UFC 299 is one of UFC’s biggest events this year. It takes place in Miami on Saturday with a bantamweight main card and a stacked undercard.
The UFC pulled out all the stops in building this event, which is clear once you realize that the always entertaining “Demolidor,” Michel Pereira, has been relegated to the Fight Pass prelims. Joanne Wood’s retirement fight, against Maryna Moroz, was also a rematch. The first fight of the evening, that one’s a rematch, much like the night’s final showdown, the return engagement between 135lb champ Sean O’Malley and Marlon “Chito” Vera.
Those upset over O’Malley supposedly hand-picking the opponent for his first title defense (Vera is the lone loss on O’Malley’s record, a TKO that came following the “Suga Show” fighter injuring his leg) were drowned out during Fight Week by ardent Vera supporters. It was such a large turnout for the Ecuadorian that he had to attend not one but two media sessions. One in English and the other in Spanish. On Thursday, the Chito Vera fan club was in full force as well at the Kaseya Center.
