The UFC Bantamweight Championship is on the line Saturday night. The UFC 299 card is loaded with ranked combatants and matchups. Of course, the main UFC Betting event is between defending bantamweight champion #5 Sean O’Malley and #5 Marlon Vera. This is a rematch from UFC 253 in August 2020, when Vera defeated O’Malley with a 1st-round TKO. Also on the main card is a lightweight bout between #3 Dustin Poirier and #12 Benoit Saint Denis. Yet another matchup catching attention is the bantamweight bout between #4 Petr Yan and #67 Song Yadong.
UFC 299 – O’Malley vs. Vera 2 Main Card
| Date and Time: | Saturday, March 9, 2024, 10 p.m. ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Kaseya Center, Miami, FL. |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN+ |
Bantamweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sean O’Malley | -218 |
| Marlon Vera | +180 |
Overall, Sean O’Malley has an online betting record of 17-1 with 1 NC. Marlon Vera has a career record of 21-8-1.
Defending champion Sean O’Malley is unbeaten in his most recent six bouts. His last loss was to Marlon Vera on August 16, 2020. Last time out, O’Malley won the UFC bantamweight championship with a 2nd round TKO over Aljamain Sterling. It was his first championship bout. Previously, O’Malley defeated Petr Yan in a split decision on October 22, 2022.
Last time out for Marlon Vera was a unanimous decision win over Pedro Munoz on August 19, 2023. Previously, Vera lost a split decision to Cory Sandhagen on March 25, 2023. Before that loss, Vera won four consecutive bouts.
Lightweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Dustin Poirier | +142 |
| Benoit Saint-Denis | -170 |
In sum, Dustin Poirier has a carer record of 29-8. Benoit Saint Denis is 13-1 in his career.
Of great concern is that Dustin Poirier has lost two of his previous three bouts. He is coming off a 2nd round knockout loss to Justin Gaethje on July 29, 2023.
In comparison, Benoit Saint Denis is riding a 5-bout winning streak. He is coming off a 1st round knockout win over Matt Frevola on November 11, 2023.
Welterweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kevin Holland | -130 |
| Michael Page | +110 |
Kevin Holland has a career UFC Betting odds record of 25-10. By contrast, Michael Page stands at 21-2 in his career.
Welterweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gilbert Burns | +100 |
| Jack Della Maddalena | -120 |
Gilbert Burns has a career record of 22-6. In comparison, Jack Della Maddalena is 16-2 in his career.
Bantamweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Petr Yan | -135 |
| Song Yadong | +114 |
Petr Yan has a career mark of 16-5. In turn, Song Yadong stands at 21-7-1 in his career.
Preliminary Card Feature Fights
Heavyweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Curtis Blaydes | -112 |
| Jailton Almeida | -108 |
To summarize, Curtis Blaydes has a career record of 17-4. Jailton Almeida is 20-2 for his career.
Women’s Flyweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Katlyn Cerminara | +142 |
| Maycee Barber | -170 |
Overall, Katlyn Cerminara is 18-5 in her career. Maycee Barber is 13-2 for her career mark.
Lightweight Bout
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mateusz Gamrot | -345 |
| Rafael Dos Anjos | +275 |
Mateusz Gamrot has a career mark of 23-2. By comparison, Rafael Dos Anjos is 32-15 in his career.
UFC Fight Night SBG Free Picks
On this occasion, defending champion Sean O’Malley is in good form at a reasonable price. Also, O’Malley is motivated for revenge against Vera, the only man ever to defeat him.
UFC Fight Night SBG Best Bets: Sean O’Malley.