Marlon Chito faith he has defied the odds for the past two years. He took over the bantamweight division UFC after his epic win in 2021 against the former champion Frankie Edgar and with back-to-back wins in his first all-star events vs Rob Font and former monarch Dominic Cruzboth in 2022. The Ecuadorian rose to third place in the ranking and now he has a golden opportunity against Cory Sandhagen to position himself as a title challenger in this 2023.

Lawsuit in UFC San AntonioVera-Sandhagen, is important to the future of the 135-pound division, although the winner will still have to wait to fight for the belt by Sean O’Malley on another place. Merab Dvalishvilithe new number one, will be wary of the winner, but has assured that he will not challenge the crown by being a friend of the monarch, aljamain sterlinghence the calculation Vera-O’Malley seems more sustainable on the horizon. Besides, it’s an opportunity for revenge sugar that looks attractive in an organization led by Dana White.

Chito Vera: Stand up, Ecuador. I will do my part

Marlon Chito Vera climbed to No. 3 in the UFC rankings

UFC bantamweight standings following the latest update the promotion presented on its official website on March 13.

“What’s going to happen? I don’t want to think too much about it. Cejudo (said), ‘Marlon Vera is just another guy, he’s not good enough to beat Cory Sandhagen.’ You know what, that’s not true. I called Chito random guy, but that was before he beat all those good guys (Rob Font and Dominick Cruz). I didn’t mean that Chito It was good as it was, but it was well made. He has become very good and I have nothing but respect for him. I hope he beats Cory, and if Aljo (Aljamain Sterling) beat henry, Hello he’s going up to 145 (pounds) and I’m fighting Chito. July, a big fight, for the belt”, O’Malley made the prediction after the Vera-Sandhagen matchup was announced last January.

O’Malley and Vera have a turbulent history togethersince the one from Chona (Manabí) gave sugar his first loss as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA, in English) and finished undefeated on August 16, 2022 at UFC 252. A fight that the man from Helena, Montana completely minimized, claiming that the result was caused by injury, and not with the strength of the Ecuadorian. Since then, both athletes have faced off via social media, with fans clamoring for a rematch.

But sugar now show more respect to Chito. He even defends him against the criticism of former champion Henry Cejudo, who announced his return to the Octagon.

It is now official that Sterling will defend his belt against Cejudo on May 6 in New Jerseyin a bell duel that could be a disaster in the ranking bantamweight if the victory takes him away Triple Cbecause after almost three years he returns to the scene and he is not in the ranks.

His last appearance dates back to May 9, 2020 against Dominick Cruz.

Third in the standings against fourth

Chito Vera (22-7-1 MMA, 14-6 UFC) now threatens Sandhagen (15-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) with kicking ass in san antonio. “I’ll kick ass”he wrote on March 7 on his Twitter.

In an interview with MMA addict, Sandhagen said Vera’s winning style is unreliable. But Vera says that regardless of how the competition unfolds, Sandhagen will suffer the same fate as his previous opponents.

The one from Manabí that he knocked out with front kick Frankie Edgar at UFC 268, in November 2021; and defeated Rob Font by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 53 and knocked out Dominick Cruz at UFC San Diego in 2022.

“I don’t have to say anything about him (Cory) to think I’m going to win. I will win because I work very hard. So if he thinks my style is unreliable or whatever, that’s his fault. They’ll wake up and say, ‘Fuck, they got me. But they didn’t catch you, knock you out or subdue you,” said Vera MMA addict.

“I am a fighter. I will fight in every position. I won’t fight you, I won’t hit you, I won’t chase you Jiu JitsuI will fight with you. Whatever he thinks of my style, you still have to face me. You still have to go through me. I have 20 minutes (25) to sort it out and get you out,” he added.

Vera was down on the scoreboards when she rallied to knock out both Edgar and Cruz. The 30-year-old tricolor attributes his ability to constantly raise his arm to his swing.

“I always try to improve and keep that hunger in me (…) When I enter these fights, I always see something. I want it more than anyone and that’s what gives me success, because I’m always eager to do it,” he explained.

The main event of UFC San Antonio will take place on Saturday, March 25 at the AT&T Center and will be broadcast on ESPN and UFC FightPass in Ecuador.

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