UFC 299 Preview

Early Prelims

Joanne Wood vs Maryna Moroz (UFC Women's Flyweight Bout) - Wood only had one fight in 2023 but it was worth it as she redeemed her three-fight losing streak with a split decision win over Luana Carolina at UFC 286. The Scottish fighter has fought in the organisation since December 2014 and has been involved in 16 fights, winning half of those. With an opportunity to begin a winning streak, JoJo will aim to kick off the event with a bang and get revenge on Maryna Moroz from their previous fight back in April 2015.

Moroz last fought at UFC 292 where she became a victim of revenge against Karine Silva after losing by first-round submission which is how Moroz won in the first bout back in November 2014. The Ukrainian was last victorious at UFC 272 when she claimed her sixth submission victory. The Iron Lady fought Joanna Wood on her UFC debut, winning by first-round submission as she will look to make a repeat of it and redeem herself in Miami.

CJ Vergara vs Assu Almabayev (UFC Flyweight Bout) - Vergara last fought at UFC 291 where he earned an unanimous decision win over Vinicius Salvador, beginning a win streak. Despite having only one knockout win in the UFC, CJ has always preferred to stop a fight by KO/TKO has he has earned seven of those from his 12 victories. A win in Florida could give Vergara a chance to enter the Flyweight rankings depending on how the fight ends.

Almabayev is currently on a 14-fight winning streak as his last fight became a significant one, defeating Ode' Osbourne by second-round submission on his UFC debut. Out of the 18 wins on his MMA record, the Kazakhstan fighter has finished 12 of his opponents as three have suffered a knockout and nine have submitted to Almabayev. Zulfikar is looking to continue his winning streak and make a good impression in the UFC as the Flyweight division will be on notice.

Robelis Despaigne vs Josh Parisian (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Despaigne makes his UFC debut and is becoming an exciting prospect in MMA after earning three quick first-round knockouts at Fury FC including a KO in three seconds and another in four seconds. The London 2012 Olympic Taekwondo Bronze Medalist is looking like the top knockout artist in the sport as he may add another quick KO win to make the crowd go wild in Florida.

Parisian was last victorious in June 2022, defeating Alan Baudot by second-round TKO at UFC Vegas 57. Since then, he has lost twice in 2023 with an unanimous decision loss against Jamal Pogues at UFC Vegas 69 and a first-round submission loss against Martin Buday at UFC Vegas 78. The Martinsburg-born fighter is aiming for redemption in Miami as he looks to get back in the win column.

Michel Perreira vs Michal Oleksiejczuk (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Pereira is currently on a six-fight winning streak with his last victory coming against Andre Petroski by first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 81. Despite only having three stoppage wins in the UFC, Demolidor has finished 18 opponents with 11 KO/TKO wins and seven submission victories. Pereira may just get the opportunity to enter the Middleweight rankings if he does triumph at UFC 299.

Oleksiejczuk got back to winning ways at UFC Singapore when he defeated Chidi Njokuani by first-round TKO. Hussar has proven to be a knockout artist in MMA, winning 14 fights by KO out of the 19 victories he has on his record. The Polish fighter has the chance to start a winning streak and possibly have the contention to fight for a place in the Middleweight rankings.

Ion Cutelaba vs Philipe Lins (UFC Light Heavyweight Bout) - Cutelaba ended a three-fight losing streak at UFC Kansas City when he defeated Tanner Boser by first-round TKO, making it his 13th career knockout win. The Hulk has faced numerous contenders in the UFC; including the likes of Johnny Walker, Ryan Spann and Magomed Ankalaev, despite being unsuccessful against them. The Moldavian fighter has the opportunity to begin a winning streak and continue with the organisation.

Lins had a tough start into the UFC when he lost his first tow bouts in 2020, however, he has turned the tables with a three-fight winning streak as his last fight ended with an unanimous decision triumph over Maxim Grishin at UFC Vegas 74. despite only having one finish in the UFC, Monstro has stopped 13 of his opponents in his MMA career which include nine knockout wins and four submission victories. The Brazilian fighter could possibly be in contention for a spot in the Light Heavyweight rankings if he extends his winning streak to four.

Preliminary Card

Pedro Munhoz vs Kyler Phillips (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Munhoz currently holds the record for the most fights in the UFC Bantamweight division with a total of 20. The Young Punisher had two fights in 2023, defeating Chris Gutierrez at UFC Kansas City before losing to UFC 299 headliner, Marlon Vera, at UFC 292. Despite losing eight fights in his MMA career, Munhoz has never been stopped as he will look to maintain his #12 contender's spot in the Bantamweight rankings.

Phillips has had quite the successful run in the UFC as after having six fights with the organisation, the Californian-born fighter has won five. His most recent victory occurred at UFC Nashville, defeating Raoni Barcelos by unanimous decision. Like Pedro Munhoz, Kyler Phillips has not been stopped in his MMA career as he will look to show an impressive performance to the Miami fans and possibly become a contender in the Bantamweight division.

Mateusz Gamrot vs Rafael Dos Anjos (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Gamrot became very successful in 2023 when he defeated Jalin Turner at UFC 285 and Rafael Fiziev at UFC Vegas 79, moving up the Lightweight rankings to #6. Gamer's two losses have only come in the UFC but despite that he has never been stopped in his MMA career. With eight KO/TKO and five submissions wins, Gamrot could add another stoppage win on his MMA record and potentially have a future title shot with UFC Lightweight Champion, Islam Makhachev.

Dos Anjos last fought at UFC Vegas 78 when he lost to #10 Welterweight contender, Vicente Luque, by unanimous decision. The former UFC Lightweight Champion has not had a lot of success in the Welterweight division and is looking to return to the Lightweight division as he holds 15 wins out of 23 fights in that weight class for the organisation. With the chance to boost up the Lightweight rankings, the #11 contender could be close to having a title fight for the first time since July 2016.

Katlyn Cerminara vs Maycee Barber (UFC Women's Flyweight Bout) - Katlyn Cerminara, formerly known as Katlyn Chookagian, has not fought since UFC 280 when she lost by unanimous decision to Manon Fiorot and stopping her four-fight winning streak. With 11 victories in the UFC, the Blonde Fighter has stopped any of her opponents in the promotion as she only has two KO/TKO wins and one submission triumph. The #4 Flyweight contender will aim to stay near the top of the division before getting a second chance for UFC Gold.

Barber is the current #6 Flyweight contender and has been on a roll with a five-fight winning streak as her last fight ended by second-round TKO against Amanda Ribas at UFC Jacksonville. The Future has been seen as a huge prospect in the Women's Flyweight division as not only has she not been stopped in her MMA career, but she has finished eight of her 13 opponents. Barber has a significant opportunity to rise up the Flyweight rankings and could have contention for a title shot.

Curtis Blaydes vs Jailton Almeida (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Blaydes had his three-right winning streak come to an end in his last fight, losing to Sergei Pavlovich by first-round TKO at UFC Vegas 71. The #5 Heavyweight contender has lost all four fights by knockout but has 12 KO/TKO victories in his career which has put him in such a high position in the promotion. Blaydes was originally meant to fight Jailton Almeida at UFC Sao Paulo but had to pull out due to injury as he gets a second opportunity to show the Brazilian what he is made of.

Almeida is on a 15-fight win streak in his MMA career, proving to be the exciting prospect and possible future champion. Malhadinho's most recent fight ended with a first-ever decision win when he defeated Derrick Lewis at UFC Sao Paulo. With 12 submission wins and seven knockout triumphs, The Salvador-born fighter is currently the #7 Heavyweight contender and with a chance to rise up the rankings, he could have the chance to be involved in a title eliminating fight as he gets to an important stage of his career.

Main Card

Petr Yan vs Song Yadong (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Yan has not been on a great run in the UFC, losing his last three fights by decision with his latest defeat coming against the next possible title challenger, Merab Dvalishvili. The former UFC Bantamweight Champion may have lost five times in his career but has never been stopped and has always preferred to finish fights with a knockout as he has seven over 16 wins. The Russian fighter needs redemption in Miami so he can stay near the top of the rankings in order to have a possible second opportunity for UFC Gold.

Yadong had a great year in 2023 after winning his two fights, one by fifth-round TKO against Ricky Simon at UFC Vegas 72 and an unanimous decision over Chris Gutierrez at UFC Vegas 83. Like Petr Yan, the Kung Fu Kid loves a knockout win as he has earned nine KO/TKO victories in his MMA career. If the Chinese fighter triumphs at UFC 299, he will have won the biggest fight of his career and potentially be one step closer to a title shot.

Gilbert Burns vs Jack Della Maddalena (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Burns was very active last year when fought three times in the space of five months, earning a submission win over Neil Magny at UFC 283, an unanimous decision win against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 287 and an unanimous decision loss against Belal Muhammad at UFC 288. Durinho is currently the #4 Welterweight contender and with a win at the Kaseya Center, he could be up for a title shot or a title eliminator fight.

Maddalena's only two losses came in his first two MMA fights as since then, he has never lost. The Australian was victorious three times last year with split decision wins over Kevin Holland and Bassil Hafez plus a first-round submission win against Randy Brown at UFC 284. With 11 KO/TKO wins out of the 16 victories Maddalena has earned, he is proving to be a real knockout artist and could get another one to rise up the Welterweight rankings.

Kevin Holland vs Michael Page (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Holland has been one of the most active fighters in this generation of the UFC as he fought three times in 2023, losing by a split decision to jack Maddalena at Noche UFC but, picking up a first-round submission win against Michael Chiesa at UFC 291 and earning a third-round knockout win against Santiago Ponzinibbio at UFC 287. Trailblazer has stopped 21 opponents out of the 25 victories he has in his MMA career, proving to be an exciting fighter to watch as he will look to put on a show in Florida.

Michael 'Venom' Page has been seen as one of Bellator's most dangerous fighters in the Welterweight division, earning 11 knockout wins in the promotion which is tied for most KO/TKO wins in Bellator history. The English fighter last fought in May 2023, defeating Goiti Yamauchi in just 26 seconds of the first round at Bellator 292. Making his UFC debut in Miami, Page will aim to make a good first impression and enter the Welterweight rankings in his first fight for the promotion.

Dustin Poirier vs Benoit Saint-Denis (UFC Lightweight Bout) - Poirier suffered an unfortunate loss in his last bout when he got knocked out with a head kick in the second round against Justin Gaethje at UFC 291. The Diamond has been fighting in the UFC since 2011, earning the seventh most wins and the fifth most finishes in the promotion's history. The former Interim UFC Champion has experienced plenty of different fights in the UFC and will look to maintain his #3 Lightweight ranking against an exciting prospect.

Saint Denis has been on a path of destruction and has rightfully earned a place in the Lightweight rankings after a submission win and two knockout wins in 2023. His last fight ended in spectacular fashion, defeating Matt Frevola with a head kick in the first round at UFC 295. The God of War has stopped every opponent he has triumphed over, earning nine KO/TKO wins and four submission victories as he will look to boost up the rankings and maintain his 100% finish rate against a UFC veteran.

Sean O'Malley vs Marlon Vera (UFC Bantamweight Title Bout) - O'Malley had the greatest fight of his life when he defeated Aljamain Sterling by second-round TKO to become UFC Bantamweight Champion at UFC 292. Suga Sean has always been a dangerous opponent in the Bantamweight division, knocking out 12 of the 17 fighters he has triumphed over. His only loss of his career happened against Marlon Vera when he lost by first-round TKO as he will look to avenge his only loss and make a first successful title defence at UFC 299.

Marlon 'Chito' Vera had a very mixed 2023 as he did lose to Cory Sandhagen at UFC San Antonio by decision but later redeemed himself at UFC 292 when he defeated Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision. The Ecuadorian is a threat by both knockout and submission as out of the 23 victories that Chito has earned, 10 of his opponents have submitted to him whilst eight have suffered a knockout. Marlon has the biggest opportunity of his life to not only become UFC champion but to become the first Ecuador-born fighter to win UFC Gold.