Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) enters the meat of its pay-per-view (PPV) season TONIGHT (Sat., March 9, 2024) with an absolutely loaded card from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. UFC 299’s main event will feature the fantastic rivalry between newly-minted Bantamweight roost-ruler, Sean O’Malley, putting his belt on the line for the first time ever against supremely confident challenger (and lone conqueror), Marlon Vera. In UFC 299’s co-main event, former interim Lightweight champion and perennial 155-pound title contender, Dustin Poirier, will attempt to protect his No. 3 ranking at the expense of surging French madman, Benoit Saint-Denis. We’ve also got the Octagon debut of Michael “Venom” Page, as well as Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena and so much more!
IS IT THE “SUGA SHOW” OR “CHITO TIME?!?!?!?”
Before that action begins at 10 p.m. ET later this evening, though, MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 299 “Prelims” undercard below, beginning with the first fight at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (ESPN/ESPNN will simulcast the undercard action at 8 p.m. ET). We will then cover UFC 299’s PPV main card in a separate thread right here, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Bet on UFC 299 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “O’Malley vs. Vera 2.” Without further delay, see below for the latest UFC 299 “Prelims” undercard results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC 299 QUICK RESULTS:
UFC Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
Kevin Holland vs. Michael Page
Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena
Petr Yan vs. Yadong Song
Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida — Blaydes def. Almeida by KO (punches) at 0:36 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Katlyn Cerminara vs. Maycee Barber — Barber def. Cerminara by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos — Gamrot def. dos Anjos by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips — Phillips def. Munhoz by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ion Cutelaba vs. Philipe Lins — Lins def. Cutelaba by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Michel Pereira vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk — Pereira def. Oleksiejczuk by technical submission (rear naked choke) at 1:01 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian — Despaigne def. Parisian by TKO (punches) at 0:18 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
C.J. Vergara vs. Asu Almabayev — Almabayev def. Vergara by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz — Wood def. Moroz by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
UFC 299 ESPN+ ‘PRELIMS’ PLAY-BY-PLAY RESULTS:
265 lbs.: Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida
Round one: Almeida shoots in the opening seconds and puts Blaydes on the fence. He manages to muscle Blaydes down but can’t keep him there. Back up, back down a minute in. Again. Almeida kicks out his base for another takedown and looks for the back. Back up, another trip two minutes in. Back up, both hooks for Almeida. Blaydes removes the hooks, gets dragged to his knees again. Two minutes to go.
Back up, back down. Back up, back down. Blaydes just can’t break Almeida’s body lock. Back up, back down. Almeida slips in both hooks, plays backpack. 10-9 Almeida.
Round two: Almeida pushes forward and wings punches. The next time he shoots, Blaydes is ready with a sprawl, and when Almeida continues to drive, Blaydes clobbers him with more than a dozen hammerfists for the finish.
Final result: Blaydes def. Almeida by KO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: Katlyn Cerminara vs. Maycee Barber
Round one: Barber on the front foot, wading in with punches. Good exchange in teh center, both attacking in the clinch. Cerminara grabs a body lock when Barber rushes in, gets reversed against the fence. Chookagian regains double unders and briefly gets he down a minute in. Barber gets over-unders and reverses, then they jockey for position. Knees from Cerminara with double unders. Short punches. Continuing to trade position with two minutes to go. Nice punches from Barber, who sprawls on a shot and whacks Cerimara with good shots. Cerminara takes her to the fence again and it’s back to trading position, Cerminara looking for knees and Barber looking for punches. Shoulder strikes by Barber. Two minutes to go.
Cerminara grinding against the fence. Nice knees on the break, then double unders when Barber rushes in. Elbows from Barber, knees form Cerminara. Heavy exchange on the break. Cerminara tries a reactive shot, gets put on the fence with a minute to go. She reverses. Again she gets double unders. Barber looks to open up on the break, then eats an elbow. 10-9 Barber?
Round two: Nice counters from Cerminara. Huge right hand buzzes Barber and a follow-up front kick just misses. Clean jabs as Barber tries to wade in. One minute in. Cerminara catches a kick and lands a right cross. Counter right again. Long left. Barber falling short with her offerings. Left hook by Cerminara against the fence, then a high-low 2-1 two minutes in. Counter knee by Cerminara, who eats an overhand left. Barber really struggling with the range and she eats another right cross before taking Cerminara to the fence. Two minutes to go.
Barber gets her down, can’t keep her there. Holding onto a hook on the feet, keeping the body lock. Cerminara turns to face her, eats an elbow. One minute to go. Cerminara reverses. Barber reverses in turn and throws knees. Knees to the thigh, then foot stomps. Cerminara reverses and they fight for position. Takeodown from Barber in the final seconds. 10-9 Cerminara.
Round three: Barber sprints in with punches and gets tripped for it, then eats a shot on the break. Straight right by Cerminara. Again. One minute in. Cerminara tries a head kick. Short shot from Barber, then a heavy flurry that makes Cerminara tie up. Jockeying for position against the fence. Two minutes in. Elbow by Barber, Cerminara reverses, gets reversed in turn. Barber muscles her to the mat and Cerminara threatens a kneebar before scrambling to her feet. Two minutes to go.
Barber throws heat on the break. Right cross by Cerminara, trying to pressure. Teep by Barber. One minute to go. Straight right and low kick by Cerminara, body kick by Barber. Trading in the clinch, elbow by Barber on the exit. They trade body kicks and Barber goes to work inside. Barber hits a foot sweep and follows her down. Cerminara scrambles up and they trade bombs at the bell. 10-9 Barber.
Final result: Barber def. Cerminara by unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Round one: Gamrot tries a head kick to start. Quick right hand, 1-2. RDA catches him leaning with a knee and denies a takedown, then floors him with a clubbing left hand. Gamrot wrestles his way through and puts him on the fence. RDA separates and looks to pressure. Solid punches and he denies a takedown two minutes in. Another hard left hand by RDA and a body kick behind it. Another straight left, Gamrot fires back. Nice single-leg puts Gamrot on top in side control with two minutes to go.
RDA quickly regains guard. Gamrot trying to pass, makes it to half guard. One minute to go. RDA trying to scoot to the fence, eating punches as he does. Solid elbows. 10-9 dos Anjos.
Round two: Low kick by RDA. Heavy body kick by Gamrot, who fires a single-leg and muscles his way to the body lock. Trying to kick out RDA’s base a minute in, landing punches as he does. Knees to the body. They separate just under two minutes in. RDA trying to pressure, whiffs on a body shot. Reactive double-leg from Gamrot briefly gets RDA to a knee. RDA pops up and fights the grip. Mat return by Gamrot. RDA back to his feet but bleeding from his nose. Two minutes to go.
Elbow from RDA on the exit, jab from Gamrot. Perfectly timed reactive shot puts Gamrot on top in guard. RDA spins to his knees and gets to his feet. One minute to go. Gamrot tries to change levels, then separates. RDA back in pursuit. Counter right by Gamrot as he circles. Tight right hook. RDA puts together a combo, walks into another right hand. 10-9 Gamrot.
Round three: Gamrot to the body. Low kick from RDA. Solid right cross by Gamrot, who gets back on his bike soon after and pops RDA with a jab. Perfectly timed takedown and he’s back on top in guard. RDA quickly uses butterfly hooks to get to his feet a minute in. RDA struggling to cut off the cage as Gamrot potshots. Right hook to takedown by Gamrot. RDA works his way up two minutes in, still stuck against the fence. He separates 20 seconds later and Gamrot gets back to playing keep-away, landing potshots as he does. Low kick by RDA, jab by Gamrot. Gabrot shoots again, denied initially, drives through to put him on the fence with two minutes to go.
Gamrot lands a few clinch shots before separating, then a clean counter right. Counter right to double-leg by Gamrot. Knees to the thigh as RDA stands. One minute to go. They separate. RDA whiffs on a flying knee and walks into another jab. Solid combo by Gamrot, who avoids RDA’s return fire. Heavy right hands in the final seconds. 10-9 Gamrot.
Final result: Gamrot def. dos Anjos by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
Round one: Solid low kick from Phillips to start. Munhoz catches a knee, can’t get the takedown, avoids a wheel kick. 1-2 from Phillips as he circles. Nice counter right by Munhoz a minute in. Sharpshooting from Phillips, but a kick from too close allows Munhoz to take him down a minute in. Phillips pushes his way free, catching Munhoz in the eye in the process. Jab exchange. Head kick just misses for Phillips, right hand lands two minutes in after they trade low kicks. Good flurry from Munhoz against the fence. Straight shots from Phillips, low kicks. Munhoz ducks a left hook but can’t find the takedown. Phillips tries to go low-high with kicks. Two minutes to go.
Phillips sticking and moving well so far. Hard spinning back kick, then a vicious combination in the center. Phillips avoids a takedown and cracks him with another knee and tries to swarm. Munhoz firing back with a minute to go. Flying knee to right hand from Phillips, but he pushes off with his fingers and catches Munhoz in the eye, prompting a pause. They get right back to slugging when they resume. Nasty left hook by Phillips as they trade and he’s chewing Munhoz up. More clean punches piling up. He continues to land until the bell. 10-9 Phillips.
Round two: Body shot from Phillips, left hook from Munhoz. Nice low kicks by Munhoz as Phillips tries to unload. Phillips falls short with some volleys, then lands a low kick a minute in. Body shot from Munhoz, who eats a calf kick and lands his own. They trade left hands. Phillips staying mobile. Head kick just misses, glancing spinning back elbow behind it. Two minutes in. Calf kick exchange. Body kick by Phillips, then another calf kick and a slick combination in the center. Two minutes to go.
Both look for combos near the fence. Munhoz still trying to pressure. Lead right lands for Phillips, as does a low kick. Stiff jab by Munhoz with a minute to go. Phillips goes low-high with a two-piece, calf kick by Munhoz in return. Nice body kick by Phillips behind a combination. Body kick again. Nasty counter right, Munhoz tries to answer with a combo. Glancing wheel kick to 1-2 by Phillips at the bell. 10-9 Phillips.
Round three: Head kick from Phillips to start. He’s done a great job so far of staying mobile and switching directions to keep Munhoz from cutting off the cage. Low kick from Munhoz, body shot to spinning back kick by Phillips. Another head kick sneaks around the guard. One minute in. Phillips briefly clinches after a lull. Low kick and right hand, Munhoz comes back with a combo. Phillips tries a combination and eats low kicks two minutes in. Jab exchange. Low kick by Phillips. Munhoz low kick, Phillips counter right. Nasty counter right as he’s backed to the fence. Munhoz completely unable to get any sustained offense going. Two minutes to go.
Another low kick from Phillips. Left hook to head kick in center cage, then an inside low kick. Body shot, low kick, head kick, low kick. One minute in. 1-2 from Phillips as he runs circles around Munhoz. Counter right yet again. They slug it out to end the fight and Phillips just misses a wheel kick before stuffing a takedown.
Final result: Phillips def. Munhoz by unanimous decision
205 lbs.: Ion Cutelaba vs. Philipe Lins
Round one: Both firing low kicks to start. One minute in. 1-3-low kick from Lins. Cutelaba pressuring but not throwing much besides low kicks. Hard low kicks by Lins. Cutelaba backs him to the fence, tries to open up, eats another low kick two minutes in. Cutelaba counters the next calf kick with an overhand right for a knockdown, but Lins manages to tie up and subsequently make distance. 1-2 from Cutelaba. Two minutes to go.
Lina counters a body jab with a 1-2, then follows with a leg kick. Single-leg attempt, Cutelaba defends and lands an elbow. Nice blitz from Cutelaba but his leg is starting to give out. Lins unloading on a stationary target but Cutelaba forces him back with hard shots of his own. They tie up with a minute to go. Lins looking for a takedown, can’t keep him down, avoids an elbow on the break. Cutelaba backs him to the fence, Lins punches his way off. 10-9 Lins.
Round two: Another hard calf kick from Lins, then another. Cutelaba can’t put weight on his left leg. Lins making him chase, avoids a flurry on the fence. One minute in. Low kick to left hook from Lins, who tries to tee off on the fence and eats some shots in return. Back to circling as Cutelaba plods after him. Lins punches into the body lock and takes him to the fence, where Cutelaba grabs the fence before turning to get over-unders. Cutelaba reverses and lands knees two minutes in, but Lins regains the body lock and takes him down into half guard. Two minutes to go.
Lins playing tight but not doing much else from the top. He stands over Cutelaba, then dives in with heavy punches. Cutelaba scrambles up under fire and gets clinched with a minute to go. They separate 30 seconds later. Another calf kick from Lins prompts Cutelaba to shoot unsuccessfully. 10-9 Lins.
Round three: Heavy counter left by Lins, then another low kick. Cutelaba trying to pressure, but a telegraphed right hand lets Lins take him down again. Cutelaba gets to his feet, then latches onto a kimura. He cranks for a bit, but Lins works his way out and puts him on the fence. Two minutes in. Cutelaba continuing to pressure and throw. Counter right from Lins, then a tired-looking takedown attempt. He hauls Cutelaba to the fence, where Cutelaba winds up an elbow directly to the brainstem to earn a chiding from the ref. Cutelaba gets back to pressuring and they slug it out until Lins puts him on the fence with two minutes to go.
Lins grinding against the fence. He changes levels, nothing there. Ref breaks them up with 40 on the clock. Lins circling, Cutelaba pursuing. Hard counter left by Lins, Cutelaba comes back with a war cry. They slug on the fence and Lins gets the better of it, then blasts Cutelaba with a 1-2-3. 10-9 Lins.
Final result: Lins def. Cutelaba by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
Round one: Pereira dings Oleksiejczuk with a pair of hard body kicks in the opening seconds. Another body kick, then a right hand downstairs that has Oleksiejczuk reeling. Pereira chases him to the fence and folds him with a right knee to the body, then latches onto a no-hooks rear naked choke and puts Oleksiejczuk to sleep in seconds.
Final result: Pereira def. Oleksiejczuk by technical submission (rear naked choke) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
265 lbs.: Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian
Round one: Despaigne stalks Parisian across the cage, but slips trying a head kick. Parisian sprints after him, but a backpedaling Despaigne finds his chin with three brutal shots, capped by a right hook that crumples Parisian. A few more hammer blows and in comes the ref.
Final result: Despaigne def. Parisian by TKO (punches) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!
125 lbs.: C.J. Vergara vs. Asu Almabayev
Round one: Almabayev stumbles Vergara with his first leg kick. Next one to the inside. Vergara feinting and switching stance with his hands down. Almabayev tries a spinning back kick, lands a couple low kicks, then shoots. Vergara sprawls initially, but Almabayev drives through and trips him at the base of the fence. Vergara back to his feet, Almabayev keeping the rear waist lock and one hook. Two minutes in. Almabayev looks for a suplex, can’t get his hooks in. Another mat return, still can’t keep Vergara down or secure the back with two minutes to go.
Vergara reverses position and knees the thigh. Almabayev reverses in turn, then separates. Spinning back kick and combo by Almabayev. Vergara comes back with a right cross, then lands a solid left hook with a minute to go. Nice double-leg by Almabayev puts him on top in half guard. Slick move to mount and strong hips to avoid a sweep. 10-9 Almabayev.
Round two: Vergara tries a flying knee and eats a low kick for his trouble. Low kick of his own in return. Nice head kick attempt. Vergara constantly switching stance. Counter right by Almabayev. One minute in. Nice lead right by Vergara, cracking body kick by Almabayev in return. Almabayev transitions from a front headlock to a single-leg to land on top in guard. Two minutes in. Almabayev playing tight, landing the occasional punch. Continuing to do steady work with two minutes to go.
Almabayev sitting down on some heavier punches as he moves to half guard and briefly considers an arm triangle. Hard elbows, more punches. Vergara works his way up and immediately gets dumped back down, nearly giving up back mount in the process. Almabayev landing punches from turtle with a minute to go. More heavy ground-and-pound from Almabayev. Vergara scrambles to his feet and eats a knee before the bell. 10-9 Almabayev.
Round three: Almabayev tries to spin, lands a low kick, and nearly shoots directly into Vergara’s shin. Nice uppercut by Amabayev, spinning back kick behind it. Vergara trying to pressure, blocks a head kick, gives up a single-leg. Almabayev tries to run the pipe before transitioning to the rear body lock and hunting the back a minute in. Both hooks in. Nice scramble from Vergara, who fires body kicks. Wheel kick just misses for Almabayev, who tries a shot and then blasts Vergara with a knee on the way up. Right hand by Vergara two minutes in. Vergara slips throwing a head kick and Almabayev takes top position at the base of the fence. Vergara quickly stands but Almabayev is latched on, trying to dump him back to the mat. Almabayev fighting for a single-leg with two minutes to go.
Almabayev exits with a flurry, tries a spinning back kick, then catches a body kick to answer with a low kick. Vergara wading after him and they trade body kicks. Almabayev catches one for a takedown into guard. He sticks in a hook as Vergara tries to scramble, looking for the other with a minute to go. Full back mount and looking for the RNC. ESPN+ crashes for the second time in two fights, so I miss the last 30 seconds, but considering Vergara didn’t finish him in that time it’s 10-9 for Almabayev.
Final result: Almabayev def. Vergara by unanimous decision
125 lbs.: Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz
Round one: They trade for around 15 seconds before Moroz times a takedown in center cage. Full guard for Moroz. Body punches, elbow upstairs. One minute in. More short punches from Moroz. Moroz staying busy, Wood, struggling to get anything going from her back. Two minutes in. Half guard for Moroz, threatening an arm triangle, nothing there. Two minutes to go.
Wood finally spins for a leg, but doesn’t manage to threaten much before Moroz retakes top position. Back to half guard with a minute to go. Moroz opens up with some heavier shots before the bell. 10-9 Moroz.
Round two: Solid right hand and body shots from Wood prompt Moroz to haul her to the fence. Good elbow and uppercut by Moroz before re-engaging. One minute in. Knees to the body from Moroz, who has double underhooks. Wood separates two minutes in and goes to work with strafing shots. Both women trading heat, hard teep by Wood. ESPN+ crashes mid-exchange, and when I reach the Fight Pass broadcast, Wood has just kicked Moroz in the groin. They trade for a bit, then tie up with two minutes to go.
They separate and trade at range. Heavy right hand by Wood. Moroz throwing a lot but getting the worst of these exchanges. There’s a nice knee from her. One minute to go. Wood denies a clinch and lands knees. Moroz 1-2, Wood check hook. Hard 1-2 by Wood, who tries to follow with a spinning back fist. Brutal left hook as they exchange, then a body kick and left hook. They slug it out until the bell. 10-9 Wood.
Round three: Heavy body kick from Moroz after both fire volleys at range. Moroz hauls her to the fence a minute in, Wood separates after eating a right hand. Wood catches a body kick and takes her down, but Moroz kicks her off and stands. Both throw combos, Moroz finds the mark with a pair of hard straight rights two minutes in. Front kick to the fence from Wood in return. Moroz with some solid shots in the clinch. 1-2. Moroz outworking her this round. Sharp jabs by Wood in center cage. Two minutes to go.
Wood answers a series of jabs with a clean right cross. Right cross by Wood in the center, then a left hook and counter jab. Wood picking her off with cleaner shots. Teep from Wood, who catches a body kick and lands another teep. One minute to go. Moroz ties up, only for Wood to knock her loopy with a spinning back fist on the break. Wood chasing her down and unloading in pursuit of the finish. Moroz manages to tie up but her legs are not there. Wood empties the tank but can’t put her away. 10-9 Wood.
Final result: Wood def. Moroz by split decision
Remember: MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 299’s entire five-fight PPV main card RIGHT HERE, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
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