UFC 299 had been billed as one of the biggest cards of the year, stacked from top to bottom with talent, and it certainly lived up to the hype.
In the main event, Sean O'Malley successfully defended his UFC Bantamweight title against Marlon 'Chito' Vera with a unanimous decision win - even the score with the only man who has beaten him as a professional.
'Suga' took control of the fight from the first bell and made sure the fight was caught at his pace and to suit his style. Both men were clearly using the round to try and make as many reads as possible but O'Malley made sure he done enough to take the first round.
Vera's toughness has played a pivotal role in his career thus far and really needed to call upon it in the second round as O'Malley picked his strikes at will and really put the pressure on the challenger.
O'Malley piled the pressure on again in round 3, with Chito rallying late and finding the most success he'd had in the bout until that point- but it still wasn't enough to take the round from the champion.
Growing into the contest, the fourth round between the two proved to be the closest with several back and forth exchanges but again O'Malley managed the five minutes better and took the round.
It was apparent to everyone that Vera needed a finish in the fifth but instead, it was the champion who piled the pressure on, once more, and cemented his win.
The score cards read 50-45, 50-45, 50-44.
Dustin Poirier proved he deserves to still be at the top of the Lightweight division, with a brutal knock out win against the hard hitting and always dangerous Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event.
It was widely perceived that 'The Diamond' was taking a huge risk taking on the surging Frenchman. For a contest scheduled for five rounds, the pace in which the two started proceedings suggested neither man was planning on seeing the final bell.
The first round witnessed the pair bring big strikes and heavy pressure to the octagon. Clearly looking to take the contest to the ground, Saint Denis had a few take down attempts throughout the first round but Poirier largely managed to negate the attempts or ensure, if he was taken to the floor, there was little to no damage inflicted.
Half way through round two, Poirier tagged Saint Denis with a left hand straight down the pipe, which sent the 'God Of War' stumbling. Sensing the end could be near, Poirier cranked up the intensity and when ditching a guillotine attempt, he landed a huge right hand on the chin of Saint Denis and sent him crashing to the mat before a violent right hand cemented the win.
Michael 'Vemon' Page went the distance for only the sixth time in his career, with a unanimous decision win, in his promotional debut against Kevin Holland.
MVP's pace proved to be a huge factor in the contest, with Holland admitting to his corner between round one and two that the Brit was a lot quicker than Holland and his team thought.
The point fighting style MVP brings to every contest was clear from the outset and he comfortably took round 1. Holland found a lot more success in the second round and ultimately edged it on all three judges score cards. With it all to play for going into the third round, MVP was visibly frustrating Holland with his hit hard and be hard to hit game plan and MVP took the third round.
The Jack Della Maddalena hype train continued, with a vicious third round finish against Gilbert Burns.
Entering the third round likely two down, Della Maddalena's team made it clear to their fighter that he needed to set up the pressure and the pace in order to try and resurrect a victory. After escaping from a hold, the Australian met Burns with a monster knee which he then followed up with a barrage of elbows before the referee had seen enough.
Elsewhere on the card, there were notable wins for Petr Yan, Curtis Blaydes, Mateusz Gamrot and Michael Pereira.
Watch Sean O'Malley's post fight interview below:
