Marlon Vera is all geared up for his upcoming clash with Deiveson Figueiredo this Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi, undeterred even by early morning medical checks. "They'll only find steak and vegetables," Vera joked about his pre-fight blood test results, ready to put his recent defeat behind him.
In March, Vera faced a setback against UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley, but he's now refocused and determined to climb the ranks once again. "They asked about Figueiredo, and I was ready," Vera said, eager to get back into the title chase after nearly a decade in the UFC and 23 fights to his name.
Now ranked No. 4 at 135 pounds, Vera sees his journey not just as a challenge but as a necessary path to his ultimate goal—becoming a double champ. Despite the tough competition, he remains optimistic, drawing lessons from his past experiences to forge ahead. "You have to let it go in order to grow," he reflected on his loss to O'Malley, emphasizing the importance of moving forward and staying positive.
Figueiredo, a formidable former flyweight champion who's undefeated since moving up to bantamweight, is next in line for Vera. This matchup, Vera believes, is more favorable than a potential bout with Henry Cejudo that fell through. "It's a healthy fighter with a better record, and a former champion who’s undefeated at my weight," Vera noted, recognizing the significance of this fight for his career trajectory.
As Fight Night approaches, Vera is not just fighting for a win but for a chance to rewrite his story and chase the elusive title of a UFC double champion. "Sometimes you just got to get up and keep going," he stated, ready to face whatever comes his way.
Tune into UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Nurmagomedov, live from Etihad Arena on August 3, 2024, to see if Vera can turn his championship dreams into reality. The action starts with prelims at 12pm ET and the main card at 3pm ET on ABC, ESPN & ESPN+.
