UFC no5 bantamweight Vera looking to take Sean O'Malley's title and belt in Miami showdown
Marlon Vera (21-8-1, fighting out of Chone, Manabi, Ecuador) aims for another win against O’Malley to become the first Ecuadorian UFC champion
No. 5 UFC bantamweight
Eights win by knockout, eight via submission
Seven first round finishes
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt
Marlon Vera (21-8-1, fighting out of Chone, Manabi, Ecuador) aims for another win against O’Malley to become the first Ecuadorian UFC champion
No. 5 UFC bantamweight
Eights win by knockout, eight via submission
Seven first round finishes
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Chito, welcome to Miami.
00:05 How are you?
00:05 >> Good, man. How are you?
00:07 >> So let's just sort of address what's going on right now.
00:11 Literally about 120 credit media, 40 of them are from Ecuador.
00:15 So literally one third are here to cover you.
00:18 What does it feel to have the country supporting you?
00:21 And can you talk about this moment, what it means for Ecuadorian MMA?
00:25 >> I mean, this is a huge moment for my career.
00:28 And I know people in Ecuador realize how big this can be for
00:33 history, for my career, and even for all the Ecuadorians to
00:39 celebrate something like could happen on Saturday night.
00:43 So I prepared very well and
00:45 I'm excited about the support and the love I'm getting from the people.
00:48 >> Yeah, certainly, Sean and yourself,
00:52 you both are fighting for the belt this Saturday.
00:54 But you do have a whole country behind you.
00:57 And you've mentioned before how you would like to sort of relieve the country due
01:01 to some of the difficult circumstances that they've been going through.
01:04 Do you feel like you enter almost UFC 299 with a bigger purpose?
01:08 >> I believe I try to find bigger purposes than just the hype and fame or money.
01:16 But for me, it's just by leading by example and
01:20 showing the people that with hard work and dedication, you can really achieve your
01:24 dreams and you can get it done.
01:27 And a win on Saturday night will definitely give my country something to hope,
01:33 something to be happy for, and something that hopefully can change things.
01:38 >> Sean said you guys have been DMing ahead of this fight on Instagram.
01:43 And he told us to ask you what the conversations were like on the DMs.
01:47 >> I mean, he's a weird guy, dude.
01:50 He likes a weird shit.
01:52 I tried to stay away from it.
01:53 The only thing I did was send him a picture of me back.
01:58 And I haven't even read whatever he says after.
02:01 I get it.
02:02 I mean, one of his main tools is get on people's head, but good luck with that.
02:08 But I mean, I'm gonna fuck you up and I'm prepared for Saturday night.
02:12 So he's trying to start things and
02:15 yesterday he asked me if I was ready to lose the fight.
02:19 So they didn't catch my answer, which I would have loved the camera catch what I
02:25 say back to him, but they only catch one side, but there's just one tool to the game.
02:30 I'm ready for a fight.
02:32 My mind is in the right place and I'm gonna kick his ass.
02:36 >> Well, there's cameras now.
02:38 I don't know if you wanna fill in the blank for-
02:40 >> I asked him to suck my dick.
02:42 I mean, simple as that.
02:43 I'm not here to be friendly.
02:46 I'm not here to be respectful.
02:50 I'm not a karate guy.
02:51 I'm a fighter.
02:52 So you fuck with me, I'm gonna fucking fuck with you.
02:55 I'm not fucking around, man.
02:59 >> And lastly, I don't know if you've seen, but he's been beefing with Ryan Garcia.
03:04 He's also talked, gone back and forth with Ilya Topuria.
03:08 And he's also been saying that he doesn't count the first, his loss to you.
03:13 So I just wanted to ask you, do you see him distracted?
03:16 Do you feel like he's taking you lightly ahead of his fight?
03:18 >> I don't give two fucks about what he's doing, who he talks for.
03:21 I focus about myself.
03:22 I focus about my scale, my training, my body, my mind.
03:27 And whatever he's doing, I can give two fucks about him or his life.
03:32 >> Chido, you talked about running into him and inviting him to enjoy you in that way.
03:35 Do you enjoy this sort of animosity before the fight?
03:38 Does it give you a little extra spice?
03:39 >> Bro, I'm a street fighter, dude.
03:42 Honestly, I don't give two fucks.
03:44 If you adhere to, and you wanna throw down, we throw down.
03:48 I don't grow up in a pussy ass environment like he is.
03:51 So if you wanna throw down him or his team, trust me, I don't give two fucks.
03:58 >> You sort of mentioned that it was a weird DM, but
04:00 I've gotta push on you and say what exactly did he send you that was weird?
04:03 >> He was just trying to get to my head.
04:06 And just, I mean, the text wasn't weird.
04:10 He's a weirdo.
04:11 So I'm not gonna engage with you on a conversation.
04:15 That's why I sent a selfie back, smiling.
04:17 >> Do you, you talk about how he's a weird guy, but
04:21 you still respect his skills, right?
04:22 He has shown that he's got some great striking.
04:24 >> Of course, I mean, everybody in front of me, I'm not taking them lightly.
04:28 I know, I have never said it's gonna be an easy fight.
04:32 I have never said in the past I'm gonna have an easy fight.
04:36 I'm always there for a hard fight.
04:37 I'm always expecting the worst.
04:39 Because the worst can happen very easily in the cage.
04:43 So with me, it's not like, I don't take no one lightly.
04:47 But I'm also not gonna fucking be under you and kind of be afraid of you.
04:52 I'm gonna go as far as I can to get it done.
04:57 So, and I've been doing it my whole career in the UFC.
05:00 I got ten years fighting for the UFC.
05:02 I have never been in a fight that I disappoint people.
05:06 >> You mentioned about his mind games.
05:08 I'm curious for you, you could play a mind game if you just walk out there and
05:10 kick him in the calf right away as hard as you can.
05:12 Do you think that could get into his head?
05:14 >> That's exactly what I'm planning to do.
05:15 I'm gonna get in there and I'm gonna drill a hole to his face and then what?
05:20 There's no talking in there.
05:21 I know his corner likes to do the talking when we're in there, but I'm like,
05:25 what are you gonna, I mean, I will love my corner to give me advice to win the fight.
05:31 If my corner is more concerned about talking shit about my opponent and
05:34 don't tell me what to do, I wouldn't be with that people.
05:37 But I mean, the whole circle is just like, it's all a full rainbow in there, right?
05:42 And we know what it's time for these days.
05:45 >> She told me right here, Michael Bisping on his podcast said he had heard that you
05:49 had a bad camp in his words and your coach kind of like or Aljo said it or so ever.
05:54 And then- >> Yeah, dude.
05:56 Yeah, he's so fucking hungry for attention.
05:59 He never got attention in the UFC.
06:03 He become a world champion.
06:05 He defended, he got booed in fucking Jersey against fucking Sehudo.
06:10 Who gets booed against Sehudo?
06:12 Holy shit, people fucking hate you.
06:14 Now you're becoming a YouTuber because fighting career probably is not going well.
06:19 I don't wanna knock down on anybody because I wanna focus on my fight and
06:23 keep my karma in the right direction.
06:25 But I mean, he heard we have a private gym.
06:29 There's no janitor in our gym.
06:33 You know what I'm saying?
06:33 We don't have people.
06:35 It's the same three people year round.
06:38 But Saturday night you guys will see how bad my camp was.
06:42 And I'm a guy that in 20 what, three fights in the UFC,
06:46 22 fights in the UFC has never come with excuse.
06:49 Like most of these fighters, they always have something to complain.
06:52 This and that happened.
06:54 I'm going through this.
06:55 I didn't have this.
06:56 I have never said anything.
06:57 So that should tell you something about me and Aljo, fuck off, dude.
07:03 You have a fight ahead.
07:05 Focus on your life.
07:06 You're a fucking loser, dude.
07:07 >> And Sean was in here earlier and he said cuz Marab is weighing in as the backup in
07:12 case one of you don't make it.
07:14 And he said that if for some reason you didn't make it to the octagon,
07:16 he would 100% fight Marab.
07:18 If for some reason Sean didn't make it in on Saturday,
07:21 would you also be down to fight Marab on short notice?
07:23 >> 1000%.
07:24 >> And you've obviously, you face a lot of long range strikers like Dominic and
07:30 Corey Sanhagen.
07:31 So I'm curious, how does Sean's skill set compare to those two?
07:35 >> He's more of a sharpshooter.
07:38 He's more of a guy that make you miss and throw a big shot.
07:42 But the length is pretty similar, even phone is pretty rangy.
07:47 But I feel probably my biggest threat to him is I can match his range.
07:52 We have the same legs, we have same arms, so we pretty much are the same size.
07:58 I've been in front of him.
08:01 I fought guys like Corey, and if I can get to their faces,
08:06 I can get to anyone's face, so I'm very confident for this Saturday.
08:10 >> Cheeto over here.
08:12 How has your approach changed towards Sean since the first time you guys
08:15 originally fought till now that you're gonna fight for Undisputed Gold?
08:18 >> I see this will be a way harder fight.
08:24 He definitely got better.
08:26 He definitely matured more.
08:27 And I mean, two different fighters.
08:29 It's been almost four years and I'm not thinking because I beat him in the first
08:34 round, last fight is gonna happen like that.
08:37 To me, the first fight, it's over.
08:39 I'm thinking about the second fight and
08:42 in my opinion will be a brand new fight, brand new opponent.
08:46 I know we fought, but it's just, I don't like to think about the past.
08:49 I like to see what's in front of me.
08:51 >> And we saw Ilya Topuria make history in Anaheim when he beat Volkanovski,
08:55 becoming the first champion to represent Georgia and Spain.
08:58 So and he exploded after that.
08:59 So do you see this as something that could happen to you?
09:01 I know you're already a huge star, but
09:03 maybe potentially explode even more after this.
09:07 >> That's what the winners get.
09:08 I feel with a win on Saturday night, my name will keep growing.
09:13 My brand will keep growing, but gotta win first.
09:17 I feel like that's the most important thing and I'm focused and
09:20 I'm ready for Saturday night.
09:22 >> And the focus is on Sean, but if you become champion,
09:24 how do you envision your title reign as a UFC champion?
09:27 >> I will keep it real.
09:29 I will do the same thing I've been doing through the years.
09:31 I will defend the belt against whoever is number one.
09:35 I'm not gonna start getting picky or try to go to a different weight class.
09:40 Whoever is next in line, send it to me and just do it like that,
09:43 like a real champion.
09:45 >> Gina right back here.
09:46 You mentioned that Sean is a better fighter now.
09:50 Just specifically, how do you feel he's improved?
09:52 And then conversely, how have you improved since that first fight?
09:55 >> I will say on my side, I fought all the experienced guys.
10:01 I fought all the former champions.
10:03 I fought the long run.
10:06 I had the hardest fight to get to this point in my career.
10:09 And for a guy like him, he's very talented.
10:11 I'm sure he keeps evolving and everywhere, grappling, punching, kicking.
10:18 If you don't evolve in this game, you're gonna stay behind.
10:22 So I'm taking this as a big risk, but we'll bring a big reward.
10:29 >> And then you talk about the long road getting here.
10:32 Do you prefer having taken that road?
10:33 Like at the end of the day, is it better to have done it this way?
10:36 >> I don't know other way.
10:39 I've been in this spot for my whole life.
10:43 When I used to fight in South America, when I used to go to Peru, to Mexico,
10:48 I never got an easy fight.
10:50 It was never like, okay, we're gonna build your record a little bit.
10:54 I don't have that much record.
10:55 So for me, it was always getting into the fire and
10:59 fight guys that I was supposed to lose pretty much my whole career.
11:02 And that definitely give me something or make me find something inside me that
11:07 most people won't find out because they went the long run.
11:09 >> Thank you.
11:11 >> Thank you.
11:12 >> Chito, over here.
11:16 When Sean was asked earlier about his prediction on the fight,
11:19 he said he was putting you to sleep.
11:21 What are your predictions for the fight on Saturday?
11:24 >> Winning.
11:25 Kicking his ass.
11:27 >> Thank you, Chito.
11:28 >> Thank you.
11:29 >> Arrecho.
11:30 >> Over here, please, over here.
11:37 Over here.
11:37 Hello, Chito.
11:39 I knew for a good source that the president of Ecuador,
11:45 Daniel Novoa, is following your fight against Sean O'Malley.
11:49 Is it possible that he will go to the Casillas Center and
11:53 sit next to the Dinah White?
11:56 >> It's very possible.
11:58 It's a president of a country, so it will be easier to get him that type of seat.
12:04 But I wanna have him talk to Daniel too.
12:08 I gotta see if he's here first.
12:10 >> Thank you, Chito.
12:12 >> Thank you, guys.
12:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]