Marlon Vera knows the stakes are high for his UFC Vegas 53 main event fight against Rob Font.
Vera is set for his first UFC main event and it’s a big one as he’s facing the fifth-ranked bantamweight in Font. It’s an intriguing matchup as both Vera and Font are underrated and if Vera can get his hand raised, he believes he could get a title shot.
“I believe a great win on Saturday night would put me in title contention,” he said at media day. “Depending on how the cards are played at the top, it’s either I can go straight for the belt or I have another fight. But a win this Saturday puts me right there.”
Although Vera thinks he can get a title shot, the bantamweight division is deep as it seems TJ Dillashaw is next for Aljamain Sterling. If he does win, it would only be three in a row and only one win over a top-five guy. As well, it seems that Jose Aldo should be next after Dillashaw given he holds a win over Vera, but if he makes a statement performance perhaps he leapfrogs the Brazilian.
Regardless, Marlon Vera is just focused on Saturday night and defeating Rob Font. He says he is in the best form of his career right now and he expects that to show in his first of many UFC main events on Saturday night from the UFC Apex.
“I’ve got a lot of tough opponents in front of me, a lot of former champions,” he said. “I feel like all that and fighting at the top consistently will just make me a better fighter and make me more dangerous for future fights. I feel I’m at a great moment and a good mental space. Physically, I don’t think I can train harder than I already did. So I feel great, and Saturday night will come and I will kick Rob’s ass.”
