UFC 299 is set for fireworks as Sean O’Malley will take on Marlon Vera in a highly anticipated rematch! Their previous fight at UFC 252 in 2020 saw Vera come out on top after a leg kick compromised O’Malley’s leg leading to a stoppage in the first round. Since then O’Malley has gone undefeated in the UFC and currently holds the bantamweight title that he won from Aljamain Sterling at UFC 292 last year.

The two men have been involved in a heated back-and-forth in the build-up to their fight, given their prior history. But during a recent press conference for the event, O’Malley received a shocking reception from the crowd that highlighted the fact that going into this clash, he might not have as many supporters as he may have expected!

Sean O’Malley runs into a wall of ‘Chito’ fans at UFC 299 press conference

The pre-fight press conference on Thursday saw Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera exchange heated words, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiery showdown. O’Malley was the first to take a jab at his opponent when he stated, “It’s easy to be calm when you know you’re going to knock someone the f*** out.”

This prompted Vera to respond by stating, “I’m very strong. And I’m going to take his head off.” Nevertheless, this wasn’t the only notable moment as O’Malley found himself being drowned out by the fans!

During a question, O’Malley was unable to respond as the crowd filled the venue with chants of “Chito! Chito! Chito!”, indicating their support for the challenger. As such, the video of the incident was shared on Instagram by the CosmikMMA account captioned the post, “Chito had the crowd on his side @chitoveraufc”

The video also contained the following text, “I think Sean O’Malley just realized in real-time that he’s not that guy yet when it comes to star power #ufc299”

As fight night approaches, the stage is set for an epic showdown between O’Malley and Vera, with both fighters eager to leave their mark on UFC 299. Whether O’Malley can overcome the adversity of the crowd’s support for Vera remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this rematch promises to be a spectacle filled with drama and excitement from start to finish.

Read More: UFC 299: Sean O’Malley Admits Mind Mapping Road to UFC Glory Before Dana White Mega Card

But even if the crowd may not be behind him, ‘Sugar’ has found support from a former UFC featherweight champion in this matchup between him and ‘Chito’!

 ‘The Great’ thinks O’Malley will redeem himself at UFC 299

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has made his pick for the UFC 299 clash between Marlon Vera and Sean O’Malley! Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘The Great’ broke down why he believes O’Malley has a chance to avenge his loss against ‘Chito’ in this rematch for the bantamweight title.

He stated, “I’m going to have to lean towards Sean O’Malley, I think his striking is going to be too much.”

The Australian also revealed that he believes O’Malley’s striking is high-level and underrated and that the variety in strikes and distance management gives him the edge over Vera. As for the finish, he predicted, “I think it’s going to be a finish for Sean O’Malley. It could be a submission, but I think it’s going to be a TKO…”

As fans eagerly await the outcome of this highly anticipated bout, Volkanovski’s analysis adds an extra layer of excitement to the event, highlighting the potential for a thrilling conclusion to the rematch. Do you think Sean O’Malley will be able to hold on to his title at UFC 299? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

Read More: UFC 299: Sean O’Malley’s Gameplan for Arch-Rival Exposed by UFC Hall of Famer