"I have so much experience in the UFC. I've been here almost 11 years. You can't just overlook a guy and be like 'yeah whatever, I've fought better guys.' Because that sh*tty guy, that you called sh*tty, can beat the f*ck out of you on any given night."
"I was like, 'I won't even pick up the phone. I will train, I will figure out how to get better, but I won't fight.'"
"That's the consequences of having two months more of camp - I broke my rib."
Chito Vera has not fought since a loss to Deiveson Figueiredo in August 2024 in Abu Dhabi. He believes he returned too quickly after the UFC 299 setback and felt disconnected during the Figueiredo fight. He took a self-imposed sabbatical from live competition to train and improve without seeking bouts. A planned March return was canceled after a broken rib developed during an extended camp. Vera resumed focused training, waited for opportunities rather than requesting fights, and approaches the matchup with Aiemann Zahabi with full respect and deliberate preparation.
Read at Cageside Press
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