Saturday’s defeat to Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 wasn’t the sole misfortune Marlon Vera faced this week. Apart from the loss in the octagon, he also encountered a burglary at his home while he was in Miami for the fight.
TMZ Sports reported that Vera’s residence was broken into during his absence, adding another layer of distress to his already challenging week. In an Instagram post, Vera shared an image of his damaged front door along with a message expressing his frustration, vowing to track down the perpetrator.
Andrew Richardson of MMA Mania highlighted Vera’s online message addressing the incident. In it, Vera acknowledged the robbery and the emotional toll it took, emphasizing the effort and dedication that went into acquiring the possessions that were stolen. Despite the setback, Vera maintained a positive outlook, indicating his determination to overcome the adversity.
The revelation of the burglary compounded Vera’s disappointment following his loss to O’Malley. In the main event of UFC 299 held at the Kaseya Center in Miami, O’Malley dominated the bout, securing a unanimous decision victory.
O’Malley’s speed and control in the initial rounds established his superiority, leaving Vera with little opportunity to turn the tide in his favor. Despite displaying increased aggression as the fight progressed, Vera failed to land the knockout blow needed to secure a win, allowing O’Malley to claim a decisive victory.
For O’Malley, the win marked a measure of redemption, avenging his only previous UFC defeat, which came at the hands of Vera in August 2020.