Marlon Vera is scheduled to face Deiveson Figueiredo on the main card of UFC Abu Dhabi in a bantamweight bout.
Vera [15-8 UFC] hopes to recover from his title loss as he takes on former flyweight champion Figueiredo, who has shown some groundwork in his previous fight. The Brazillian has been training with Khabib Nuramagomedov–known for his wrestling skills– and plans to take the fight to the floor the first chance he gets. However, Vera doesn’t see this as a threat, and he plans on slicing him up.
“F**k yeah, Khabib, that’s cool. 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**k,” Vera said at UFC Abu Dhabi media day.
“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.”
Vera has made it known he intends to be the first person to knock out Figueiredo. He knows the fighter will come at him early in the round for a takedown, and he is fully prepared for that.
“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.”
Despite his previous defeat, Vera plans to put on a good performance and work hard after his last battle.
“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.”
