Ecuadorian UFC Star Marlon Vera Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Late Kobe Bryant: “Kobe Used to Say…”

Kobe Bryant was a global icon who inspired millions of people worldwide with his dedication and work ethic. Even after his tragic passing in 2020, his legacy continues to inspire people from all walks of life. One such person is UFC bantamweight fighter Marlon Vera, who credits Bryant as his inspiration.

Over the years, Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera has established himself as one of the top bantamweights in the promotion. Vera has been on a roll recently, carrying a 4 fight-win streak. Ahead of his upcoming fight against Cory Sandhagen at UFC on ESPN 43, Vera revealed in an interview with ‘MMA Junkie’ that Kobe Bryant is one of his biggest inspirations.

Marlon Vera draws inspiration from Kobe Bryant

When talking about his improvement in UFC and his fighters’ mindset, Vera gave a lot of credit to the people he takes inspiration from. “I think I admire the right people. … The reason I keep this mentality of putting repetition over time or staying consistent on being a month ahead of my opponents is because I admire Kobe Bryant,” said Vera.

He also mentioned the late basketball legend’s habit of out-training his competitors, even in the off-season. “Like Kobe used to say, in the off season, he’s practicing one thing, practicing one thing. By the time his (Bryant’s) opponents, the other teams started the season, he’s already miles away,” said Vera, praising Bryant’s work ethic.

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Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera talked about how he tries to incorporate this same habit in his own life. “I’m always doing something, I’m always in the gym, I’m always trying to evolve.”

The first time Marlon Vera saw Kobe Bryant in real life

The interviewer then questioned Vera about meeting Kobe Bryant at the 2017 fighter’s summit. After taking a minute to recall, Vera said that he was present at the summit. However, Vera could not recognize Bryant. Only after he heard Bryant’s words, he understood that the person he was listening to was his inspiration.

“I knew about him before, I don’t know how he looks, who he is, I just read about him. When he was speaking, it took me a couple minutes to realize this is the guy I’m a fan of,” said the 30-year-old UFC fighter.

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Kobe Bryant‘s legacy continues to inspire people around the world, and Marlon Vera is one of those people. As he prepares for his upcoming fight against Cory Sandhagen, he channels Bryant’s work ethic and dedication to be the best.