Sean O’Malley is eagerly looking forward to the rematch against Marlon Vera, confident in his abilities and excited to have the bout finally scheduled after losing to Vera in their first match in August 2020.
Sean O’Malley is thrilled that the Marlon Vera rematch is finally official, with both fighters scheduled to meet in March as the likely main event of UFC 299. O’Malley expressed his excitement about the fight during an interview on The MMA Hour, emphasizing his confidence and readiness to face Vera in the rematch that has been highly anticipated since their first fight in 2020.
“In part because of O’Malley’s tongue-in-cheek insistence that he didn’t actually lose at all, that’s why he’s never taken the result personally,” O’Malley said. “And also why he’s confident ‘Chito’ won’t be able to replicate the feat a second time.”
O’Malley made it clear that he is fully committed to calling for the Vera rematch as his first title defense after capturing the belt in stunning fashion with a knockout of Aljamain Sterling. He even mentioned the possibility of traveling to Vera’s native home of Ecuador to get his long-awaited revenge. Despite the rivalry between the two fighters, O’Malley acknowledged Vera’s previous tough performances and expressed his excitement for the upcoming fight.
“Every fight in the UFC, even the guys that aren’t in the top 15, they could be tough fights,” O’Malley remarked. “So I’m definitely not underestimating him. I’m going to talk my s*** and I’m going to say how I feel. He’s too slow, I’m going to beat his ass. But I’m going to take him as serious as I’ve taken every guy.”
O’Malley and Vera’s unusual relationship was evident throughout the interview, including a FaceTime call from Vera while O’Malley was speaking to the interviewer. Despite their ongoing rivalry, O’Malley showed respect for Vera’s toughness and durability while maintaining his confidence and excitement for the upcoming fight.