Marlon Vera eyes ‘money’ matchup with Sean O’Malley after UFC 292: ‘The rest of the top five can just sit and wait’

Marlon Vera is hoping to get his palms on fellow bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley as soon as once more, however first they each must seize wins tomorrow night time (Sat., Aug. 19, 2023) at UFC 292 reside on ESPN+ PPV from inside TD Backyard in Boston, Mass. “Suga” can be preventing Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title in the principle occasion, whereas Vera meets Pedro Munhoz on the PPV undercard.

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CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE DIP! Final Preventing Championship (UFC) makes its extremely anticipated return to Boston, Mass., on Sat., Aug. 19, 2023, with two compelling championship bouts. Within the ESPN+-streamed pay-per-view (PPV) most important occasion, Bantamweight roost-ruler, Aljamain Sterling, plans to silence No. 2-seeded contender, Sean O’Malley. In UFC 292’s co-main occasion, ladies’s Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, locks horns with No. 4-ranked contender, Amanda Lemos.

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In case you forgot, O’Malley and Vera don’t fairly see eye-to-eye. Exterior of being prime contenders in the identical division the 2 bantamweights fought as soon as earlier than again at UFC 252. Vera ended up stopping O’Malley through first-round TKO — which is his solely skilled loss thus far — but it surely got here after “Suga” blew his leg out. So despite the fact that Vera walked away with the win there’s a little bit of controversary surrounding that first matchup. That’s the reason each fighters have been calling for a rematch ever since.

Fortunately, their paths could align but once more if they’re each victorious at UFC 292 this weekend. If O’Malley is ready to finish the title reign of Sterling and Vera can knock off Munhoz then a case generally is a made for a rematch for the title someday later this yr. O’Malley has already agreed to a matchup this December.

“That’s simply cash proper there and I don’t depart cash on the desk,” mentioned Vera a couple of rematch with O’Malley in the event that they’re each victorious at UFC 292 (through MMA Fighting). “If we go and win this Saturday, we are able to struggle November, December, subsequent month, any time. It’s an awesome payday for each and it’s enterprise.

“If we win on Saturday night time, that struggle’s occurring. The remainder of the highest 5 can simply sit and wait. It’s enterprise.”

O’Malley has caught some backlash for receiving a title shot in opposition to Sterling given the general file of his UFC opponents. Guys like Vera have been placing in additional work in opposition to prime 10 competitors over the previous few years. With wins over the likes of Dominick Cruz, Rob Font, Frankie Edgar, and O’Malley himself, you may suppose Vera makes a greater title challenger than “Suga.”

“They did a little bit little bit of a boxing file for O’Malley,” Vera mentioned. “I imply after they set me as much as struggle him the primary time, it was just about his first check. You possibly can say regardless of the f*** you need to say, you continue to received TKO’d, the referee nonetheless pulled me out so I don’t trigger an excessive amount of injury. I imply you possibly can say no matter you need however the information are there.

“Then he fought Munhoz, it was an eye fixed poke after which he went straight to struggle for a No. 1 contender in opposition to in No. 1 man in Yan on the time. It was striker versus striker however one is fairly huge for the opposite man so it’s powerful however model smart it was excellent for him. Good for him. Some individuals received to go a little bit more durable than others.”

No matter his beef with O’Malley, Vera is happy to see UFC 292’s most important occasion play out. The bantamweight contender is leaning in direction of Sterling primarily based on his total skillset, however acknowledges that O’Malley has the putting expertise to tug out the win, which might be higher for Vera’s UFC title aspirations.

“By way of on paper, Aljo ought to win,” Vera mentioned. “However it’s a struggle and if [O’Malley] lands first — he punches laborious, I’ve been in entrance of him. I do know he’s received energy, he’s received good pace however the arsenal may be very restricted for my part. He’s a one by one kind of man and we’ll see if he can actually struggle.

“But when he wins, it makes my life a little bit simpler. I may soar the ladder identical to he did and I do know it’s enterprise so both aspect, I’m cool. I’m targeted on f—king Munhoz. That’s all I want to fret about till Saturday. After that, we’ll determine it out.”

MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC 292 struggle card proper RIGHT HERE, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6:30 p.m. ET, adopted by the remaining undercard steadiness on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, earlier than the PPV most important card begin time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To take a look at the newest and best UFC 292: “Sterling vs. O’Malley” information and notes make sure to hit up our complete occasion archive proper here. For the up to date and finalized UFC 292 struggle card and ESPN+ lineup click on here.