Report: Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera Added to UFC 239

Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera set for UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas, according to sources.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 25, 2019

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is building its International Fight Week event more and more, adding a thrilling bantamweight matchup between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera to already stacked lineup.

According to ESPN late Thursday, O'Malley (10-0) will meet Vera (16-4) at UFC 239 in Las Vegas on July 6. Earlier this week, O'Malley posted on his Twitter his intentions of competing at this event, stating, "I'm freeeeeee. July 6th I'm busting someone up."

O'Malley is returning from a six-month suspension after testing positive for ostarine, where his suspension was reduced to that length after proving his supplements were contaminated. Unbeaten as a professional, "Sugar" made a splash in the major circuit after knocking out Alfred Khashakyan on the first season of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series in 2017 to get signed with the UFC. His first two bouts with the promotion proved successful as well, taking a pair of unanimous decision verdicts over Terrion Ware and Andre Soukhamthath. The MMA Lab standout has not competed since March 2018, and this 16-month layoff will be the longest in the 24-year-old's short career.

Vera is on a roll since losing on the scorecards to Douglas Silva de Andrade in February 2018, stopping Wuliji Buren, Guido Cannetti and Frankie Saenz on his three-fight win streak. Although Vera has suffered four of his five career defeats inside the Octagon, the Ecuadorian has never been finished.

UFC 239 will take place on July 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Headlining the event will be a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Thiago Santos. Serving as the co-headliner will be a women's bantamweight championship showdown between Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm.