Chito Vera says nothing has changed since his win over popular UFC bantamweight Sean O’Malley earlier this year. “There’s no difference. I’m still the same person, I still do the same thing which is work hard every day,” Chito — properly Marlon Vera — told Cageside Press during this week’s UFC Vegas 17 media day. “Keeping a good diet, keeping good energy, and just keep working toward the next fight. There’s really nothing changed.”
Vera is in what is no doubt the biggest fight of his career this Saturday. In the UFC Vegas 17 co-main event, Vera (15-6-1) takes on former featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
Of course, bantamweight Jose Aldo has yet to really look like the same creature as the featherweight kingpin who stalked the 145lb ranks for years. Aldo is winless in two fights at 135lbs.
“Definitely he’s slowing down a little bit, but you cannot count him out,” replied Vera when asked point blank if Aldo had slowed. “You cannot think it is gonna be easy. You cannot think you’re gonna walk through the guy, because when you forget about ‘you gotta fight before you win,’ you might get clipped. And then you realize you pay for your mistakes.”
With that in mind, Vera is entering this fight with a certain mindset. “I’m thinking I’m gonna be in the hardest fight of my life. I always see the best scenario but I also see and feel the worst scenario.” And that’s what he’ll prepare for, he added.
“I’m just prepared. I’m prepared and I’m ready for a hard fight. And if he slows down and gives up, good for me.” And if not, Chito Vera is ready to go to war in what he feels will be a “fun fight for the fans” — one that he will finish.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 17 media day press scrum with Chito Vera above.
