.
Saint-Denis started impressively against Porier, landing knees, elbows and short punches, but was undone in the second round.
Porier caught the Frenchman with an uppercut before putting him away with a right hook to secure the 22nd UFC victory of his career.
‘I was getting beat up a bit, Porier admitted afterwards. ‘He was pretty strong.
‘I took the fight because he finished his last five and he’s dangerous with a never say die attitude.
‘It’s the nature of the beat, it’s what we do. Respect to him, sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed.’
Dustin Poirier claimed a stunning knock-out victory againt Benoit Saint-Denis in their lightweight fight in Miami
Poirier stunned his rival with an uppercut before ending the contest with a right hook to deliver a knock-out blow
UFC FightingDustin Poirier
