SAN DIEGO – For three-plus rounds, the UFC on ESPN 41 main event was a Dominick Cruz fight. Then Marlon Vera put an end to that.
Vera (22-7-1 MMA, 14-6 UFC) landed a vicious head kick late in the fourth round to defeat Cruz (24-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) by knockout Saturday night at Pechanga Arena for what could be considered another “biggest win of his career” as he inches closer to a bantamweight title shot.
Cruz was on the attack early, but Vera had a big moment in the first round when he dropped Cruz with a left hand. Cruz was back up quickly, though, a responded with a three-punch combo. That type of onslaught continued from Cruz in the first frame as his punches came in bunches. He managed to finish the frame with a takedown.
