Marlon Vera is gearing up for a highly anticipated bantamweight showdown against Deiveson Figueiredo this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi. As fight night approaches, Figueiredo is riding a wave of success and has enlisted the help of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite this, Vera remains unfazed and isn’t concerned about the impact of Figueiredo’s new training partner.
A recent video showing Deiveson Figueiredo training with Khabib Nurmagomedov at his gym has gone viral. This led to speculation that Figueiredo might be sharpening his wrestling skills with Nurmagomedov’s guidance. However, Marlon Vera, who spoke with Mike Bohn, doubts that this will make a difference.
Marlon Vera Says Khabib Nurmagoemdov’s Coaching Can’t Help Deiveson Figueiredo
“You can’t learn wrestling in one week. Khabib probably has this stigma that he can be a coach and everything. Well, good luck with that,” Vera said, according to MMA Junkie.
Vera, a BJJ black belt with ten submission finishes in his career, believes that wrestling isn’t something that can be quickly acquired. Figueiredo also has a solid background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a notable number of submissions, so the fight could very well end with an early knockout given their striking abilities.
Despite Figueiredo’s potential new skills, Vera is confident in his preparation. He has trained with top wrestlers and grapplers in the lead-up to this fight and feels ready for whatever strategy Figueiredo might employ. It’s clear that Vera is not inclined to give Khabib Nurmagomedov any extra credit.
Khabib Nurmagomedov continues to be a significant figure in MMA even after his retirement. As a coach, he has helped Islam Makhachev secure the lightweight championship and assisted Belal Muhammad in breaking down Leon Edwards’ game plan. This might be why Figueiredo sought his expertise before facing Vera.
Vera Isn’t a Fan
During his UFC career, Khabib was renowned for his unmatched wrestling and relentless pressure. He never suffered a loss inside the octagon and is celebrated as the greatest of all time by many. However, Vera’s opinion on Khabib is different. He has previously tweeted his support for Jon Jones in the GOAT debate, dismissing Khabib’s claims to the title.
“And some of u idiots call Khabib the GOAT lol,” Vera tweeted.
Looking ahead, Vera may soon cross paths with Khabib again, as the retired fighter will be cornering his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov. If both Vera and Umar win their respective bouts, there’s a chance they could face each other in the future. This potential matchup, along with other exciting bantamweight fights, is sure to captivate fans.
As UFC Abu Dhabi draws near, all eyes will be on Vera and Figueiredo as they clash in what promises to be an electrifying contest.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
