Marlon Vera says he feels ready for Saturday, and UFC 331 will give him a clear test of that confidence.
Vera, a former title challenger, faces Charles Jourdain on the prelims at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The matchup comes at an important moment for Vera, who is trying to snap a four-fight losing skid while Jourdain enters on a three-fight winning streak.
During media day on Wednesday, Vera told MMA Junkie and other reporters that he is excited for the fight and believes his body is healthy heading into the bout. He said the changes he made were less about learning something completely new and more about getting back to what worked for him before.
“I’m pretty excited. I’m feeling ready,” Vera said. “My body is healthy and more than anything, all these changes that I have done, it’s not like I’m going to learn 30 more techniques, or I’m going to learn this. There’s not really secrets in the game, right? But what I definitely did was bring back weapons that I used to use in the past, like bring more of my kickboxing, not just heavy pressure with big hands.”
Vera also said he changed camps, brought back old coaches and joined forces with the Rosas before this fight. He described Saturday as the “ultimate test,” saying the changes will matter most once the cage door closes.
“Whatever I did, whatever I say, doesn’t matter. On fight night, I will see myself what I got,” Vera said.
Why the matchup matters
Vera’s recent stretch has forced him to reflect on the way he fights and the way close decisions have gone against him. He said he has watched some of those fights back and felt he could have done more, even if he still believes several of the results were arguable.
“Sometimes I’m watching, and I’m like, ‘F*ck, throw, like do something,’” Vera said. “But my feet were heavy in the ground, I was trying to land.”
Jourdain is not the kind of opponent that offers a gentle return path. Vera called him a good fighter, noted that he has solid stand-up and ground work, and pointed to the Canadian’s current form as part of what makes him dangerous.
That is why this fight feels like more than just another prelim. For Vera, it is a chance to show the adjustments he made can help him turn the corner. For Jourdain, it is another opportunity to extend a winning streak and further raise his profile.
Vera said he has never been given a warm-up fight, and Saturday fits that pattern. The former title challenger has spent much of his career in difficult spots, and he says he is prepared for another one now.
“I don’t think in my whole career I had a fight that is like, ‘Oh, this fight is good for you. This is like a warm-up fight,’” Vera said. “Since the early beginnings, I’ve been thrown to the wolves.”
Now he gets another chance to respond under pressure, with UFC 331 set for Saturday in Los Angeles.
