All that was missing for Sean O'Malley was a finish.
“Suga” put on a masterclass in the UFC 299 headliner, outstriking Marlon Vera over the course of five rounds for a clear-cut unanimous decision triumph at Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday night. Not only did O’Malley successfully defend his 135-pound belt for the first time, but he avenged the lone setback of his career. As for Vera, his toughness is undeniable: The Ecuadorean has yet to be stopped in 33 professional outings.
Here is a by-the-numbers look at UFC 299, with statistics courtesy of UFCStats.