Marlon Vera: ‘I’m Getting Paid, So I Don’t Give a Fu*k About the Rankings’
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Marlon Vera, 26, is one of the hottest fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s bantamweight division. At UFC Fight Night 161, inside Tampa’s Amalie Center, he will look for a fifth straight victory inside the Octagon. Despite his winning streak, the Ecuador native has not landed on the organization’s divisional rankings. It is a fact that doesn’t bother “Chito.” Even if it doesn’t happen with a win over Andre Ewell.
“I’m getting paid, so I don’t give a fu*k about the rankings, and who’s in the rankings,” Vera told Sherdog. “[Urijah] Faber you know; I don’t credit him for being in the rankings. It’s cool; you know he’s a big name. He fought for the title. He never got close to winning the title. He’s back [and] he beat a ranked opponent, so I guess he should be there. If you beat a ranked opponent you should be there. If you have a really good win streak you should be there too. I don’t know who makes the rankings, so I don’t know how they do it, and at the end of the day I really don’t give a fu*k.”
Along with talking about the promotion’s rankings, Vera spoke on if he expected a ranked opponent after his recent winning streak, where he believes his natural finishing ability comes from and how his upbringing plays a key role. He then broke down his fight with Ewell on Saturday night. Plus, he gave his thoughts on the bantamweight title situation, and the recent additions of Faber and Frankie Edgar.