Sean O'Malley Beats Marlon Vera by Decision to Retain Bantamweight Title at UFC 299

The Suga Show got renewed for another season atop the bantamweight division with Sean O'Malley beating Marlon "Chito" Vera by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 299 from the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.

O'Malley got off to a calculated start in the first round. The first fight between the two didn't get past the first five minutes, but O'Malley controlled the fight with a measured effort in the first frame this time around.

Suga started opening things up in the second round. A flush knee and several one-two combinations highlighted his efforts in the round. O'Malley's speed advantage was obvious and Vera struggled to fire back before his opponent left range.

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Three rounds in it became clear the challenger was going to need a knockout to win the fight. O'Malley dominated the first three rounds of the bout and banked a lead on the scorecards going into the championship rounds.

Vera did show signs of life in the fourth round. A more aggressive challenger threw and landed some combinations and made sure he was the first one to fire in the exchanges. Still, O'Malley wound up having a lot success in the round too.

Ultimately, Vera was able to avoid getting finished in the fifth round and showcased the durability he's come to be known for. However, the night was about O'Malley's dominance and ability to win the fight through five rounds.

The win not only gives O'Malley his first successful title defense but avenges the only loss of his career. Vera beat O'Malley with a first-round TKO just five fights into the champion's UFC career.

The loss only temporarily derailed his hype train. O'Malley's flashy striking and loud personality have always drawn attention. Now his skills have taken him to the top of the division.

O'Malley is showcasing the skills that could keep him at the top for a while. Watching him beat the only man who has beat him thus far shows the growth he's experienced in his game. The bantamweight division has multiple worthy challengers, though.

One to keep an eye on in the near future is Merab Dvalishvili. The 33-year-old has put together a 10-fight win streak and he was on hand as the backup fighter for the main event on Saturday.

He most recently beat Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision, recovering from some early struggles to dominate the rest of the fight. O'Malley recently gave him props for the effort.

"He had a great performance too," O'Malley said of Dvalishvili's win, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN. "Henry didn't look great by any means, but Merab did what he does. He almost gets knocked out and then wins. It was impressive. Very well could be next. I like having my options open. He could be [next.]"

Cory Sandhagen could make some sense too. He is on a three-fight win streak with a win over Vera and Rob Font but hasn't fought since tearing his tricep in the bout against Font in August.