Sean O’Malley had hoped for a finish at UFC 299, but he can’t be too disappointed given the masterclass he put on for five rounds, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Chito Vera. We reflected on the whole fight and the entire UFC 299 card on this week’s MMASucka podcast:
O’Malley was taken aback by Vera’s resilience, enduring a barrage of punishment that included one of the most brutal knee strikes in UFC history. With just over a minute left in the second round, O’Malley unleashed a knee just as Vera ducked, the impact echoing like a baseball being blasted out of Yankee Stadium by Aaron Judge.
Replays confirmed the devastating connection of O’Malley’s knee, yet somehow Vera absorbed the blow and pressed forward. In that moment, O’Malley confessed feeling a sickening sensation as his knee connected with Chito Vera‘s face.
On the latest edition of The MMA Hour O’Malley said:
“I would love know if I broke something in his face with that knee. It was the loudest pop I’ve ever heard hitting someone. It was actually a disgusting feeling. It was gross. I would love to see a picture of his face today.”
Vera shared a statement on social media but has refrained from sharing any post-fight images, his face already marked with swelling, cuts, and bruises from O’Malley’s onslaught.
Despite the discomfort of hearing his knee collide with Vera’s head, O’Malley recognizes it as part of the job, an inherent risk of competing in the UFC.
“Leading up, I was just so excited to get my hands on him, to beat his ass. It’s a weird thing. Then you hear someone like Dustin Poirier talking about how bad he was feeling, [how] down in the dumps he was, from after that Justin Gaethje fight. I’m sure Chito’s dealing with some s*** right now; I doubt he would disagree. I’m sure he’s not having a great time.
“So there’s a part of me that feels bad for him, and I obviously caused that, but it’s the fight game.”
Contrary to the fight’s narrative of seeking vengeance for his sole career loss, O’Malley revealed that wasn’t his primary motivation heading into the rematch.
“No one in the world looks at that as a win [for ‘Chito’]. They officially overturned it, The ‘Suga’ State Athletic Commission, legally overturned it. If anyone looks at that as a win, they’re delusional.
“I’ve never lost and felt like I lost where it was depressing. That first fight I fought Chito, and that happened the way it happened, it was a fluke in my mind. I knew I was better than him. I knew I was. I just knew eventually someday I’d prove it. So I never let that fight bother me ever. I obviously had to go out there and prove it. 50-44 at one point from one of the judges.”
While O’Malley certainly proved his point with a dominant win over Vera, he still believes there’s more to be done to earn respect from his peers.
Critics have scrutinized O’Malley’s title victory, suggesting he needs to face more formidable opponents to solidify his championship status, a sentiment he begrudgingly agrees with.
“I think we could all agree Chito got gifted that title shot. I asked for it. I believe I deserved to be able to ask for it after performing and doing what I did against Aljo. So I asked for the Chito fight, I got the Chito fight, but he got gifted that.
“I think I’ve still got to go out there and prove to the haters and the doubters, that I can beat someone like Merab [Dvalishvili] or Ilia [Topuria] or Cory [Sandhagen], or whoever’s next.”
