Marlon Vera
Chito
Ecuador
Losing streak hits four
Vera lost to David Martinez via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
Vera has been doing this an awful long time. Surely he has to realize by now these slow starts, especially in three-round fights, are killing him. Marlon found himself on the short end of a 19-5 mark in terms of Round 1 significant strikes. He improved slightly as the fight progressed and was severely aided by Martinez gassing out. Vera was looking great by the end of Round 3 and probably would have been live to come back and pull the upset if this was a five-round main event, but as is, he dropped another decision. Vera is somehow still just 33 years old but he's lost four in a row, five of six, and has just a single win dating back to August 2022. There's no clear answer as to what comes next here.
Vera has been doing this an awful long time. Surely he has to realize by now these slow starts, especially in three-round fights, are killing him. Marlon found himself on the short end of a 19-5 mark in terms of Round 1 significant strikes. He improved slightly as the fight progressed and was severely aided by Martinez gassing out. Vera was looking great by the end of Round 3 and probably would have been live to come back and pull the upset if this was a five-round main event, but as is, he dropped another decision. Vera is somehow still just 33 years old but he's lost four in a row, five of six, and has just a single win dating back to August 2022. There's no clear answer as to what comes next here.
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Looks to end losing streak
Vera is scheduled to compete against David Martinez in a bantamweight fight at UFC Mexico on Feb. 28, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Vera, currently on a three-fight losing streak, will look to get back on track. In 2025, he fought only once and lost to Aiemann Zahabi via split decision. Vera, currently No. 8 in the UFC's bantamweight rankings, will look to remain part of their top 10 by defeating No. 10 Martinez.
Vera, currently on a three-fight losing streak, will look to get back on track. In 2025, he fought only once and lost to Aiemann Zahabi via split decision. Vera, currently No. 8 in the UFC's bantamweight rankings, will look to remain part of their top 10 by defeating No. 10 Martinez.
Losing streak hits three
Vera lost to Aiemann Zahabi via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Vancouver
ANALYSIS
Vera will be 33 years of age in early-December, and his days of impacting the title picture at 135 pounds had come and gone regardless of this result, but it still felt like a fight he had to have in order to remain relevant at all in a loaded division. A Vera Round 2 knockdown on a jab was the biggest moment of the fight, but the vast majority of the rest of the notable blows came from the Zahabi side. Vera closed on the short end of a 81-56 count in significant strikes landed. Marlon has lost three straight and four of five dating back to March 2023. A release would appear unlikely given he's been with the company since November 2014, but stranger things have happened.
Vera will be 33 years of age in early-December, and his days of impacting the title picture at 135 pounds had come and gone regardless of this result, but it still felt like a fight he had to have in order to remain relevant at all in a loaded division. A Vera Round 2 knockdown on a jab was the biggest moment of the fight, but the vast majority of the rest of the notable blows came from the Zahabi side. Vera closed on the short end of a 81-56 count in significant strikes landed. Marlon has lost three straight and four of five dating back to March 2023. A release would appear unlikely given he's been with the company since November 2014, but stranger things have happened.
Fighting Zahabi in October
Vera will fight Aiemann Zahabi at UFC Vancouver on Oct. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Vera will be back in the octagon in October after having to pull out of his fight versus Mario Bautista that was supposed to take place in June. Vera has not won a fight since August 2023 so will be desperate for a win over Zahabi. The two fighters are the same height but Vera owns a one-inch reach over his competitor.
Vera will be back in the octagon in October after having to pull out of his fight versus Mario Bautista that was supposed to take place in June. Vera has not won a fight since August 2023 so will be desperate for a win over Zahabi. The two fighters are the same height but Vera owns a one-inch reach over his competitor.
Out for UFC 316
Vera (undisclosed) will not fight Mario Bautista at UFC 316 in Newark on June 7, according to Mike Heck of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
Vera and Bautista were scheduled to fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3. Their bout got pushed back to a month down the line for the promotion's annual Newark pay-per-view. Regardless of the schedule change, it appears Vera cannot make it by June, leaving Bautista needing to find an opponent before then if he wants another fight under his belt.
Vera and Bautista were scheduled to fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3. Their bout got pushed back to a month down the line for the promotion's annual Newark pay-per-view. Regardless of the schedule change, it appears Vera cannot make it by June, leaving Bautista needing to find an opponent before then if he wants another fight under his belt.
Next fight scheduled
Vera will face Mario Bautista in a bantamweight fight at UFC Des Moines on May 3, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Vera is coming off a tough loss against Deiveson Figueiredo during UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. The 31-year old fighter is having a tough run as of late, indicating his best years are behind him and will look to bounce back on the win column with another challenging bout with Mario Bautista, who is on a heater with seven straight victories dating back to February 2022.
Vera is coming off a tough loss against Deiveson Figueiredo during UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. The 31-year old fighter is having a tough run as of late, indicating his best years are behind him and will look to bounce back on the win column with another challenging bout with Mario Bautista, who is on a heater with seven straight victories dating back to February 2022.