We'll have live coverage of the UFC 299 main card once it begins. I will be on Wrestling Observer Radio after the show recapping the card as well as talking the news of the weekend with Dave Meltzer.
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Song Yadong Vs. Petr Yan
Yan threw a low leg kick and just kind of let it out there like a jab and Yadong landed a quick left hook. Yadong caught a leg kick attempt and took Yan down. Yan got back to his feet and went down again. Yadong had a body lock on him and Yan tried to escape, but Yadong held onto the lock. Yan had a leg at the end of the round, but couldn't take him down. Fairly easy first round for Yadong.
Yan figured out that he's just going to have to bite down on his mouth piece and strike and landed some nice body shots right at the start of the round. Yan landed some big shots, but Yadong keeps coming forward. Yadong grabbed his leg for a take down, but Yan kept his balance. Yan scored to the body. He's landing with a lead uppercut, but using it as counter shot. Yan faked an uppercut and took Yadong down. That was a great round for Yan.
Yadong slowed down which allowed Yan to defend his punches a lot better. Yadong was cut over both eyes. Yan got a takedown late that probably clinched it for him. He also teased a choke at the end of the round. It took Yan a round to figure things out, but he did just that.
Winner: Petr Yan by way of unanimous decision
The scores were 29-28 all the way around for Yan.
Jack Della Maddalena Vs.Gilbert Burns
It didn't take Burns long to get a takedown. Burns kept the body lock on him and pushed him up against the cage. Della Maddalena stayed patient and scored by peppering shots. Burns got a takedown right before the end of the round which scored him the round.
Burns got a takedown early on. Della Maddalena's striking is fluid, but Burns seems to land the bigger shots, plus he's getting takedowns. Della Maddalena was fighting the choke as the round ended as Burns had his back, but couldn't get anything going.
Della Maddalena came out more aggressive and landed two big shots off the stool. Della Maddalena countered Burns and he rocked him a bit. Burns instinctively went for the takedown, but Della Maddalena was able to stuff it. But Burns was able to get out of trouble. Della Maddalena eventually went down to a seated position. Della Maddalena was able to finally roll out and Burns went for an immediate takedown, but Della Maddalena kneed him right in the face and then the referee stopped it after elbows on the ground.
Winner: Jack Della Maddalena by way of 3rd round KO
Michael "Venom Page Vs. Kevin Holland
Page's hands are down as the fight starts. They are both long. Page landed an overhand right. Page baited him into a wild miss that if would've connected, would've been lights out. Holland doesn't see the overhand right coming. Holland tried to jab his way in and took another overhand right. Good round for MVP.
Holland was finally able to close the distance and landed a right hand that Page couldn't avoid because he hit the cage. Holland got Page down and went for a choke, but Page slipped out. After a minute of struggle, they were both back on their feet. Page landed an overhand right and then as Holland was trying to avoid it, landed a left too. Holland went down but Page didn't follow up.
Page threw a Superman punch. Holland fell back. Couldn't tell if it landed or if Holland slipped. On the replay, Holland went for a hand shake and Page landed two shots and tripped him. Page landed another big right and then scored on a trip. Holland tried to goad him to come to the ground but Page just made fun of him.
Winner: Michael "Venom" Page by way of unanimous decision
Benoit Saint Denis Vs. Dustin Poirier
Poirier tried an early guillotine but Saint Denis had an immediate answer for it. Saint Denis had Poirier up against the cage. Poirier went back to the guillotine. Saint Denis had some punishing shots with his heavy hands. Saint Denis landed elbows against the cage. Poirier is tough. Poirier again went back to the guillotine. Saint Denis got his back and Poirier had to fight the choke to end the round. He almost got an arm bar in at the bell.
Poirier landed a short right as Saint Denis was going for a takedown. Poirier went back to the guillotine to no avail and was on his back. Saint Denis got on top of his back quickly. Poirier slipped out but ate some body shots up against the cage. Poirier landed a left hook and then dropped him with a right hook and finished him on the ground. Amazing two rounds.
Winner: Dustin Poirier by way of 2nd round KO
Marlon Vera Vs. Sean O'Malley
O'Malley landed the first significant strike halfway into the first round with a straight left hand. O'Malley found his distance late in the first round with punches and kicks. Mostly a feel out round, but O'Malley closed well.
O'Malley landed a reverse spin kick to start the round. O'Malley blocked a head kick attempt and then landed one of his own. The majority of this round was O'Malley. Vera landed a left hand. But then he ate a knee that backed him and busted him up. Vera did land a clean right hand before eating another head kick and two straight rights.
Third round was a technical masterpiece for O'Malley. He changed stances, changed levels, and snuck rights and lefts in and Vera couldn't do anything about it. Nothing rocked Vera like the round prior, but this was O'Malley's best round.
It took Vera until the fourth round to finally push O'Malley back. O'Malley is having a hard time keeping him off. Vera bloodied his nose. He tired a bit and O'Malley was back in front. He weathered the storm and may have actually won the round.
O'Malley just wore Vera down in round five. There were opportunities to push the gas and take him out, but he stayed strategic and wasn't too aggressive. Vera is also tougher than nails. Vera landed a knee to the head late. They both went for it at the end.
Winner: Sean O'Malley by unanimous decision
The scores were 50-45, 50-45, and 50-44.
