Douglas Silva de Andrade was ready for a war, and he got one from Marlon Vera — but in the end, outworked and overpowered his opponent.
UFC Belem (UFC Fight Night 125) went down Saturday night in Brazil, marking the promotion’s first trip to South America this year. Part of the six-fight main card, bantamweights Douglas Silva de Andrade and Marlon Vera looked to bounce back from losses, and avoid going 0-2 for the first time in the promotion.
Vera entered the night off a loss to John Lineker at UFC Fight Night 119. Andrade, meanwhile, was submitted by Rob Font at UFC 213 last time out. Their battle was promoted to the main card in the wake of John Dodson vs. Pedro Munhoz being pulled from the event. That was a result of Munhoz missing weight.
Douglas Silva de Andrade got right to work off the opening bell, launching a kick, but Marlon Vera battled back, throwing a kick and later a left hand of his own. Andrade seemed to be loading up his punches, swinging for the fences; an attack to the body was countered by a left from Vera. Is was Andrade being the aggressor and backing his foe up, but Vera managed to catch a kick, changing momentum briefly.
With just over ninety seconds to go in round one, however, it was Andrade landing with a right on the chin of Vera. He’d later fan on a huge uppercut; then, with less than thirty seconds to go in the frame he went for a takedown, scoring it in the final seconds.
Round two saw Vera trying to unload more kicks and stay active, at his corner’s request. However, he soon ate a left hook from Andrade; that appeared to open a cut by the eyebrow. Vera was soon being swarmed, eating a number of shots from Andrade. Andrade was closing the distance well, and began mixing body shots into his combinations. His explosive first step was allowing him to close the distance, and Vera, now masked in blood, seemed to have little answer. A crushing right hand hit home for de Andrade towards the end of the round, and he was well ahead on the scorecards.
With the crowd on fire to start the third, Vera looked to find a way, any way, to get back in the fight. However, Andrade refused to let him find his rhythm. His power was still there, and when Vera did attack, he couldn’t land clean. Vera came close to getting something going around three minutes in, only for Andrade to escape. Then, in the final seconds, it was Douglas Silva de Andrade waving Vera in, looking to slug it out in the final moments of the round. He was still fired up after the final bell as the fight went to the judges.
Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Marlon Vera by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
