One of the heaviest hitters on the UFC circuit hits the podcast! Monster Energy is proud to welcome Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera on Episode 324 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney.
Recorded at Studio M inside Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California, the one-hour episode featuring the 30-year-old mixed martial artist and UFC Bantamweight Championship title contender from Chone, Ecuador, is live on all major platforms.
“I’m a fighter. I don’t mind if I get taken down. I just fight! Wherever the fight goes, I’m going to fight my ass off every second. I get pretty mean in there. I don’t try to be nice,” said Vera on UNLEASHED.
For the full conversation with the dynamic MMA fighter, tune into Episode 324 of UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Fueled by Monster Energy. The new podcast is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Born and raised in Chone, Ecuador, Vera is already a legend among Latin American MMA fans – and beyond. After making his professional MMA debut in February 2012, the born fighter instantly started shaking up local promotions. In 2014, the black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu appeared as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America reality television show and made his official UFC debut as the first Ecuadorian athlete in the promotion. Since then, the versatile fighter blessed with accurate striking and undeniable ground control has made a name for himself as one of the top finishers in his weight class. After stacking several performance bonuses and win streaks, he’s now next in line to fight for the UFC bantamweight division championship. Hear Chito speak his mind on rivalries and favorite Octagon moments – only on UNLEASHED!
Get the inside story in conversation with the three podcast hosts, Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath, professional snowboarder Danny Kass, and artist, model, and UFC ambassador Brittney Palmer. Tune in right here.
Growing up in Ecuador, Vera always had a penchant for fighting. But when his scraps in the street began getting him into trouble, a friend suggested training at a gym as an outlet. “My friend brought me there on a Tuesday and said, ‘You need to stay out of trouble. Put your energy into this.’ So I went to the gym, and I never left,” said Vera. Speaking on the importance of the sport, Vera said: “Jiujitsu is huge in Ecuador. When there was zero real fighting, a guy from a good school in Brazil brought things they had never seen before. Nobody had seen real actual fighting, high-level jiujitsu.”
Vera mastered the sport to the black belt level. But when he decided to expand his fighting style into mixed martial arts, the Ecuadorian scene for the sport was practically non-existent. Chito vividly remembers showing up for his first MMA battle. “My first fight was in the back of a mechanic store. They put the cage in the middle. There were people fixing cars behind us. They put mats and a real wire fence around it. It was a rooster fight, pretty much. But I won!”
The wins continued, and Vera’s will to victory saw him make a name for himself in regional fight promotions. In 2014, his life changed when he appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America reality television show. Although he signed his UFC contract that same year, competing in the world’s premier promotion proved a harsh reality check. “It was hard for me to figure it out in the beginning. I don’t have the kind of kickboxing pedigree that Adesanya has. I was just a streetfighter who learned some jiujitsu, won a few fights in South America, and then the UFC Signed me. I really didn’t have any base on me,” said Vera.
On the subject of dealing with setbacks, Vera said: “The only way to do it is to get back on the horse and figure it out. The road for everyone is different. We don’t have the same path. But in the end, we can only get better if we keep plugging away and keep going forward.” Once he found his groove, Vera soon turned heads by scoring spectacular finishes and some of the longest win streaks the UFC has ever seen. Not to mention several Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, all of which he attributes to his strict lifestyle. “I’m a health junkie. I cut everything that hurts me. Even if I like it.”
Asked about career highlights, Vera pointed out his knockout victory against Frankie Edgar at UFC 268 inside Madison Square Garden with a thunderous head kick. “Overnight, I felt a difference in how the world treats me. After the victory, everything just drastically changed. And I like that!” On that note, Vera is already a full-fledged legend back home. After one of his wins, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso sent his congrats on Twitter to over 890,000 followers: “¡Felicidades Chito!”
Looking ahead, Vera said: “I think I’m fighting for the belt next!” The Ecuadorian is currently one of the top contenders for the UFC Bantamweight World Championship title and feels prepared. “I wake up at 6 am and train. Otherwise, I get bored and don’t know what else to do. I get in trouble when I’m not training all day.” Speaking candidly on UNLEASHED about his rivalry with reigning champion Sean O’Malley, Vera said he expects the championship fight to happen in early 2024. “I don’t fight to score points. I fight to take your head off!”
Ready to hear it all from the Ecuadorian MMA sensation? Visit the landing page to access Episode 324 of UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney, featuring rising UFC star Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.
Episodes of UNLEASHED are filmed on a special set inside Studio M at Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California. The podcast is hosted by the dynamic duo of Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass. Known for their deep roots in action sports culture, the two starred in the beloved cult TV show ‘The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo’ on Fuel TV for five action-packed seasons in the early 2010s. Both hosts have walked the walk as pro snowboarders and are joined by painter, model, and UFC ambassador Brittney Palmer. Together, the three hosts possess the interview skills to find common ground with guests from any background – sports and pop culture. Always look out for new episodes dropping bi-weekly on Mondays.
The UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans – and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA.
For more on Monster Energy and the UNLEASHED Podcast, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Also, follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for exclusive content and athlete features.
