The UFC is finalizing a bantamweight bout between Brazilian legend Jose Aldo and Marlon “Chito” Vera for a UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The 135-pound bout will take place on the main card of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, which is the final event on the UFC’s 2020 schedule. BJPenn.com first reported the matchup and the date.
The longest-reigning champion in UFC featherweight history, Aldo (28-7) is coming off a TKO loss to current champion Petr Yan in their 135-pound title fight in July. Aldo fought for the belt despite coming off a split decision loss to Marlon Moraes in late 2019. Many observers felt Aldo outpointed Moraes.
Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aldo, 34, has suffered three losses in a row for the first time in his storied career. The losses have been to elite competition in Yan, Moraes and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Vera (18-6-1) is coming off the biggest win of his career in August, a first-round TKO stoppage over Sean O’Malley. The Ecuadorian bantamweight could easily be on a seven-fight winning streak. His only loss in his past seven fights, a decision loss to Song Yadong, came under some controversy, as many felt he did enough to win the three-round fight.
A marquee welterweight matchup between Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev is set to headline UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19, which will take place in the UFC’s Apex facility.