Home/UFC

Marlon Vera had a tough challenge ahead of him this past weekend. However, ‘Chito’ went in and derailed the hype train of Sean O’Malley in the co-main event of UFC 252. The win has earned him praise from the president of his nation, Ecuador.

O’Malley was coming off back-to-back wins from earlier this year. He came into the contest with a massive name behind him. However, Vera was the biggest test of his young UFC career. The fight started off with O’Malley maintaining the distance and throwing a lot of kicks from the outside.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

However, ‘Chito’ possibly checked some of those kicks, which led to O’Malley compromising his leg. He tried shaking it off but to no avail. ‘Suger’ rolled his ankle before falling to the ground. Chito blasted the 25-year old with a vicious ground-and-pound. Herb Dean stepped in a bit early to stop. However, that seems justified after seeing O’Malley in pain once the fight ended.

Despite being just 27-years of age, Marlon Vera has tons of experience of stepping inside the Octagon. Regardless, none of his previous victories came even close to giving him the attention that this one gave. The president of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, sent his best wished towards Vera. The latter acknowledged it as well.

Congratulations @chitoveraUFC! Well deserved your victory. Your triumph makes Ecuador bigger,” the President wrote on Twitter (as translated by Google).

Marlon Vera blasted Sean O’Malley for not having the dog in him

After his victory, Marlon Vera was fired up. He even called out Joe Rogan from the UFC Octagon informing that it’s not the ‘Suger Show’ but the ‘Chito Show’. During the post-fight interview with the UFC commentator, Vera credited Rogan for being the perfect example of doing the necessary hard work in one’s life.

The guy got a lot of hype, but he doesn’t have the dog in him. I said in a lot of interviews, and I will repeat it again, the dog I have inside is bigger than all these guys,” O’Malley said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Apart from Vera, a number of other fellow fighters questioned O’Malley’s will to fight after the injury. Cody Garbrabdt, who has been involved in a back-and-forth with O’Malley said that some guys are not made for war.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo labeled O’Malley as a ‘two-pump chump who couldn’t compete after breaking his nail’.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

There is no confirmation on O’Malley’s medical condition as of yet. The X-ray of his leg showed no broken bones. He is still waiting for the swelling to subside so that he can undergo an MRI scan. While there was no question about the result of the fight, the injury is something that O’Malley’s camp will seriously look into.

Regardless, at just 25-years of age and a lot of time ahead of him to rehabilitate, he can surely come back stronger.

Challenge Your Sports Knowledge!

Solve the puzzle and prove your knowledge of iconic players, terms, and moments.

Play Now!