UFC rising star O'Malley gets revenge on Vera for his only career loss to date

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rising star Sean O'Malley of the U.S. beat Marlon Vera of Ecuador by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44) in the main event of UFC 299 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on March 9.

Via this victory, O'Malley got his revenge for the only loss of his career so far on Vera and defended the bantamweight belt for the first time.

"I felt something in his face break," O'Malley said. "I don't know if it was his nose or cheek. I felt something snap."

According to ESPN, O'Malley landed 230 significant strikes against Vera in five rounds, the third most in one single title bout in UFC history and the most in any bantamweight title fight. He had a right knee up the middle that left a cut below Vera's right eye in the second round. Then, in the third round, O'Malley beat his opponent to the knee with a right hand.

By contrast, Vera only landed 89 significant strikes against O'Malley. "I'll be back," he said. "I'll be champion one day."

"He put on a clinic, and I don't know if anybody can finish Chito Vera," UFC CEO Dana White said after the fight. "The guy has a chin like nothing I've ever seen."

UFC 299 generated ticket sales of $14.14 million, which was already the fourth-highest in promotion history. White couldn't stop praising O'Malley, who won the main event this time.

"He's on his way," White said. "He's the biggest star ever in bantamweight history. We can say that right now."

Despite the win, O'Malley was still unhappy about not knocking Vera out. "Something about not getting the finish just doesn't sit right with me," he said.

However, he is still in high spirits to challenge other top opponents. "If you guys want me to knock out Merab [Dvalishvili.], I'll do that too," he added.