Tag: Marlon Vera

Marlon Vera clarifies controversial post after Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 306 win, congratulates new champ

It turns out “Chito” Vera didn’t actually question Merab Dvalishvili’s decision win over Sean O’Malley at UFC 306.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] definitely had one of the most bizarre and controversial social media posts over the weekend.

Vera, a former UFC bantamweight title challenger, had a unique take on Saturday’s UFC 306 main event in which [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] took the 135-pound title in dominant fashion from [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]. Vera wrote on X, ‘I call it the other way, but congrats Merab well fought,’ which triggered many responses given the nature of the fight.

Vera said his comments were misinterpreted, as he meant something completely different.

“I tweeted after the fight, ‘I call it the other way, but congrats Merab,’ and when I said ‘call it the other way,’ I didn’t refer to the decision,” Vera said on his YouTube channel. “That was a clear-cut Merab won five founds. I was meaning that before the fight, O’Malley was going to win the fight because of his size and punch power and how he defends the takedowns against Aljo – who on paper is probably a better wrestler than Merab.

“I got called that I got CTE and some sh*t, because they assumed I said I saw the decision for O’Malley, which that’s impossible.”

In terms of the fight, Vera was impressed with what he saw from Dvalisvili. He also thought O’Malley didn’t have the right approach to the fight, which contributed to the lopsided showing.

“That was a great fight,” Vera said. “I really thought if Sean could hit Merab early in the fight, things could change because he’s been dropped by Cejudo and Marlon Moraes, but he just couldn’t land. Merab had that kind of jerky move, and it’s hard to hit him. In a way, you can’t snipe this guy. You have to fight him. I would say it’s compared to the fight with Chad Mendes and Conor. Every time Conor would get up, he would crowd Chad right away and be on his face right away. Every time Sean would get up, there was little separation. That probably messed his rhythm, and we know Merab can just take you down over and over and over.

“In my opinion, you have to sit down and fight him. He’s going to take you down regardless, might as well just go crazy on him. But overall, great fight. Congratulations to the new champion.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.

Marlon Vera: Figueiredo should have been lost a point for UFC Saudi Arabia kick

Marlon Vera thinks Deiveson Figueiredo should have been docked a point at UFC on ABC 7.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] should have been docked a point at UFC on ABC 7.

Vera (23-10-1 MMA, 15-9 UFC) was not happy with the axe kick Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) landed on him while he was grounded on his back – just after the Round 1 horn sounded in their bantamweight bout this past Saturday in Abu Dhabi.

“Chito” lost the fight by unanimous decision, but says if referee Keith Peterson acknowledged the illegal blow and penalized Figueiredo for it, the outcome would have been different.

“The only thing that I want to take away from this fight, or at least I want to start with, it was like, that axe kick that he landed in the first round, that wasn’t an accident,” Vera on his YouTube channel. “That went straight into my face. I feel like that should be taken a point deducted automatically. That’s my thought and what I believe. You go by the rules, you don’t kick a grounded opponent. I would get it if I was playing the game with the hand.

“When you’re a downed opponent – not down, but I was in my guard and that was a clean-ass kick to the face. … That’s something different that could change the route of the fight because I’m getting my head bounced on the ground. At the end of the day, that’s an illegal shot, and I would say if that would be a point deduction we could be talking a different story right now.”

Had Peterson deducted a point from Figueiredo, the bout would have been ruled a majority draw. Vera also addressed coming back five months after being battered in his title fight against bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 299 in March.

“I just want to say one thing about me coming back a little too quick, me and the team definitely got to the conclusion that we definitely came back too soon,” Vera said. “I went into a five-round war with the champion and we all agreed that after my March title fight that we would come back either November in New York or December.

“There was no chance of us coming back earlier, so I feel that was a mistake on us. I would say on me, on the team’s decision, because at the end of the day, we are a team and we all agreed to come back even if we say not to. Sometimes you feel good and you just say, ‘F*ck it, let’s do it,’ and you roll the dice.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

What time is Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo? Walkout time for UFC on ABC 7 fight

Here’s when to expect Marlon Vera and Deiveson Figueiredo to make their cage walks at UFC Abu Dhabi.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] meet in a pivotal bantamweight clash at UFC on ABC 7. This bout scheduled for three rounds is taking place Saturday, Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Vera (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) enters the bout roughly five months removed from his failed attempt at claiming the 135-pound title from Sean O’Malley at UFC 299. Vera has vowed to “make an example” of Figueiredo, who is determined to add his name to the UFC record books.

A former flyweight champion, Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) has won his first two bouts at bantamweight against Rob Font and former champ Cody Garbrandt. A third victory against Vera just might be the breakthrough he needs to be taken seriously in the division.

Here are the walkout times for the UFC on ABC 7 bout between Vera and Figueiredo.

When does the UFC on ABC 7 fight card start?

  • The UFC on ABC 7 lineup consists of 14 fights. Prelims start at noon ET and the main card at 3 p.m. ET.

Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo walkout time

  • As the featured bout, Vera and Figueiredo are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET.
  • The fight will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

UFC on ABC 7: Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 odds between Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, with MMA picks and predictions.

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In a 3-round bantamweight bout on the main card, Marlon Vera and Deiveson Figueiredo meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ABC 7: Vera vs. Figueiredo odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin noon ET, on ESPN2/ESPN+, while the main card starts at 3 p.m. ET, on ABC/ESPN.

Records: Vera (23-9-1) | Figueiredo (23-3-1)

Vera last fought at UFC 299, losing a unanimous-decision championship fight against Sean O’Malley March 9. He is now 1-2 in his past 3 bouts, also falling to Cory Sandhagen via split decision in a main event fight March 25, 2023.

Each of Vera’s past 3 bouts have ended up going the distance, while he has had just 2 finishes in the past 8 bouts.

Figueiredo is a former champ who won the strap Feb. 29, 2020, against Joseph Benavidez, before defending against the same fighter July 18, 2020. He also stopped Alex Perez in a title defense at UFC 255. He fought to a draw in a title fight with Brandon Moreno at UFC 256, before losing via submission at UFC 263, also to Moreno.

He fought Moreno 4 straight times, winning via unanimous decision at UFC 270, before falling via TKO – Doctor’s Stoppage at UFC 283. Since, he picked up a unanimous-decision win over Rob Font while posting a 2nd-round submission win over Cody Garbrandt, positioning himself for another title shot.

Vera has a 2.5-inch reach advantage, and the switch-stance fighter has a 4.31-to-3.01 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. Figueiredo is a little more accurate at 60.05% on those significant strikes, to just 52.20% for Vera. Figueiredo is much better in the submission average category, too, posting a 1.73 mark to just 0.87 for the Ecuadoran.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC on ABC 7: Vera vs. Figueiredo odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Vera +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Figueiredo -142 (bet $142 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 2.5 rounds (Over -280 | Under +205)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -225 | No +174)

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UFC on ABC 7: Vera vs. Figueiredo picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

FIGUEIREDO (-142) is worth a look as a moderate favorite to win straight up on the 2-way line.

The former champ has looked good in his past 2 fights, topping Font via unanimous decision while making quick work of Sandhagen at UFC 300 with a Round 2 submission.

Vera (+120) has never been submitted or knocked out. It’s more than likely that if the Brazilian gets the job done, the judges will be involved. As such, FIGUEIREDO BY POINTS (+105) at plus-money is an attractive play.

Over/Under (O/U)

Yes (-225): Will the fight go the distance? will set you back more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s just too risky for not nearly enough of a reward.

In addition, Over 2.5 Rounds (-280) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, and there is no value in that, either. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, including the Over/Under props makes little to no sense.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

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Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo prediction, pick, start time, odds for UFC on ABC 7

A win over Marlon Vera at UFC Abu Dhabi would go a long way toward Deiveson Figueiredo’s goal of becoming a two-division champ.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] meet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

Last event: 3-2
UFC main cards, 2024: 64-56-3

Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo UFC on ABC 7 preview

How will Vera (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) respond to his bantamweight title-fight loss to Sean O’Malley this past March at UFC 299? That is the question. Unsurprisingly, Vera has promised to make an example of Figueiredo in hopes of making a second run at a title shot. … Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC), a former two-time flyweight champion, aims to continue his quest toward a second belt after beating Rob Font and most recently ex-champ Cody Garbrandt in his first two appearances at bantamweight.

Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo UFC on ABC 7 expert pick, prediction

In a fight that should’ve easily been the choice to co-main event this card, Figueiredo will do battle with Vera at 135 pounds.

Even if Figueiredo isn’t the biggest bantamweight on the roster, the former flyweight kingpin has proven why people like myself have long predicted the Brazilian to both move up and do well in this division.

Although I’m upset that the matchmakers continue to miss the biggest layup in the world by not booking Figueiredo against Petr Yan for an undeniable stylistic orgasm of epic proportions, I suppose we could do worse than a three-round action fight with the always-game Vera.

In Vera’s defense, I’d be tempted to take a flier on him as an underdog if this were a five-round affair. But with only 15 minutes to cover, I suspect that Figueiredo can dictate the bulk of the action while landing the harder blows via crushing counters.

The pick is Figueiredo by unanimous decision.

Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo UFC on ABC 7 odds

Despite the oddsmakers opening this fight as a pick’em, public money has come in on the former flyweight champ, listing Figueiredo -142 and Vera +116 via FanDuel.

Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo UFC on ABC 7 start time, how to watch

Vera and Figueiredo are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 4:30 p.m. ET. The fight will air on ABC and stream on ESPN+.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Analyzing UFC on ABC 7: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson’s return, more

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel previews the key bouts at Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi.

There’s a big UFC event this weekend, with lots to discuss.

The octagon returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC on ABC 7 – an action-packed card with several important matchups. In the main event, top bantamweight contenders [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] clash in what may likely be a title eliminator bout. Additionally, [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag], fan-favorite bantamweights [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag], clash, and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] makes his return, among other matchups.

With a big Fight Night on the horizon, MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia previewed and analyzed the biggest bouts on UFC on ABC 7.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode below on YouTube and in podcast form.

https://www.youtube.com/live/9k7Kg6cunT4

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UFC on ABC 7 weigh-in results: All 26 fighters on point in Abu Dhabi

Check out the results from the official UFC on ABC 7 fighter weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi ahead of Saturday’s event.

ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ABC 7 fighter weigh-ins, where every fighter hit their mark.

The early weigh-ins took place at the UFC host hotel, where bantamweight headliners [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), middleweight co-headliners [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC), and featured bantamweights [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) and [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) were among 26 fighters who stepped on the scale.

UFC on ABC 7 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena, with prelims that simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ and a main card on ABC and ESPN+.

Below are the complete UFC on ABC weigh-in results:

MAIN CARD (ABC, ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)

  • Cory Sandhagen (136) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135)
  • Shara Magomedov (186) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (185)
  • Deiveson Figueiredo (135) vs. Marlon Vera (136)
  • Michael Chiesa (170) vs. Tony Ferguson (170)
  • Mackenzie Dern (115.5) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5)
  • Joel Alvarez (155.5) vs. Elves Brener (155)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, noon ET)

  • Alonzo Menifield (204) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205)
  • Kaue Fernandes (155.5) vs. Mohammad Yahya (155)
  • Shamil Gaziev (262) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265)
  • Guram Kutateladze (155) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155)
  • Viktoriia Dudakova (115.5) vs. Sam Hughes (114)
  • Rolando Bedoya (155) vs. Jai Herbert (155.5)
  • Sedriques Dumas (186) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185)

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Before UFC on ABC 7, Marlon Vera warns Deiveson Figueiredo about consequences of takedowns

“He can try to hump my leg, but I’m going to slice him up with elbows,” Marlon Vera said of Deiveson Figueiredo.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] plans on making [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] pay if he shoots on him.

Vera (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) will look to rebound from his title loss when he takes on Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) main card at Etihad Arena.

Former flyweight champion Figueiredo has shown off his ground game since moving up to 135 pounds, defeating Rob Font and then submitting Cody Garbrandt. Vera is expecting a similar approach from the Brazilian.

“His last two fights, based on 35’ers, he’s been pretty much only wrestling,” Vera told reporters, including MMA Junkie at UFC on ABC 7 media day. “He’s just been changing levels and going for a takedown. I don’t know if he feels the size difference. I don’t know if he’s just that good on the ground, but I know for a fact I’m good on the ground. So, if we go to the ground, I’ll be just fine.”

Figueiredo has trained at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym since touching down in Abu Dhabi. Vera scoffed at the linkup.

“F*ck yeah, Khabib, that’s cool,” Vera said. “He can try to hump my leg, but I’m going to slice him up with elbows. Even if he’s three months with Khabib or a year with Khabib, I don’t give a f*ck.”

Vera has never been finished in 33 professional fights. Figueiredo predicted he’ll be the first to knock out Vera, but “Chito” isn’t buying it.

“That probably means he’s going to f*cking just shoot and smell my crotch in the first second of the fight,” Vera said. “So, we know how this works. Fighters say something and do something else, but I mean, if we wants to try, we can give it a try.

“I never take pride in these things because I don’t want to talk about it and put it out in the universe. I just work hard and do the best I can, but yeah, he can give it a try.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Marlon Vera: ‘I’m going to make an example’ of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ABC 7

Marlon Vera aims to put his title-fight loss to Sean O’Malley behind him with a statement performance at UFC on ABC 7.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] is ready to put his title-fight loss to Sean O’Malley behind him and start his rebuild at UFC on ABC 7.

After stepping into the octagon two dozen times, Vera (21-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) finally got his long-awaited title shot in March with a rematch against Sean O’Malley. It didn’t go his way as he took a largely one-sided unanimous decision defeat at UFC 299 that sent him back to the drawing board.

According to “Chito,” the damage sustained in the loss to O’Malley wasn’t as bad as it looked superficially. He felt healthy enough to book another fight less than five months later and will take on former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) on Saturday’s card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+).

“Why wait? That experience from my last fight, if I wait too long, I kind of will, not forget, but kind of get my feet too dry,” Vera told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I just wanted to stay active. I’m feeling good in the gym with wrestling and sparring. Things are moving forward. We made adjustments. Definitely we made adjustments, and I’m feeling great.”

Figueiredo is 2-0 since moving up to 135 pounds in December, having beaten Rob Font by decision in his divisional debut, then becoming the first to submit former champion Cody Garbrandt in April at UFC 300.

Vera, 31, said he respects what his Brazilian foe has done so far since changing weight classes but thinks this is the fight where he will realize flyweight is the better fit for his future.

“He’s a great fighter,” Vera said. “He seems like he punches hard, seems like he’s a strong guy. He’s been using a lot of his jiu-jitsu and wrestling lately, so maybe he feels that the power and size difference is too much. But he took the ground the last two opponents. Let’s see what he brings to the table. I just feel like I’m going to make an example of him, and I’m going to send him back to (flyweight).”

Vera, No. 10 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings, said he thinks he’s corrected the things that went wrong against O’Malley and is confident he can make another run at the title. He acknowledges it would’ve been easy to see his motivation fizzle after reaching a title fight and falling short, but it has only fueled him more.

“It would be the easiest thing to give up and say, ‘This is not for me,'” Vera said. “To be honest, I’m very hungry. I just want to show a good example. Mainly to my kids, to my family, to the people that love me. But at the end of the day, this is a worldwide sport or business, or whatever you want to call it. You can inspire a lot of people by just showing you can come back.

“You can make adjustments in life. You can get up and get it done, and that’s what I’m doing right now. Why stay down when that’s the easiest option? Just let things go? I’m not meant for that. I’m looking forward to showing what I can do.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Marlon Vera plans to ‘pull all the demons’ vs. Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ABC 7

Ahead of UFC Abu Dhabi, Marlon Vera is taking Deiveson Figueiredo very seriously and is preparing for hell.

[autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] is taking [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] very seriously.

Vera (21-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) meets Figueiredo (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) in a bantamweight bout at the UFC Fight Night card Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

In order to rebound from his title loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 299, “Chito” will have to halt the momentum of Figueiredo, who has looked in peak form since he moved to bantamweight. Vera views it as a must-win fight.

“I’m going to focus on Figueiredo. I know that’s a big challenge,” Vera said on “The MMA Hour.” “I’m taking this just as serious as I was taking the title fight (and) all the fights before. I’m going to get in there and let this motherf*cker know we’re on my time, and if I have to dig deep and f*cking go to the basement and pull all the demons, we’ll f*cking bring them.”

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Figueiredo defeated Rob Font, and submitted former champion Cody Garbrandt at 135 pounds. Vera expects a stern challenge from the former UFC flyweight champion.

“I feel it’s a dangerous fight,” Vera said. “That’s a guy who’s been a world champion. He fought for the belt many times. He fought big names and he’s undefeated in my weight class. He beat a guy that I beat (Font). He beat a former champion Garbrandt. I know he’s a guy not to take lightly. I can say whatever I want. I can be mean. I can be a d*ck. But I know this is going to be a fight that I will have to fight.

“I mean, you know this about me. I’m not taking it easy. I’m not chilling right now. I’m going four-by-four. I really want to get in there and make this guy f*cking suffer and I just want to get on top with a win, and figure out how to get back to the title conversation. The best way to do that is go to Abu Dhabi and f*cking rip this man apart.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.