Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera believes he’ll get his hands on UFC gold… eventually.
We last saw the promotional veteran in the main event of UFC 299, where he rematched old rival Sean O’Malley. This marked Vera’s first title fight after 22 fights in the Octagon. Unfortunately for the Ecuadorian, it wasn’t his night in Miami as O’Malley put on a masterful performance to retain his title by unanimous decision.
Vera Reflects On What Happened At UFC 299
It wasn’t as Vera pictured, as the father of three planned on sharing the special crowning moment with his family, one that would see his daughter Ana Paula wear the championship belt. Vera’s daughter was born with a rare neurological condition called Moebius syndrome.
“Hard to sleep,” Vera spoke of the loss on ‘The MMA Hour‘. “My goal, my whole vision was to wrap around that belt around my oldest daughter, because she’s really the reason when my life changed, when I start making the right decisions. I just went, I’m gonna do everything for you. And then having my other two kids just make me better. It makes me wanna like, lead and put out there a good example and just do better than I used to do.
“That thing kind of like kills me a little bit. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I’m still in my prime. I’m young, I’m not going anywhere. I’m in the top five. So if you see the big picture, I’m a fight, two fights away from another opportunity and focus on what you can control. I lost the fight fair and square. I am no b****. I’m not gonna come up with excuses.”
To Grease Or Not To Grease
In actuality, the former title challenger did have one excuse for why the O’Malley fight played out the way it did. Vera boldly accused O’Malley of cheating, citing “every time I was grabbing Sean, it was like grabbing a fish out of the water. Maybe he didn’t attempt to, but he was extremely greasy on his head.”
“Every time I was grabbing Sean, it was like grabbing a fish out of the water."
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) March 18, 2024
Marlon 'Chito' Vera says Sean O'Malley was "extremely greasy" during their UFC 299 fight.
▶️ https://t.co/05cMt0MkBb #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/6DKIviNEak
Vera believes excessive hair gel was to blame for this.
‘I Eventually Will Get Revenge’
No matter if it’s true or false, the 31 year-old doesn’t think this is the last time he’ll cross paths with Sean O’Malley in the Octagon. After all, Vera does hold a TKO finish of the champ back in 2020.
“Now we’re 1-1,” Vera added on. “I stopped him in one, he won a decision. He landed that big knee that I believe that it was more the sound that actually the damage. The fifth round punch was the one that really hurt me because it affect my vision. But it was pretty much those two against my body shot [in the final seconds of the fight], and I said, f*ck it. If we’ll fight till death, the O’Malley family would be having a funeral right now. But, it’s professional. Good for him.
“I will eventually get gold, I eventually will get revenge. And now let’s see what’s available now I’m aiming, I will love to fight in New York. I love New York. I think that’s my city. I feel I’m native from Queens. So, hopefully I get to get in that card.”
Vera vs. Yan On Deck?
As for what names Chito Vera is looking at right now, one former champion sticks out from the bantamweight bunch: Petr Yan. Although, it was just revealed that Yan will have to undergo surgery for multiple injuries after his fight at UFC 299.
So MRI confirmed acl rupture, meniscus tear and groin injury. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Nothing will break me, I’m determined to come back stronger than ever in no time 👊🏼
— Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) March 18, 2024
“I was hoping to fight Yan in November. I don’t know if he will be ready by, but we’ll figure something out. I haven’t gone through the rankings, but I feel that’s a great fight. That fight makes sense, he’s a former champion, he beat up-and-comer, really good talent in Song Ya Dong. So, I mean, hopefully maybe he heals in eight months.”
