Marlon Vera, fresh off a one-sided loss to bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 in March, is eyeing a showdown with Petr Yan by the end of the year. Vera, with a record of 21-9-1 MMA and 15-8 UFC, sees this fight as an opportunity to reclaim his status as a title contender. Yan, who broke a three-fight losing streak by defeating Song Yadong on the same night, holds a record of 17-5 MMA and 9-4 UFC.
Vera, also known as “Chito,” envisions a November matchup at Madison Square Garden against Yan, a former champion. He believes this fight would be compelling for fans and the UFC, positioning the winner as a strong candidate for a title shot. Vera expressed his eagerness for the fight, emphasizing the stakes involved and his determination to give his all in the octagon.
According to Vera, Yan had previously declined two opportunities to fight him. Despite Yan’s recent willingness to face him, Vera reminded him of his past refusals. Yan responded with a stern warning, suggesting that if they had fought earlier, Vera wouldn’t have reached a title shot. He hinted at the inevitability of their eventual confrontation, indicating that Vera’s “whooping” was imminent.
Yan’s response sparked a verbal exchange between the two fighters on social media. Yan dismissed Vera’s claims, implying that Vera is an easy opponent and insinuating that Vera’s accusations of refusal were false.
Vera, however, remained defiant, asserting that Yan had indeed declined to fight him before. Their back-and-forth banter added fuel to the anticipation surrounding a potential clash between the two skilled bantamweights.
As the rivalry between Marlon Vera and Petr Yan heats up, MMA fans eagerly await confirmation of their anticipated matchup. With both fighters determined to prove themselves in the octagon, their rivalry promises to deliver an electrifying showdown with significant implications for the bantamweight division.
