Marlon Vera is eager to rebound in impressive fashion at UFC 292.
Vera (22-8-1 MMA, 14-7 UFC) takes on former dual champion Henry Cejudo (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) on Aug. 19 at TD Garden in Boston.
In his most recent outing, “Chito” saw his four-fight winning streak snapped by Cory Sandhagen at UFC on ESPN 43 in March, in what he described as a lackluster performance. He will get a big opportunity to re-enter the bantamweight title picture when he faces Cejudo, and Vera vows to put it all on the line.
“He can make all the breakdowns he wants. He can talk all the sh*t he wants,” Vera said on the “Believe You Me Podcast.” “I know deep down inside he’s still a little bit of a c*nt. I’m gonna show that. I’m gonna put pressure and wherever the fight goes, I’m gonna f*cking fight like my life depends on it, and it’s gonna be a good fight. I guarantee that. It’s gonna be a great fight. I’m gonna come in my best.”
Vera is aware of Olympic gold medalist Cejudo’s wrestling credentials. He doesn’t expect to match him on the ground, but he plans on making things scrappy.
“A guy like him is really good in the clinch,” Vera said. “I mean, I feel like I could wrestle for the next five years and probably don’t get to his level, and that would probably be the same for everybody in the division. If you’re starting on him wrestle, it’s gonna probably be impossible for him to win, but this is MMA.
“The levels get pretty equal once you’re punching people in the face and you keep the right attitude and you keep in shape. You might take me down, you might put me in the clinch, but you’ve still got to fight. Fighting makes us more equal at that level.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.
