Oh boy, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is really spicing things up for its grand return to Abu Dhabi this summer. It’s like they’re bringing the heat, literally.
So, here’s the scoop straight from Ag. Fight on Thursday. Marlon Vera and Deiveson Figueiredo are gearing up for a bantamweight showdown. But, get this, they haven’t put pen to paper just yet. They’re at that “yeah, we’re in” stage with verbal agreements. If all goes as planned, this face-off is happening at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Mark your calendars for Aug. 3.
Vera went ahead and spilled the beans on his Instagram Stories. And, of course, other news outlets jumped on it too. This fight’s joining the Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov bout on the card. As of now, they’re the only two fights locked in.
Last time we saw Vera, things didn’t go his way against Sean O’Malley for the bantamweight title at UFC 299. Despite giving it his all, “Chito” couldn’t outstrike the champ, marking his second loss in his last three fights. But remember, Vera got this title shot after taking down Pedro Munhoz by decision in 2023. Plus, he’s got a win over O’Malley from 2020, thanks to some lethal leg kicks and ground-and-pound action.
Now, let’s talk about Figueiredo. The former flyweight champ decided to move up a weight class and seems to be loving it. Right before turning 36, he took on Rob Font and made quite the entrance into the 135-pound division. Then, at UFC 300, he made Cody Garbrandt tap out with a rear-naked choke, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with at this new weight. Remember, Figueiredo grabbed the flyweight title back in 2020 by putting Joseph Benavidez to sleep with a choke. He reclaimed it from Brandon Moreno two years later, amidst their epic four-fight saga.
So, yeah, things are heating up for the UFC’s Abu Dhabi card. Can’t wait to see how this all unfolds.