Bantamweight · “Chito”
Marlon Vera
23-12-1 UFC 16-11-0
One-Punch Power
Granite Chin
Forward Pressure
Finisher
Hittable
5'8"Height
70"Reach
SwitchStance
33Age
8KO wins
4Sub wins
75.0%Finish rate
13:32Avg fight
Skill profile
striking
very good
1 read
grappling
not yet read
wrestling
not yet read
cardio
not yet read
durability
elite
1 read
One-Punch Power
16 knockdowns · 0.66 per 15 min
Granite Chin
dropped once in 365 minutes of cage time · 0 losses by knockout
Forward Pressure
4.2 landed and 5.4 absorbed per minute — he turns fights into firefights
Finisher
75% of wins by knockout or submission (8 KO, 4 sub)
Hittable
absorbs 5.4 significant strikes per minute
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min4.24
Sig. strikes absorbed / min5.39
Striking accuracy47.9%
Striking defense49.6%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.66
Takedowns / 15 min0.57
Takedown accuracy45.2%
Takedown defense72.0%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.74
Control time9.0%
Record vs .500+ opponents11-8
Insider info
David Martinez favored — picked against Marlon Vera clear UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs Kavanagh · February 22, 2026
strikingvery good
durabilityelite
Favors the more well-rounded, cardio-heavy volume fighter, seeing the opponent's power as basically a puncher's chance.
Vera remains a serious threat because of his one-shot power and sharp counters — a single clean strike from him can end a fight outright or completely swing a round. He reads opponents well, has strong striking defense, and has been dropped only once in his entire career on a shot that didn't even really hurt him, plus he brings nasty clinch elbows. The issues are that he can be smothered and held down if taken down, and he's a notoriously slow starter, which has been the difference in some of his losses. Against a durable, high-output opponent, the knockout is seen as close to his only realistic path to victory.
Strengthone-shot knockout power
Strengthsharp counters
Strengthreads opponents well
Strengthstrong striking defense
Strengthelite chin
Strengthnasty clinch elbows
Weaknesscan be controlled and held down if taken down
Weaknessnotoriously slow starter
Striking trend
Fight history
W Charles Jourdain 18-8-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 2:02 — UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2 · September 19, 2026
72/128Sig. strikes
83/127Absorbed
3/3Takedowns
2:15Control
3Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L David Martinez 2-0 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh · February 28, 2026
42/145Sig. strikes
71/155Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:04Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Aiemann Zahabi 13-2 walk-in Decision - Split · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. Allen · October 18, 2025
56/152Sig. strikes
81/152Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:03Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Deiveson Figueiredo 23-3-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov · August 3, 2024
52/117Sig. strikes
45/90Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:08Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Sean O'Malley 17-1 walk-in TITLE Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 · March 9, 2024
89/241Sig. strikes
230/356Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Pedro Munhoz 20-7 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · August 19, 2023
141/251Sig. strikes
113/246Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Cory Sandhagen 15-4 walk-in Decision - Split · R5 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Sandhagen · March 25, 2023
58/158Sig. strikes
128/280Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:09Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Dominick Cruz 24-3 walk-in KO/TKO · R4 2:17 — UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. Cruz · August 13, 2022
61/156Sig. strikes
92/249Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:10Control
3Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Rob Font 19-5 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Vera · April 30, 2022
159/283Sig. strikes
271/516Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
2:05Control
3Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Frankie Edgar 24-9-1 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:50 — UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 · November 6, 2021
88/164Sig. strikes
94/155Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:01Control
1Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Davey Grant 13-4 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Jung vs. Ige · June 19, 2021
105/162Sig. strikes
83/168Absorbed
2/2Takedowns
5:15Control
0Knockdowns
3Sub attempts
L Jose Aldo 28-7 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal · December 19, 2020
46/82Sig. strikes
44/70Absorbed
0/3Takedowns
2:51Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Sean O'Malley 12-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 4:40 — UFC 252: Miocic vs. Cormier 3 · August 15, 2020
18/30Sig. strikes
10/21Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:11Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Song Yadong 15-5-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris · May 16, 2020
92/164Sig. strikes
101/201Absorbed
2/3Takedowns
3:15Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Andre Ewell 15-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:17 — UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson · October 12, 2019
80/133Sig. strikes
50/131Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
1:12Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Nohelin Hernandez 0-0 walk-in Submission · R2 3:25 — UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos · July 6, 2019
10/27Sig. strikes
22/46Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
2:22Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
W Frankie Saenz 12-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 1:25 — UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis · March 23, 2019
12/16Sig. strikes
4/10Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:03Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Guido Cannetti 8-3 walk-in Submission · R2 1:31 — UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio · November 17, 2018
24/35Sig. strikes
24/42Absorbed
2/2Takedowns
1:21Control
1Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Wulijiburen 11-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 4:53 — UFC 227: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 · August 4, 2018
45/86Sig. strikes
31/61Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
1:01Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Douglas Silva de Andrade 24-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders · February 3, 2018
72/191Sig. strikes
97/232Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:01Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L John Lineker 27-8 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida · October 28, 2017
49/117Sig. strikes
77/171Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Brian Kelleher 17-7 walk-in Submission · R1 2:18 — UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum · July 22, 2017
5/15Sig. strikes
8/16Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:07Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
W Brad Pickett 25-13 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:50 — UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson · March 18, 2017
67/143Sig. strikes
51/113Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:04Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Guangyou Ning 5-3-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson · November 26, 2016
36/72Sig. strikes
46/107Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
2:44Control
1Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Davey Grant 9-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Bisping · February 27, 2016
23/66Sig. strikes
72/109Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
1:24Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Roman Salazar 9-3 walk-in Submission · R2 2:15 — UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Saint Preux · August 8, 2015
25/48Sig. strikes
14/29Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:06Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Marco Beltran 11-3 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 180: Werdum vs Hunt · November 15, 2014
25/56Sig. strikes
31/62Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
6:02Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.
Record breakdown
Wins by method
KO/TKO
8
Submission
10
Decision
5
Other
0
Losses by method
KO/TKO
0
Submission
0
Decision
12
Other
0
Draws: 1
Fights by organization
UFC
26
Inka
3
Mexican Fighters Promotions
1
300 Sparta
1
Ultimate Combat Challenge
1
Punisher Machala
1
Samurai FC
1
Extreme FC
1
+ 1 more organizations in the full career list
Full career — 36 fights, every organization
| Opponent | Method | Event | Org | Rd | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | David Martínez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Kavanagh
February 28, 2026 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Aiemann Zahabi | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen
October 18, 2025 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Deiveson Figueiredo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov
August 3, 2024 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Sean O'Malley | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 299
March 9, 2024 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Pedro Munhoz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 292
August 19, 2023 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Cory Sandhagen | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen
March 25, 2023 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Dominick Cruz | KO (head kick) | UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Cruz
August 13, 2022 |
UFC | 4 | 2:17 |
| W | Rob Font | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Vera
April 30, 2022 |
UFC | 5 | 5:00 |
| W | Frankie Edgar | KO (front kick) | UFC 268
November 6, 2021 |
UFC | 3 | 3:50 |
| W | Davey Grant | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: The Korean Zombie vs. Ige
June 19, 2021 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | José Aldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal
December 19, 2020 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Sean O'Malley | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 252
August 15, 2020 |
UFC | 1 | 4:40 |
| L | Song Yadong | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris
May 16, 2020 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Andre Ewell | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson
October 12, 2019 |
UFC | 3 | 3:17 |
| W | Nohelin Hernandez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 239
July 6, 2019 |
UFC | 2 | 3:25 |
| W | Frankie Saenz | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis
March 23, 2019 |
UFC | 1 | 1:25 |
| W | Guido Cannetti | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio
November 17, 2018 |
UFC | 2 | 1:31 |
| W | Wuliji Buren | TKO (body punch) | UFC 227
August 4, 2018 |
UFC | 2 | 4:53 |
| L | Douglas Silva de Andrade | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders
February 3, 2018 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | John Lineker | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida
October 28, 2017 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Brian Kelleher | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum
July 22, 2017 |
UFC | 1 | 2:18 |
| W | Brad Pickett | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson
March 18, 2017 |
UFC | 3 | 3:50 |
| W | Ning Guangyou | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson
November 27, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| L | Davey Grant | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping
February 27, 2016 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Roman Salazar | Submission (triangle armbar) | UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux
August 8, 2015 |
UFC | 2 | 2:15 |
| L | Marco Beltrán | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 180
November 15, 2014 |
UFC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | D'Juan Owens | Submission (heel hook) | Inka 24
October 23, 2013 |
Inka | 1 | 1:54 |
| L | Bruno Leandro Lobato | Decision (unanimous) | Inka 23
August 24, 2013 |
Inka | 3 | 5:00 |
| D | Fábio Bispo | Draw (unanimous) | Inka 22
June 29, 2013 |
Inka | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Luis Roberto Herrera | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Mexican Fighters Promotions 16
May 25, 2013 |
Mexican Fighters Promotions | 1 | 1:50 |
| W | Joel Iglesias | KO (elbows) | 300 Sparta 1
April 24, 2013 |
300 Sparta | 1 | 4:04 |
| W | Javier Umana Munoz | Submission (triangle choke) | Ultimate Combat Challenge 13
January 18, 2013 |
Ultimate Combat Challenge | 2 | 4:44 |
| W | Alexis Patino Pinos | Submission (armbar) | Punisher Machala 4
May 26, 2012 |
Punisher Machala | 1 | 4:00 |
| W | Jack Guzman | Submission (triangle choke) | Samurai FC 7
February 20, 2012 |
Samurai FC | 1 | — |
| W | Cesar Moreno | Decision (unanimous) | Extreme FC 2
June 18, 2011 |
Extreme FC | 3 | 5:00 |
| W | Romel Orosco | Submission (armbar) | Quito Fight Club 3
July 24, 2010 |
Quito Fight Club | 2 | 1:12 |
Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Marlon Vera) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.
Division context
Hero photo of Marlon Vera by Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons