Marlon Vera wants fights with Dominick Cruz or Jose Aldo after his win at UFC Vegas 29.
After his win against Davey Grant at UFC Vegas 29 this past weekend, Marlon Vera thinks it makes sense if he fights Dominick Cruz next.
Vera took home an extra $50,000 for his decision win over Grant, after their back and forth war earned the Fight of the Night accolade. ‘Chito’ called out the former UFC bantamweight champion Cruz in his post-fight interview after defeating Grant.
Talking at the post-fight press conference. Vera explained that he won’t beg for a fight with Cruz and would be open to a rematch with Jose Aldo, but he doesn’t think the Brazilian would want it.
“I would like to fight with Cruz,” Vera said (h/t MMA Junkie). “It’s not like I’m dying for the fight, but I think it makes sense. But anybody in the top 10 to top five, I would love to fight. Since they gave me this rematch, I’d be willing to fight (Jose) Aldo next, but I don’t think he’ll do it. Before the fight last time, he declined a five-rounder – so I think he knew. But f—k it. I take the loss like a man, I get better, and I was able to do that today.”
Replying to Vera’s callout whilst on commentary duty for UFC Vegas 29, the #9 ranked Cruz said he wants to fight someone ranked above him rather than below him.
“I respect him for that, but the UFC might call him for the fight,” the #15 ranked Vera said. “We’ll see. If I’m not wrong, they called him before after my fight with Song Yadong, and I believe he declined it – so we’ll see what happens. I’m going to fight anybody at any time, so they know me.”