A bantamweight match-up between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera has been made official.
Last month, the rising prospect expressed his interest in facing the veteran sometime in August and Vera made it clear that he wanted to step into the octagon against O’Malley as well. Now, the fight will take place at UFC 252 on August 15.
O’Malley is coming off a TKO victory over Eddie Wineland at UFC 250. The bantamweight has also beaten José Alberto Quiñónez in a first-round TKO back at UFC 248. Since his introduction on Dana White’s Contender Series, the Montana native has continued to impress with victories over Terrion Ware (via unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter: A New World Champion Finale) and Andre Soukhamthath (via unanimous decision at UFC 222) as well. O’Malley’s professional record currently stands at 12 wins and 0 losses.
Vera was in the midst of a five-fight winning streak before it was snapped by Song Yadong at UFC on ESPN 8. Still, he owns recent victories over Andre Ewell (via TKO at UFC Fight Night 161), Wuliji Buren (via knockout at UFC 227), Guido Cannetti (via submission at UFC Fight Night 140), Frankie Saenz (via knockout at UFC Fight Night 148), and Nohelin Hernandez (via submission at UFC 239). Vera’s professional record currently stands at 15 wins, 6 losses, and 1 no contest.
Check out the updated line-up for UFC 252, with Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic for the UFC Heavyweight title set as the main event:
Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier – UFC Heavyweight Title
Junior Dos Santos vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera
Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
Felice Herrig vs. Virna Jandiroba
Rogerio Bontorin vs. Manel Kape
Zelim Imadaev vs. Laureano Staropoli