UFC 299 Backup Fighter Revealed for Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera Title Fight

"The Machine" is headed to Miami for UFC 299.

One of the UFC’s top bantamweight contenders will make a quick turnaround to weigh in as the backup fighter for the UFC 299 main event.

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Set to take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, FL, UFC 299 is one of the promotion’s most stacked fight cards in recent memory and features a rematch between bantamweight titleholder Sean O’Malley and Marlon “Chito” Vera as the headlining bout.

Both bantamweights are eager to settle things in the cage after Vera handed O’Malley the only loss of his career at UFC 252, but just in case one of them is unable to compete, Merab Dvalishili is set to weigh in as the matchup's official backup fighter (first reported by Shakiel Mahjouri).

Dvalishvili is on one of the most impressive win streaks in the UFC.  :: (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)

The UFC’s #1-ranked bantamweight contender, Dvalishvili brought his incredible win streak to 10 fights when he took a unanimous decision over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC 298 last month.

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O’Malley recently admitted that Dvalishvili or #3-ranked Cory Sandhagen may have received a bantamweight title shot if he hadn’t insisted on the Vera rematch, and maybe “Suga” will get the chance to reclaim the red jacket that Dvalishvili snagged at UFC 288 when the two fighters are both in Miami.

Merab put on O'Malley's jacket 😭 #UFC288 pic.twitter.com/1dH5inwJWz

— UFC (@ufc) May 7, 2023

Fans are still expecting to see Vera and O’Malley make the walk to the cage at UFC 299, but even if “The Machine” doesn’t need to step in as the backup Dvalishvili should be next in line to take on the winner of that highly-anticipated rematch.

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