UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera 2 - Odds, Predictions & Picks

• BW champ O’Malley looks to avenge his only loss with a win over Vera

• Dustin Poirier returns to action in a 5-round co-main event

• Michael “Venom” Page makes his much anticipated UFC debut

UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera

The odds for this match are provided by the DraftKings sportsbook. Click the link to place your bets.

UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera 2 - Picks & Predictions

(C) Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera - Bantamweight championship

• Our pick: Sean O’Malley (-258)

Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint Denis - Lightweight division

• Our pick: Dustin Poirier (+180)

Kevin Holland vs Michael Page - Welterweight division

• Our pick: Michael Page (+114)

Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena - Welterweight division

• Our pick: Gilbert Burns (+130)

Petr Yan vs Song Yadong - Bantamweight division

• Our pick: Song Yadong (+105)

Sean O’Malley vs Marlon Vera - Bantamweight championship

Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley has only one loss on his professional record - and it came at the hands of Marlon Vera.

O’Malley looks to kill two birds with one stone in Saturday's main event: make his first BW title defense and avenge his only professional mixed martial arts loss.

Vera, currently ranked as number-five in the division, is 5-1 in his last six fights and is coming off of a win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292. However, prior to that win he was defeated by Cory Sandhagen, meaning he is receiving a title shot after only one win and not a streak.

O’Malley won the title from Aljamain Sterling in the main event of UFC 292 last August and hasn’t lost since his 2020 performance against Vera.

Unsurprisingly the champion is the largest betting favorite on the main card at -258. But the bad blood between these two should still make for an entertaining few rounds.

To find out how to place your bets for this bantamweight championship main event, check out our ultimate UFC betting guide to get started.

Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint Denis - Lightweight division

In what will be a five-round co-main event, former interim lightweight champion and number-three ranked contender Dustin Poirier will take on the rising French star that is the number-12 ranked Benoit Saint Denis.

Poirier is looking to bounce back from his head-kick KO loss at the hands of Justin Gaethje in their BMF title fight main event that took place at UFC 291 last July. He is 4-2 in his last six fights.

Judo black belt Benoit Saint Denis hasn’t lost since his 2021 UFC debut and has now won his last five in a row, including his most recent knockout of Matt Frevola. A win over Poirier would catapult him into the lightweight title contender picture.

Saint Denis will be the slightly taller and slightly longer man in the octagon and his winning streak has led to him being listed as a -218 favorite over the UFC veteran. 

Kevin Holland vs Michael Page - Welterweight division

UFC fan favorite will be the fighter to welcome Michael Page to the octagon after the latter spent his last 10-years as a professional fighter with the Bellator promotion.

Used to being taller than a majority of his opponents, Holland will be facing a fighter the same height as him. However he will still enjoy a two-inch reach advantage.

Page, known for his unorthodox striking (similar to Anderson Silva) will be fighting for the first time in a calendar year. His most recent win was a 26-second TKO at Bellator 292.

The newcomer is listed as a +114 underdog.

Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena - Welterweight division

Former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns aims to become the first man to defeat Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC and snap his overall 16-fight winning streak.

However, Burns is coming off of a loss. After winning two straight, he was most recently soundly defeated by top contender Belal Muhammad at UFC 288 last May.

Jack Della Maddalena, who has won 16 straight with six of those wins taking place under the UFC banner, won his last fight over Kevin Holland via split decision. It’s safe to say that Gilbert Burns will be his biggest professional challenge to date.

Maddalena, who will stand one inch taller and has a two-inch edge in reach, is listed as the -155 favorite despite Burns’ third-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

Petr Yan vs Song Yadong - Bantamweight division

Kicking off this Saturday’s main card will be former bantamweight champion Petr Yan taking on the number-seven-ranked Song Yadong in a fight that was rescheduled from last December.

Yan has lost his last three in a row, with his most recent loss coming at the hands of number-one contender Merab Dvalishvili last March.

Song Yadong is 5-1 in his last six fights and has won his last two in a row over Chris Gutierrez and Ricky Simon.

Despite Yadong’s youth, he has more professional fighting experience than the former champion Yan. Yadong will also stand one-inch taller but is a slight underdog at +105.

How to Watch UFC 299: O’Malley vs Vera 2c

• Location: Kasaya Center, Miami, Florida

• When: Saturday, March 9

• Time: 10 PM EST

• How: UFC Fight Pass, PPV, ESPN+