In a bold move, Marlon Vera (23-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) has set his sights on Cory Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) if he secures the bantamweight title by defeating Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the UFC 299 headliner at Kaseya Center on March 9 in Miami. This potential matchup stems from Vera’s determination to avenge his past loss to Sandhagen in the UFC on ESPN 43 headliner.
Vera and O’Malley clashed in August 2020, where Vera handed O’Malley the first and only loss of his career via TKO. Now, in their UFC 299 rematch, Vera aims to solidify his dominance in the division and snatch the bantamweight crown.
Speaking about a potential showdown with Sandhagen, Vera expressed he will ask for Sandhagen because he beat him. That’s the only reason he would choose that fight. The winner of Merab (Dvalishvili) and Henry (Cejudo) is also a big fight, and the UFC knows who to pick. But if he had to choose himself, he would want to kick Cory’s ass.”
Acknowledging that his opportunity at the title came about due to his victory over O’Malley, Vera mentioned that the fight was happening because of that win. He expressed contentment that the bout unfolded as it did and noted that it was the perfect moment for a title fight. Vera is enthusiastic about the prospect of soon becoming a world champion.
As the excitement builds for UFC 299’s headliner, fans are eagerly anticipating whether Marlon Vera can once again secure a win against O’Malley and potentially set the stage for an intense showdown with Cory Sandhagen. Stay tuned for the captivating journey towards the bantamweight title!
