The highly anticipated rematch between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera is set to take place at UFC 299 on March 9. The fighters previously clashed at UFC 252, where ‘Chito’ secured a TKO victory over O’Malley, marking the latter’s only career defeat. Vera strategically targeted O’Malley’s peroneal nerve with a calf kick, causing him to lose sensation in his foot and ultimately leading to a TKO finish.
Despite the setback, O’Malley has consistently labeled the loss as a “fluke.” His coach, Tim Welch, echoed this sentiment during a recent interview with James Lynch, confidently predicting O’Malley’s success in the upcoming rematch.
Welch emphasized O’Malley’s speed advantage in the larger cage and mentioned the option of taking the fight to the ground, leveraging the expertise of Tanquinho Mendes, an ADCC champion and renowned half-guard specialist.
In the interview, Welch stated, “I just don’t see ‘Chito’ being able to catch him… If we decide to take him down and get on top in half-guard, we have Tanquinho Mendes, who is one of the best half-guard guys on top.” While planning for an intense battle, Welch anticipates O’Malley securing a knockout victory.
The headlining bout of UFC 299 will feature a bantamweight title clash between O’Malley and Vera. Both fighters are known for their striking prowess, and the contest is expected to unfold predominantly on the feet.
Cory Sandhagen, a prominent bantamweight striker, shared insights on the matchup, foreseeing a challenging fight for the champion. Sandhagen highlighted Vera’s defensive skills and expressed skepticism about O’Malley capitalizing on mistakes, stating, “[O’Malley] needs you to make a mistake in order for him to capitalize on it… But ‘Chito’ doesn’t do any of those things.”
As the MMA community eagerly awaits UFC 299, the narratives surrounding O’Malley’s redemption and Vera’s defensive prowess add layers of anticipation to this bantamweight showdown.
