Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera have been a thorn in the other’s side for a long time. The former looks to even the score when he defends the UFC middleweight title against his rival at UFC 299.
The last time the two fought was in 2020. The brash O'Malley was moving up the ranks, while Vera lost a winning streak before that fight. It only took one round for Vera to win via TKO.
Since then, O'Malley has gone unbeaten and took out Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title. Vera has gone 5-2, beating contender Pedro Munhoz to earn a shot at gold. O’Malley has improved aspects of his game since the last time they fought, as has “Chito.” However, if you ask O’Malley’s coach, Vera’s last few fights did not do him any favors.
“I don’t think [he’s improved] a ton. I don’t think his confidence is going to be high,” coach Tim Welch said on The MMA Hour via Sherdog. “And the way he showed up against Cory Sandhagen, he got smoked by Cory Sandhagen. He barely got past a little, short — no diss, but — Pedro Munhoz, who’s not very fast and big, he’s a little bit older. So, I don’t think his confidence is super high.
WATCH: UFC 299: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2, exclusively on ESPN+
“But Chito’s dangerous. He is really, really good at getting beat up and then winning, which is a dangerous thing. He’s very durable; he trains hard, he’s got a good coach, and he’s dangerous. Last time we fought him, we [underestimated] him. We thought he was just slow and clunky, and then that happened. So, we’re not underestimating him this time.”
The event will also see the UFC debut of Michael “Venom” Page, as well as Dustin Poirier, Song Yadong, Rafael dos Anjos, and more.
The Sporting News will provide all you need to know about this event, from time, channel, and card.
What time is UFC 299: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2 on today?
- Time: 10 p.m. ET | 9 p.m. CT | 7 p.m. PT
The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET, with the prelims at 8 p.m. ET. The main card is at 10 p.m. ET. O'Malley and Vera should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
| Region | Date | Early Prelims Start Time | Prelims Start Time | Main Card Start Time | Main Event Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (ET) | Saturday, March 9 | 6 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. ET | 10 p.m. ET | 12:15 a.m. ET |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Saturday, March 9 | 3 p.m. PT | 5 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. PT | 9:15 p.m. PT |
| UK and Ireland | Sunday, March 10 | 11 p.m. GMT | 1 a.m. GMT | 3 a.m. GMT | 5:15 a.m. GMT |
| Australia | Sunday, March 10 | 10 a.m. AEDT | 12 p.m. AEDT | 2 p.m. AEDT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT |
MORE: Ranked: The 25 best MMA fighters under the age of 25
How to watch UFC 299: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States | Saturday, March 9 | ESPN+, ESPN PPV |
| Canada | Saturday, March 9 | BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sunday, March 10 | TNT Sports, TNT Sports Box Office |
| Australia | Sunday, March 10 | Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass |
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UFC 299: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2 PPV price
In the U.S., the UFC 299 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 299 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $134.98 for the UFC 299 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.
In the UK, the main card is on TNT Sports Box Office and will cost £19.99.
WATCH: UFC 299: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera 2, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $10.99/mo |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $109.99/yr |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $14.99/mo |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $24.99/mo |
| UFC PPV Standalone | $79.99 each |
| UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) | $134.98, then $109.99/year |
| UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle |
$79.99, then $14.99/mo |
Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.
UFC 299 fight card
Main Card
- Sean O'Malley (c) vs. Marlon Vera 2 for the UFC bantamweight title
- Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint Denis; Lightweights
- Kevin Holland vs. Michael Page; Welterweights
- Gilbert Burns vs. Jack Della Maddalena; Welterweights
- Petr Yan vs. Song Yadong; Bantamweights
Prelims
- Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida; Heavyweights
- Katlyn Chookagian vs. Maycee Barber; Flyweights
- Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Lightweights
- Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips; Bantamweights
Early Prelims
- Michel Pereira vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk; Middleweights
- Robelis Despaigne vs. Josh Parisian; Heayweights
- C.J. Vergara vs. Assu Almabayev; Flyweights
- Joanne Wood vs. Maryna Moroz; Flyweights