{"id":225879,"date":"2025-10-20T02:23:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T02:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/225879\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T02:23:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T02:23:09","slug":"marlon-vera-believes-he-was-robbed-in-canada-after-split-decision-loss-to-aiemann-zahabi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/225879\/","title":{"rendered":"Marlon Vera Believes He Was \u2018Robbed in Canada\u2019 After Split Decision Loss to Aiemann Zahabi"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marlon Vera\u2019s return to the Octagon didn\u2019t go as planned. The former bantamweight title challenger came up short in a razor-thin split decision loss to Aiemann Zahabi<\/a> on Saturday night at UFC Vancouver, held at Rogers Arena in British Columbia.<\/p>\n

The three-round contest was competitive from start to finish, but when the scorecards were read, two judges sided with Zahabi \u2014 leaving \u201cChito\u201d visibly frustrated and convinced the result should have gone the other way.<\/p>\n

Vera\u2019s Frustration Boils Over<\/p>\n

After the fight, Vera took to social media to share his feelings, suggesting that he was unfairly denied the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes things can get really dark,\u201d Vera wrote. \u201cBut not giving up will get you light. Don\u2019t get it twisted \u2014 I won tonight, we got robbed in Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t stop there, reinforcing his stance in a follow-up message:<\/p>\n

\u201cToday I won and the judges robbed me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoy gan\u00e9 y los jueces me robaron<\/p>\n

\u2014 C H\ud83d\udd95\ud83c\udffdT O\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\udde8V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) October 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The outspoken Ecuadorian has never been shy about voicing his emotions after a fight, and this time was no different.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vera came into the bout hoping to reignite his career after a long break from competition. To address past slow starts, he revamped his training approach \u2014 swapping his signature long-distance runs for shorter, high-intensity sprint work aimed at improving his explosiveness.<\/p>\n

The changes showed early promise, but the fight still slipped away by the narrowest of margins. Zahabi edged the opening round by landing cleaner combinations and controlling distance, while Vera stormed back in the second with a powerful right hand that rattled the Canadian and a strong ground-and-pound finish.<\/p>\n

However, in the final round, Zahabi rallied again. His sharper striking and late pressure convinced two of the three judges that he had done enough to take the decision.<\/p>\n

The loss extends a difficult run for Vera, who now holds a record of 23\u201311\u20131 in mixed martial arts. It marks his third consecutive defeat and fourth loss in his last five fights, putting the 32-year-old in unfamiliar territory after years of being one of the division\u2019s most reliable contenders.<\/p>\n

Despite the setback, Vera has built a reputation for resilience \u2014 something that may serve him well as he looks to regroup. His message after the fight reflected that fighting spirit, even amid frustration: \u201cDon\u2019t get it twisted \u2014 I won tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aiemann Zahabi\u2019s win solidifies his place among the top ten bantamweights, while Vera faces questions about what comes next. Known for his durability and grit, \u201cChito\u201d has battled through adversity before, and his loyal fan base expects nothing less than a strong return.<\/p>\n

Published on October 19, 2025 at 9:43 pm<\/p>\n

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