After taking out a prospect, Marlon Vera wants to try his hands at a legend.
Vera (18-6-1 MMA, 10-5 UFC), who bounced Sean O’Malley out of the ranks of the unbeaten by stopping him in the first round at UFC 252, is looking to build off of his momentum.
He’s targeting a November return and when asked if he’d be interested in a potential bout with former UFC featherweight king Jose Aldo, his eyes lit up.
“I’d retire him in a minute – bring it,” Vera told MMA Junkie Radio. “I like that fight. That fight would excite the (expletive) out of me, and I’d take it. I’d take it, and I believe I’d finish him, so that’s a beautiful fight to make.”
Most up-and-coming stars get caught up in the moment when facing legends, but Vera admitted that while he respects Aldo (28-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC), he was never that big of a fan of him or former UFC bantamweight champ Renan Barao, who dominated the lower-weight divisions for years.
“I watch every single fight, but I didn’t follow their careers – I didn’t get to like them,” Vera said. “It’s a weird thing. There’s guys that I love and then guys I don’t care, and he’s one of the guys that I don’t really care.
“I’m sure he’s (Aldo) a sweetheart, but some fighters you just don’t like, you don’t cheer for. Every time he fought, I knew he was going to beat the guys that he beat, and I expected him to lose to Conor (McGregor). I expected him to lose to Max (Holloway). But I like him – he’s a great fighter. But I just don’t become a fanboy over the years. I don’t know, I just didn’t.”
Fresh off his pay-per-view co-main event slot, Vera is ready for an even bigger stage. He’s won six of his past seven and is ready to headline an event.
“I would love to fight five rounds,” Vera said. “I know I have the gas tank. I know I have the power to keep it up. And then on top of that, if they put me in another co-main event spot or in a big pay-per-view card, I’d take it.”
Marlon Vera would love to fight Jose Aldo next: 'I'd retire him in a minute'