The UFC is finalizing a huge main event that will go down in the bantamweight division. ESPN Deportes reported last night that the promotion was in the process of finalizing a matchup between former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (24-3) and Marlon “Chito” Vera (21-7-1).
The matchup will headline a UFC Fight Night on August 13th. This is by far the biggest fight of Chito Vera’s career and he will be looking to defeat another former champion. Since August of 2020, Chito Vera has been on an incredible roll.
He became the first man to defeat Sean O’Malley and from there, he would go on to win three of his next four. The lone loss came to Jose Aldo in December of 2020 following the O’Malley win.
Since that loss to Aldo, Vera has won three straight. His last fight was a headliner against Rob Font and he brutalized Font over five rounds. Prior to that, he knocked out former UFC champion Frankie Edgar with a brutal front kick. A win over Dominick Cruz in August could signal a title shot.
Another UFC title run for Cruz
Regardless of how the rest of his career goes, the career of Dominick Cruz will always be looked at as a “What could have been.” Back in 2011, Dominick Cruz was the UFC bantamweight champion and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
However, he’s only fought seven times since 2011 due to a number of injuries. During that stretch, he had two separate three-plus year layoffs. Now, he did come back and defeat TJ Dillashaw to become UFC champion again, however, I feel like we really missed the prime of Dominick Cruz.
That being said, he’s making another run towards UFC gold. He’s won back-to-back fights most recently against Pedro Munhoz. Cruz looked sensational in that matchup outside of getting dropped once in the first round.
If Dominick Cruz can defeat Chito Vera, it’ll show that he can contend for the bantamweight title. Given his track record, don’t be shocked if he gets a title shot with a win.