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Marlon Vera opens up on mental health issues amidst four-fight UFC skid

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3 weeks ago

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Marlon Vera opens up on mental health issues amidst four-fight UFC skid
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Pros react after Islam Makhachev defeats Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330
Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Former UFC bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera questioned everything during his recent struggles inside the Octagon.

Marlon Vera has struggled since a loss to then-UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley at UFC 299. Following a unanimous decision title fight loss to O'Malley in their UFC 299 rematch, Vera has lost three consecutive fights and is out of the bantamweight Top 15 for the first time in years.

Vera will look to right the ship when he faces Charles Jourdain at UFC 331 later this month. The card is headlined by a rematch between UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van and former titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.

Vera's current skid is the longest of his career by a considerable margin, and the UFC fan favorite hasn't won consecutive fights since 2022. Dealing with unprecedented adversity, Vera's mental strength has been tested, as he recently admitted ahead of his return.

Marlon Vera opens up on ‘depressing' losing skid ahead of UFC 331

In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Vera was asked about the mental toll his recent struggles have taken on him.

“It's pretty s—–. It's hard, man. It's depressing. It hits you where it matters the most. I don't even really know how to express it,†Vera admitted.

“You put so much into it. You're trying so hard and you fail. Then you say, ‘OK, let's get back on the horse. I'm a tough person. I've got to keep my chin high.' And then you fail again, and you fail again.

“You get to the point where it's like, ‘OK, I'm not ever going to succeed again. This is just not working for me.'†Vera continued. “Then you go into yourself and you're like, ‘What's wrong? What am I doing wrong?'â€

If Vera is victorious at UFC 331, he could potentially return to the bantamweight Top 15. In the meantime, recent work with Raul Rosas Jr. and his new team might've paid massive dividends.

What is your prediction for Marlon Vera vs. Charles Jourdain? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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MMA

Colby Covington tells Gable Steveson to cut Jon Jones following UFC 331 loss

Published

3 hours ago

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September 23, 2026

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Colby Covington tells Gable Steveson to cut Jon Jones following UFC 331 loss
Colby
Covington believes Gable
Steveson needs to make changes after suffering his first defeat
in mixed martial arts.

The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim titleholder singled out
Steveson training under Jon Jones as
one of the changes the Olympian needs to make following his
12-second knockout loss to heavy underdog Sean Sharaf
at UFC
331.

Covington says Steveson should find a new camp and return to
his Olympic wrestling roots

In an interview with Submission Radio, “Chaos†said Steveson has
moved too far away from the wrestling that made him an Olympic
champion, arguing that the heavyweight should return to his roots
rather than focusing on his striking.

“I definitely saw this coming,†Covington told Submission Radio.
“You know, he was over-hyping himself, overlooking other
competitors and he just thought he was invincible. You don’t see
him try to wrestle in any fights; he’s just going straight into
striking. But when you forget about what got you to the dance,
that’s always going to be a recipe for disaster.â€

Covington then suggested that Steveson needs to leave Jones, his
Iowa Central Community College roommate, and train elsewhere.

“Jon Jones is bad energy,†Covington said. “That guy is a demon,
man. So, he should definitely cut Jon Jones, and get to a new camp,
get focused and start believing and start using his wrestling, what
got you to the dance.â€

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MMA

Khamzat Chimaev to headline RAF Abu Dhabi debut on Nov. 14

Published

6 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

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Khamzat Chimaev to headline RAF Abu Dhabi debut on Nov. 14
Real American Freestyle has signed a five-year partnership with the
Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the UAE Wrestling
Federation, with the agreement beginning Nov. 14 at Etihad
Arena.

Khamzat
Chimaev will headline RAF's debut event in the Middle East,
with his opponent to be announced in the coming weeks. Arman
Tsarukyan, Henry
Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder and Abdulrashid Sadulaev
are also set to compete, with their matchups still to be
revealed.

Real American Freestyle signs five-year partnership with Abu
Dhabi

Chimaev has become one of RAF's crossover attractions since joining
the promotion. The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder made
his RAF debut against Dillon
Danis before facing Tyron
Woodley in Moscow and Gilbert
Burns at RAF 13.

The Abu Dhabi event marks RAF's third international show in its
first year, following events in Tbilisi and Moscow. The new
partnership will establish Abu Dhabi as a recurring stop on the
promotion's international calendar.

“From day one, our ambition has been to bring RAF to the world's
great sports markets, and there is no better place for this next
chapter than Abu Dhabi,†RAF CEO and co-founder Chad Bronstein
said. “Abu Dhabi is one of the premier destinations for combat
sports, with the vision and infrastructure to deliver events that
resonate globally. This five-year partnership gives us the
opportunity to make RAF Abu Dhabi a signature event and build
something meaningful for athletes, fans and the region for years to
come.â€

The Nov. 14 card will feature a mixture of Olympic champions, world
champions, NCAA standouts, and crossover athletes from wrestling
and mixed martial arts, with additional matchups and event details
to be announced soon.

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MMA

Shavkat Rakhmonov is back to wrestling in encouraging UFC return sign

Published

9 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

By

Shavkat Rakhmonov is back to wrestling in encouraging UFC return sign
Shavkat
Rakhmonov's recovery and rehabilitation from multiple leg
injuries is seemingly moving in the right direction.

The undefeated welterweight recently shared footage on his
Instagram stories, in which he's seen doing some light wrestling
work. Rakhmonov hasn't competed since December 2024, with multiple
injury setbacks preventing a return to competition. However, the
recent video he and his coach shared online could be a sign of good
things to come.

Shavkat Rakhmonov continues recovery after calling for Islam
Makhachev matchup

Rakhmonov (19-0) was working on his clinch work in the video shared
on Instagram. He appears to be in good spirits and, notably, didn't
have a protective boot on his leg as he did in a recent
interview.

While speaking to AFL Global in an interview posted on Sept. 6, the
Kazakh was wearing a full protective boot. He's now boot-free and
gunning for an Octagon return, evidenced by his comments in said
interview, wherein he said he matches up well with current
welterweight champ Islam
Makhachev.

Rakhmonov expressed frustration after Makhachev did not mention him
among the leading 170-pound contenders, prompting the latter to
respond that he would consider the matchup once “Nomad†has
recovered and returned to action in the UFC.

“Well, Rakhmonov gave an interview recently with a huge brace on
his knee and he says he wants to fight,†Makhachev said during a
media scrum. “Choose him and wait for 1.5 years? Let him recover
and he will become one of the contenders.â€


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