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Nearly eight years after his UFC debut, Ecuadorian bantamweight Marlon "Chito" Vera is finally on the cusp of his goal.
Currently sitting at No. 5 in the company's official 135-pound rankings, Vera (21-7-1 MMA, 13-6 UFC) faces former champion Dominick Cruz (24-3 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in the headliner of Saturday's UFC on ESPN 41 event in San Diego, Calif. The winner will find themselves in an enviable position in the current title picture, where Vera has dedicated his life to be.
"It feels good," Vera told MMA Underground. "I'm just grateful with knowing every single thing I did until today is paying off. I'm happy. I'm excited. Most important thing, I'm f------ ready, and I can't wait to get in there Saturday night."
