Top-ranked UFC bantamweights are in the works to clash at an upcoming Fight Night event.
Former champion Dominick Cruz is planned to meet the surging Marlon Vera at a UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 13. ESPN Deportes first reported the matchup and Vera confirmed he verbally agreed to the fight on social media. UFC president Dana White also told Barstool Sports the fight is in the works. The event does not yet have a confirmed venue, although the card is expected to take place in San Diego.
Per sources, verbal agree
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) June 6, 2022
Cruz (24-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will enter the cage for the first time in 2022. His last outing was in December at UFC 269 where he defeated Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision. The win marked Cruz’s second-straight victory of the calendar year, having defeated Casey Kenny by split decision last March. The former champion currently holds the No. 10 spot in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings.
Vera (21-7-1 MMA, 13-6 UFC), who holds the No. 7 slot in the aforementioned bantamweight rankings, has been on a tear since dropping a unanimous decision to former champion Jose Aldo in 2020. “Chito” has since won his three previous bouts. In 2021, he defeated Davey Grant by unanimous decision and finished former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. In April, Vera won the first main event of his UFC career, knocking off Rob Font in a hard-fought unanimous decision victory.
With the addition of this bout, the Aug. 13 lineup includes:
- Dominick Cruz vs. Marlon Vera
- Viviane Araujo vs. Alexa Grasso
- Bruno Silva vs. Gerald Meerschaert
- Devin Clark vs. Azamat Murzakanov
- Aspen Ladd vs. Sara McMann
- Lukasz Brzeski vs. Martin Buday
