'Chito' Vera: 'Bring The UFC to Ecuador'

Marlon 'Chito' Vera defeated Guido Cannetti in the latter's native home of Argentina Saturday night, after a submission victory in the second round of their clash at UFC Fight Night 140.

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25 year-old Vera, a native of Chone, overcame a hostile crowd in Buenos Aires to defeat Argentine Cannetti, despite a first round that was largely dominated by Canetti's quick feet and takedown's. 

Vera came out of the blocks firing in the second round, connecting with a brutal knee that knocked the Argentine to the ground, before he synched in a guillotine choke hold, which Cannetti managed to escape from. 

Vera then unleashed a barrage of punches before finally locking-in a rear-naked chokehold, submitting Cannetti at 1:31. 

Afterwards, the Ecuadorean noted that he'd overcome odds by fighting three men in their hometown, despite a cauldron of boos directed at him in all three. Now, he says, it's time for him to be given a fighting chance. 

"I guess if I never fight in Ecuador, I will never have the crowd rooting for me,” Vera said. “When I fought in Brazil, I faced a Brazilian; then they sent me to England to fight Davey Grant the first time, the second one against Brad Pickett, who is a legend over there, so it is what it is. It’s probably why I start a little bit slow. It’s kind of weird to have everybody yelling against you, hating on you, but I have a family to feed, I have a team behind me, I do anything for a win. I do feel I can be put in any position and I will escape."  

Speaking to Joe Rogan in the post-match interview, Vera invited UFC President Dana White to hold an event in Ecuador, claiming the carnival atmosphere of the South American country would make it a memorable night. 

"It’s time for the UFC to make it happen. Let me headline in Ecuador, let’s go to Quito, Guayaquil, anywhere. My people will go and we will make a huge party over there.”

Vera is now slated to face John Lineker in a rematch of their 2017 bout, which the Brazilian won.