“17-0.”
That was the tweet. Nothing else, just that line. That lie.
Sean O'Malley wasn't 17-0 when he posted on X last March about supposedly having a spotless professional wrestling record. At that time, he was actually 16-1 with no finish. But hours after watching the previous opponent responsible for his “1”, Marlon “Chito” Vera, lose a fight in the UFC, “Suga Sean” was inspired to jump on social media and rewrite history.
MMA, perhaps more than any other sport, is a game of deception. Fighters are always trying to convince the world – and themselves – that they are invincible. This type of deception is understandable, given what this combative sport demands of its athletes, especially mentally. Imagine walking into a cage in front of a bloodthirsty crowd, hearing the steel door close behind you, and then looking up at a trained killer who can't wait to get his hands on you. Anyone who finds themselves in that situation might feel the need to convince themselves that they belong there.
O'Malley certainly belongs. When he launched the “17-0” illusion a year ago, he wasn't yet the UFC men's bantamweight champion, but he was just a few months away from reaching that glorious destiny. He won the belt in August with a second-round TKO of Aljamain Sterling, and will defend it for the first time on Saturday in the main event of UFC 299 against none other than “Chito” Vera (ESPN+PPV, 10 p.m. ET) .
What a sport, right? The MMA perpetually drags us into a soap opera plotted with the melodrama “As the World Turns.” In this weekend's episode, “Suga Sean” appears to remain undefeated within his own twisted headspace.
O'Malley has been playing these mind games since the 2020 TKO loss to Vera. Shortly after the fight, he consoled himself with a sidelong glance at the two fighters' shared future. “Okay, let's look at his career in five years, let's look at mine,” O'Malley said on his “Timbo Sugar Show” podcast. “I'll be a fucking world champion, he'll be a journeyman.”
Now, one might question the wisdom of calling someone who knocked you out in less than a round an official, but O'Malley had his finger on the pulse of where he and the 135-pound division were headed. In less than three years since that prediction, O'Malley claimed UFC gold, while Vera lost his next fight to Jose Aldo and lost another a year ago to Cory Sandhagen. But “Chito” was not forgotten. He has won five of his last six bouts and is now fighting for the title.
What a trip, man.
Saturday's main event is just the final act of a UFC 299 schedule that's packed with collisions and intriguing backstories. Here are six stories to keep in mind.
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1. Does it feel like the first time? Not really
Men's Bantamweight Title Fight: Sean O'Malley (c) vs. Marlon Vera 2
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O'Malley and Vera rewatch first fight before UFC 299 rematch
Brett Okamoto sits down with Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera to rewatch their fight at UFC 252 before their rematch at UFC 299.
He can tell a tall tale all he wants, but O'Malley (17-1, 1 NC) knows deep down that he lost a fight to Vera three and a half years ago. He felt the kick numb his right foot and sent him to the canvas. He felt the elbows on his face that finished him off.
More importantly, Vera (23-8-1) felt all the feels too. She felt the impact of those elbows on O'Malley, felt the referee's hands pushing him away, felt the emotional pull of the referee raising his hand. “Chito” remembers what In fact It happened the first time he and O'Malley faced each other, and it encourages him to approach the rematch with real-world confidence.
The belt is a driving incentive for both men, but the stakes are higher for O'Malley. The UFC is auditioning to find its next megastar and the bantamweight champion has a closet full of the necessary ingredients. Even in Vera's loss, O'Malley was leading the dance until a well-placed kick left him unable to take two steps. “Suga Sean” has proven to be who he says he is. Saturday needs to remind us of that, really.
2. Who do you call a goalkeeper?
Lightweight: Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis
A little more than two years ago, Poirier was fighting for the lightweight championship for the second time. He had also just finished punching Conor McGregor twice in a row. “El Diamante” shone among the protagonists of the 155-pound division.
Now you are tasked with protecting that airborne territory against an ambitious climber.
It's a precarious position, fending off the rise of Saint Denis. The Frenchman is 13-1 without a result and has achieved results in each of his victories. Poirier poses a higher level of challenge than any he has faced so far, but this is the fight Saint Denis asked for. And Poirier is willing and eager, at 35 years old, to prove his worth once again.
3. First time you walk through the door of the fun house.
Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Michael 'Venom' Page
What a lovely one-man welcome committee the UFC has prepared for Page. I mean, imagine what MVP thought when she started studying Holland's video.
Wait, did he just knock out Jacare Souza while he was lying on his back?
Did you just ask wrestler-turned-announcer Daniel Cormier for wrestling advice?
Page may have an idiosyncratic style once the bell rings, but Holland simply has an idiosyncratic style in his being. Masterful matchmaking.
4. Inevitably, the climb gets steeper
Welterweight: Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Della Maddalena has won 16 in a row, which is the kind of streak that makes her a must-see. She started early in her six-fight UFC career, when she looked like the next big thing. As she continued to win and the UFC began to put bigger obstacles in her way, her victories became harder to earn, impressive in a more nuanced way.
However, none of those defeated opponents have Burns' pedigree. If Della Maddalena doesn't make a mistake with this next step, he will go far.
Burns also needs to move. At 37, he could really use the instant career boost that derailing a publicity train could bring. He is 2-2 in his last four fights, 3-3 in his last six. He's not bad, but one step forward and one step back will get him nowhere.
5. Comings and goings at the crossroads
Men's Bantamweight: Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong
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Song Yadong and Chris Gutierrez fight on the ground in the main event
Song Yadong dominates the ground game in the main event of UFC Fight Night.
In March 2021, Yan was the men's bantamweight champion and seemed untouchable. Then, while in the midst of completely controlling a title defense against Sterling, he was disqualified for landing an illegal knee, which cost him the belt. Yan also lost the rematch and then lost two more fights. But all of these losses came against championship-level opponents, and two were split decisions, so it's unclear whether Yan, at 31, is fading or simply declining.
The song will serve as a measuring stick. He has won five of his last six and his only loss was against a top player, Cory Sandhagen. Song has had the “potential” label for years, and now he has the opportunity to change it to “contender.” If he needs someone to build his confidence, he can look at the event card that shows the two fighters in the main title fight. Song has a victory over Vera.
6. Great battle for ground control.
Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida
1:15
Jailton Almeida knocks down Derrick Lewis multiple times en route to victory
Jailton Almeida dominates the running game against Derrick Lewis in his native Brazil en route to victory.
Almeida, winner of 15 straight fights, has already done enough to warrant a title shot, but he is stuck behind interim champion Tom Aspinall, who is inexplicably stuck behind former champion Stipe Miocic. When Almeida, 32, reaches the front of the line, he could be 41, like Miocic.
So Almeida seeks to wait for the right moment to consolidate his place. They'll put him to work in a fight that should be every fighter's delight, if there is any justice in the world of MMA, and these two don't just stand there and shake hands. Twelve of Almeida's 20 career wins have come by submission. And Blaydes' wrestling has made many opponents' nights miserable. But Blaydes hasn't fought since a TKO loss to Sergei Pavlovich almost a year ago. Who will bring the greatest burden?
