Sean O'Malley puts on show, routs Marlon Vera at UFC 299 - ESPN

MIAMI — Sean O'Malley's only career loss came against Marlon «Chito» Vera. And now, he has avenged it, cementing himself as the UFC's next big star in the process.

In a stylish striking performance, befitting someone who wore blue and pink cornrows and custom pink fight shorts, O'Malley defeated Vera via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44) in the main event of UFC 299 on Saturday night. With the victory, O'Malley picked up his first successful defense of the UFC bantamweight title.

O'Malley's combinations and footwork shined for most of the fight. He landed sniper-like left hands and hard right crosses. A right knee up the middle from O'Malley hurt Vera badly in the second round, opening up a cut below Vera's right eye. In the third, O'Malley sent Vera to a knee with a right hand.

«I felt something in his face break,» O'Malley said of the knee. «I don't know if it was his nose or cheek. I felt something snap.»

Vera was transported to the hospital after Saturday's fight for precautionary reasons due to possible head and facial injuries, according to the UFC.

O'Malley landed 230 significant strikes, the third-most ever in a UFC title fight and the most in a UFC bantamweight title fight, according to ESPN Stats and Information research. Vera landed 89 significant strikes.

The rugged Vera, who is tied with heavyweight champion Jon Jones for the most fights in UFC history without being finished (23), had moments in the fourth and fifth rounds, showing his cardio and durability. But O'Malley still won every round on the scorecards.

«He put on a clinic, and I don't know if anybody can finish 'Chito' Vera,» UFC CEO Dana White said in the postfight news conference. «The guy has a chin like nothing I've ever seen.»

O'Malley