Mexican mixed martial artist David Martinez is twenty-seven years old and in his own words he is “new blood” in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada and hands-down the most popular and largest MMA promotion company in the world with about 580 contracted mixed martial artists across twelve weight divisions.
But this Sunday (March 1) Martinez will be up against someone who he himself has called a “legend” –thirty-three year old Ecuadorian, Marlon “Chito” Vera.
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Vera, a proponent of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is a former title challenger and will take on Martinez (who is nicknamed “doctor” because he studied medicine at the University of Mexico) in the co-main event of UFC Mexico City, inside Arena CDMX in Mexico – Martinez’s home country. The Mexican is just two fights into his UFC career but is already being talked about as a fighter to watch out for in the Bantamweight division (up to 135 pounds), but “Chito” Vera will be a very tough opponent. In an interview with Yahoo Sports recently, Martinez said, “I need to fight with heart because he (Vera) is a very strong opponent…enjoy the fight; that’s it. I am ready for three, five, or 10 rounds with Chito Vera.”
Martinez knows he has to be at his best, but on paper Vera is the underdog and, according to reports, this is a must-win fight for the Ecuadorian if he is to prevent “a total career freefall”, considering he is currently on a three-fight losing streak. Interestingly, Vera is ranked ninth in the Bantamweight Division of the UFC, while Martinez is just behind him at number 10. A win for the Mexican youngster would see him leapfrog Vera in the rankings and potentially push the 33-year-old, who has been called one of the division’s most dangerous fighters in the past and according to Martinez himself is “a legend in Latin America, a legend in Mexico too..”, outside the top 15.
It will be Brazilian jiu-jitsu vs Kyokushin karate and kickboxing in a classic North America vs South America clash that will see MMA fans across Latin America tuning in to watch what is expected to be a classic contest between the old and the new. While Martinez would want to stamp his authority on the Division, Vera will be looking to send out a loud and clear message – that he still has what it takes to dominate.
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MMA and the UFC fights are very popular in India with a diverse viewership base. Interestingly, according to reports, women make up about 41 per cent of the MMA watching audience in India. Over the years the success that Indian MMA fighters like Bharat Khandare (first Indian-born UFC fighter), Arjan Bhullar, and Anshul Jubli have tasted in the UFC has further fuelled MMA viewership and support in India. MMA is said to be growing rapidly in certain Indian geographical pockets, including, predominantly the North East. Many Indian fans will be excited about this upcoming clash between Vera and Martinez.
And ahead of this mega clash, Marlon “Chito” Vera spoke exclusively with Firstpost from Mexico about his mental state ahead of this match-up, his MMA journey, advice for budding Indian MMA athletes who want to compete in the UFC some day and much more.
Firstpost: First up, can you tell us how old were you when you first realized that you were drawn to martial arts? What exactly was the attraction as a youngster for you to enter this world?
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Marlon Vera: I was 16 years old when I started training in jiu-jitsu. I started training after watching the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and I just dreamed of being a UFC fighter.
FP: You hail from Ecuador. Does the country have a rich history of martial arts? What or who were your early influences?
MV: Honestly, no. Ecuador has no martial arts history at all. But the jiu-jitsu community is very big, So, when I started training, I went to a jiu-jitsu academy and I fell in love with the sport right away and I just wanted to learn how to grapple and then eventually learn how to fight.
My early influences in fighting would be GSP (Georges St-Pierre – three-time former UFC Welterweight champion) and Jon Jones (Jonathan Dwight Jones – an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed from 2008 to 2024 and is one of only eleven fighters who have won UFC championship titles in two different weight classes).
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FP: Can you tell us what about Brazilian jui-jitsu fascinated you the most?
MV: I mean, I think the fact that if you are on the ground and you have to defend yourself against anyone who might have experience of street (fighting), you’re going to be able to beat anyone (if you know jiu-jitsu).
FP: How long did it take you to master this martial art and receive your black belt?
MV: It took me I would say around eight to nine years. But you know you never finish mastering the process. You always keep getting better at doing (these) things.
FP: What would you say are your biggest strengths as an MMA fighter? Things that you think set you apart from others in the ring?
MV: I would say the mental mindset, the belief in myself and the hard work.
FP: So, you are currently ranked ninth in the UFC Bantamweight rankings. You’ve been hailed in the past as being one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. What are your realistic goals for the next one-year cycle?
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MV: My goal is to win my next fight. I’m training very hard to get it done and I’m excited to be able to compete here in Mexico.
FP: Talking about your next fight – it is on March 1st in Mexico against David Martinez – who is just behind you in the bantamweight rankings as number 10, and holds black belts in Kyokushin karate and kickboxing. He’s also six years younger to you. What is the strategy for the fight and what are you targeting the most?
MV: I feel like I have to put him (David Martinez) under pressure. That karate style can be broken by pressure and a lot of combination with power.
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FP: You had spoken earlier about how you spent the one year away from the ring from 2024 to 2025, sharpening your grappling and wrestling skills and also focusing on starting fights faster. As things stand right now, do you feel stronger in those areas?
MV: I’m very prepared and I’m excited for this challenge.
FP: So far in your career, which has been your most memorable bout? Against whom and why?
MV: I think it has to be when I fought for the title. That was the biggest fight of my career and it was the biggest challenge of my career. So, I will say that that’s the biggest one and the one that gave me a great experience in challenging for a world title.
FP: Now, a number of martial artists from India have competed in the UFC over the years and popularity of UFC and MMA has grown a lot here. What would be your advice to Indian youngsters who have just started their MMA journey and dream of someday competing in the UFC?
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MV: Hard work, dedication, stay away from distractions, and there has to be a lot of focus and a lot of discipline.
FP: Can you tell us who gave you the nickname Chito and what does it mean?
MV: It’s something that my mom called me since I was a kid so I’ve been called that my whole life.
FP: You made your UFC debut in 2014 and from there on till now you have a 23-11 win-loss record. Overall, for you what has the journey been like and what does it mean for you to be an MMA superstar?
MV: I mean it’s been it’s been a long great journey. It’s been a lot of hard work. Lots of ups and downs, but I’m just grateful to be able to do what I love. And for me to be still loving the sport is something amazing. So, I’m just going to keep going, push myself hard and when it’s time to fight, fight very hard.
FP: Can you tell us what is the most interesting or memorable fan interaction you have had so far? Any experience with a fan or group of fans that you will always remember?
MV: I feel like every time I’m going through places and you know people show you love and show you appreciation, it’s something very great for me. So, I’m just happy about the love that I get from people.
FP: You’ve been part of the cast as a member of the Ultimate Fighter Latin America. Tell us what that experience was like. What new things did you learn as a part of that show?
MV: The Ultimate Fighter was a good experience. It’s hard because you stay away from everybody, but it’s something that shows you where you can go. And it’s a great opportunity to become part of the company. So, I’m happy I was able to experience that.
FP: Lastly, how often do you get to go back to your home city of Chone in Ecuador?
MV: I try to go at least once a year or when I have to go for work, but I try to go often.
Watch Moreno vs Kavanagh on 1st March, 2026 from 6:30 AM IST live on the Sony Sports Network.
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