Marlon Vera considers his loss to Jose Aldo as a pivotal moment in his career.
After his defeat to Sean O’Malley in 2020, Vera had the opportunity to fight former champion Aldo later that year. Despite winning the second round, Vera lost by unanimous decision after being controlled in the third round.
Vera (21-8-1 MMA, 15-7 UFC) admitted that he made a critical error at the beginning of the final round and gained a significant lesson from the loss.
“That loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially when watching it back. In the first round, I was analyzing his speed and trying to gauge his movements. By the end of the second round, I was confident I had won. He seemed worn out,” Vera shared.
“I sensed his energy drop and got overconfident. I started making foolish mistakes like being flashy and throwing unnecessary punches. I let my guard down, and that’s where I lost the fight,” he added.
Following this defeat, Vera has achieved success in five out of his last six fights, securing wins over fighters like Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz. His performance earned him his first title victory and a rematch with bantamweight champion O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the main event of UFC 299 on March 9th in Miami.
Reflecting on the loss, Vera expressed, “It was a painful experience. I was really tough on myself and went through a dark period. It was a valuable lesson though. Making that mistake was a turning point for me, and I learned a lot from it.”
“I now view my career differently. It made me realize the importance of staying focused and disciplined. That loss, in hindsight, was a blessing in disguise. Learning from a legend like Jose Aldo was a unique experience,” he concluded.
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