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Marlon Vera

Bantamweight · REAL v1.0 (registered) #55; v1.1 (shadow) #13

Descriptive profile. The resume rank is what has been earned; these statistics are context, not a prediction. A test on Oct 20, 2026 found that career statistics add nothing reliable to age, layoff and experience as predictors of the next result (experiments/REGISTER.md, EXP-2026-10-20-14).

Weight band 47-66: the 10th to 90th percentile of his position across weight vectors drawn near the 70/30 weights. Rating 1,687, deviation 105: measured from 27 UFC bouts; a one-bout newcomer sits near 290.

Age 33 (born 1992-12-02) · Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) · Reach 70 in (178 cm) · Stance Switch · 43 days since last bout (2026-09-19) · Last five 1-4 · Streak W1

Why he is ranked here

Rating 1,687 is the division's 8th highest of 86 board fighters; the ledger stands at -0.9 (+3.1 from quality wins, less 1.0 for blowout losses, less 3.0 for other losses outside the top 5; losses count for three years); 6 quality wins in 15 years, 4 over top-10 opponents, which makes him entrenched; form penalty 0.60 for a 1-4 last five. Score -0.14 = +0.46 (rating term, 70% weight) +0.01 (ledger term, 30% weight) -0.60 (form penalty); score order put him at #55.

TermValueDetail
Score-0.1470% rating term + 30% ledger term - form penalty
Rating term+0.46resume rating 1,687, scaled against the division's interdecile range
Ledger term+0.01quality ledger -0.9: +3.1 QW +0.0 proof -1.0 blowout -3.0 weak
Form penalty0.60last five 1-4
Quality wins, 15 years64 over top-10 opponents, 5 over top-15; entrenched
Placementscore order #55v1.0 (registered)
Shadow board v1.1#13score +0.29; score order #13

Rules, weights and worked examples: methodology.

Last ten bouts

DateEventOpponentOpp. official rankResultMethodRoundModel p
2026-09-19UFC 331: Van vs. Pantoja 2Charles JourdainunrankedWKO/TKO3 (2:02)39%
2026-02-28UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. KavanaghDavid Martinez#10Lunanimous decision3 (5:00)50%
2025-10-18UFC Fight Night: De Ridder vs. AllenAiemann Zahabi#9Lsplit decision3 (5:00)44%
2024-08-03UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. NurmagomedovDeiveson Figueiredo#6Lunanimous decision3 (5:00)48%
2024-03-09UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2 (title)Sean O'MalleyCLunanimous decision5 (5:00)32%
2023-08-19UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'MalleyPedro Munhoz#10Wunanimous decision3 (5:00)54%
2023-03-25UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. SandhagenCory Sandhagen#5Lsplit decision5 (5:00)29%
2022-08-13UFC Fight Night: Vera vs. CruzDominick Cruz#8WKO/TKO4 (2:17)52%
2022-04-30UFC Fight Night: Font vs. VeraRob Font#5Wunanimous decision5 (5:00)34%
2021-11-06UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2Frankie Edgar#8WKO/TKO3 (3:50)52%

Opp. official rank = the UFC media-panel rank of the opponent on the date (C champion, #1 to #15, unranked; n/a before Feb 2013 or where no official board existed). Model p = the predictive model's pre-fight win chance for him (frozen performance-adjusted Elo; bouts before 2020 were in its tuning sample). Linked opponents have a profile.

Career statistics

Through 2026-10-31, UFC bouts only. Percentile = share of the 86 board fighters at Bantamweight at or below this value; high is a position in the division, not a verdict.

Output
Significant strikes landed per minute4.24(58th percentile at Bantamweight)
Significant strike accuracy48%(58th percentile at Bantamweight)
Knockdowns scored per 15 minutes0.66(81st percentile at Bantamweight)
Share of wins by finish75%(79th percentile at Bantamweight)
Defence and damage
Significant strikes absorbed per minute5.39(87th percentile at Bantamweight)
Significant strike defence50%(29th percentile at Bantamweight)
Knockdowns suffered per 15 minutes0.04(47th percentile at Bantamweight)
Significant strikes absorbed, career1,973(100th percentile at Bantamweight)
KO/TKO losses0(63rd percentile at Bantamweight)
Submission losses0(66th percentile at Bantamweight)
KO/TKO losses per bout over 10 years, each weighted down by the finisher's danger0.000(64th percentile at Bantamweight)
Grappling
Takedowns landed per 15 minutes0.57(29th percentile at Bantamweight)
Takedown defence72%(57th percentile at Bantamweight)
Share of cage time in control9%(34th percentile at Bantamweight)
Share of significant strikes landed in the clinch or on the ground21%(57th percentile at Bantamweight)
Stylestriker (1.3 takedown attempts per 15 min; 9% control)
Career stage
Age33.9(70th percentile at Bantamweight)
Age at UFC debut22.0(6th percentile at Bantamweight)
Years since UFC debut12.0(97th percentile at Bantamweight)
UFC bouts27(100th percentile at Bantamweight)
Cage time, minutes366(99th percentile at Bantamweight)
Bouts per year, last three years1.7(67th percentile at Bantamweight)
Days since last bout43(31st percentile at Bantamweight)

Board position since Oct 2023

C2040608020252026Oct 2023Oct 20262023-10-06: #7, Bantamweight2023-10-13: #7, Bantamweight2023-10-20: #7, Bantamweight2023-11-03: #7, Bantamweight2023-11-10: #7, Bantamweight2023-11-17: #7, Bantamweight2023-12-01: #7, Bantamweight2023-12-08: #7, Bantamweight2023-12-15: #7, Bantamweight2024-01-12: #6, Bantamweight2024-01-19: #6, Bantamweight2024-02-02: #6, Bantamweight2024-02-09: #5, Bantamweight2024-02-16: #5, Bantamweight2024-02-23: #5, Bantamweight2024-03-01: #5, Bantamweight2024-03-08: #5, Bantamweight2024-03-15: #7, Bantamweight2024-03-22: #7, Bantamweight2024-03-29: #7, Bantamweight2024-04-05: #7, Bantamweight2024-04-12: #7, Bantamweight2024-04-26: #7, Bantamweight2024-05-03: #7, Bantamweight2024-05-10: #8, Bantamweight2024-05-17: #8, Bantamweight2024-05-31: #8, Bantamweight2024-06-07: #8, Bantamweight2024-06-14: #8, Bantamweight2024-06-21: #8, Bantamweight2024-06-28: #8, Bantamweight2024-07-12: #8, Bantamweight2024-07-19: #8, Bantamweight2024-07-26: #8, Bantamweight2024-08-02: #8, Bantamweight2024-08-09: #11, Bantamweight2024-08-16: #11, Bantamweight2024-08-23: #11, Bantamweight2024-09-06: #11, Bantamweight2024-09-13: #11, Bantamweight2024-09-27: #11, Bantamweight2024-10-04: #11, Bantamweight2024-10-11: #12, Bantamweight2024-10-18: #12, Bantamweight2024-10-25: #12, Bantamweight2024-11-01: #11, Bantamweight2024-11-08: #12, Bantamweight2024-11-15: #12, Bantamweight2024-11-22: #12, Bantamweight2024-12-06: #13, Bantamweight2024-12-13: #12, Bantamweight2025-01-10: #12, Bantamweight2025-01-17: #12, Bantamweight2025-01-31: #11, Bantamweight2025-02-07: #11, Bantamweight2025-02-14: #11, Bantamweight2025-02-21: #11, Bantamweight2025-02-28: #12, Bantamweight2025-03-07: #12, Bantamweight2025-03-14: #12, Bantamweight2025-03-21: #12, Bantamweight2025-03-28: #12, Bantamweight2025-04-04: #12, Bantamweight2025-04-11: #12, Bantamweight2025-04-25: #12, Bantamweight2025-05-02: #12, Bantamweight2025-05-09: #12, Bantamweight2025-05-16: #12, Bantamweight2025-05-30: #12, Bantamweight2025-06-06: #12, Bantamweight2025-06-13: #12, Bantamweight2025-06-20: #12, Bantamweight2025-06-27: #12, Bantamweight2025-07-11: #12, Bantamweight2025-07-18: #12, Bantamweight2025-07-25: #12, Bantamweight2025-08-01: #13, Bantamweight2025-08-08: #13, Bantamweight2025-08-15: #14, Bantamweight2025-08-22: #14, Bantamweight2025-09-05: #14, Bantamweight2025-09-12: #14, Bantamweight2025-09-26: #13, Bantamweight2025-10-03: #13, Bantamweight2025-10-10: #13, Bantamweight2025-10-17: #13, Bantamweight2025-10-24: #60, Bantamweight2025-10-31: #60, Bantamweight2025-11-07: #60, Bantamweight2025-11-14: #60, Bantamweight2025-11-21: #60, Bantamweight2025-12-05: #59, Bantamweight2025-12-12: #53, Bantamweight2026-01-23: #56, Bantamweight2026-01-30: #56, Bantamweight2026-02-06: #56, Bantamweight2026-02-20: #55, Bantamweight2026-02-27: #54, Bantamweight2026-03-06: #65, Bantamweight2026-03-13: #65, Bantamweight2026-03-20: #65, Bantamweight2026-03-27: #60, Bantamweight2026-04-03: #60, Bantamweight2026-04-10: #59, Bantamweight2026-04-17: #59, Bantamweight2026-04-24: #61, Bantamweight2026-05-01: #62, Bantamweight2026-05-08: #62, Bantamweight2026-05-15: #61, Bantamweight2026-05-29: #61, Bantamweight2026-06-05: #55, Bantamweight2026-06-13: #55, Bantamweight2026-06-19: #56, Bantamweight2026-06-26: #56, Bantamweight2026-07-10: #55, Bantamweight2026-07-17: #57, Bantamweight2026-07-24: #57, Bantamweight2026-07-31: #58, Bantamweight2026-08-07: #59, Bantamweight2026-08-14: #59, Bantamweight2026-08-21: #61, Bantamweight2026-08-28: #61, Bantamweight2026-09-04: #62, Bantamweight2026-09-11: #60, Bantamweight2026-09-18: #60, Bantamweight2026-09-25: #51, Bantamweight2026-09-26: #52, Bantamweight2026-10-03: #51, Bantamweight2026-10-10: #52, Bantamweight2026-10-17: #54, Bantamweight2026-10-24: #54, Bantamweight2026-10-31: #55, Bantamweight#55

Position on the registered v1.0 board at each weekly snapshot (C = title holder or reserved, drawn at the top; lower is better).

Predictive rating by bout

1,4001,5001,6001,70020172019202120232025Nov 2014Oct 20262014-11-15: 1,488 (L vs Marco Beltran)2015-08-08: 1,517 (W vs Roman Salazar)2016-02-27: 1,434 (L vs Davey Grant)2016-11-26: 1,481 (W vs Guangyou Ning)2017-03-18: 1,492 (W vs Brad Pickett)2017-07-22: 1,500 (W vs Brian Kelleher)2017-10-28: 1,502 (L vs John Lineker)2018-02-03: 1,466 (L vs Douglas Silva de Andrade)2018-08-04: 1,492 (W vs Wulijiburen)2018-11-17: 1,521 (W vs Guido Cannetti)2019-03-23: 1,593 (W vs Frankie Saenz)2019-07-06: 1,576 (W vs Nohelin Hernandez)2019-10-12: 1,600 (W vs Andre Ewell)2020-05-16: 1,600 (L vs Song Yadong)2020-08-15: 1,656 (W vs Sean O'Malley)2020-12-19: 1,650 (L vs Jose Aldo)2021-06-19: 1,668 (W vs Davey Grant)2021-11-06: 1,666 (W vs Frankie Edgar)2022-04-30: 1,686 (W vs Rob Font)2022-08-13: 1,684 (W vs Dominick Cruz)2023-03-25: 1,669 (L vs Cory Sandhagen)2023-08-19: 1,696 (W vs Pedro Munhoz)2024-03-09: 1,661 (L vs Sean O'Malley)2024-08-03: 1,652 (L vs Deiveson Figueiredo)2025-10-18: 1,630 (L vs Aiemann Zahabi)2026-02-28: 1,594 (L vs David Martinez)2026-09-19: 1,629 (W vs Charles Jourdain)1,629

Rating after each UFC bout from the frozen predictive model (performance-adjusted Elo, data/processed/elo_history.csv; a debut starts at 1,500). The resume rating's history is not stored, so this is the predictive line, which is a different number from the resume rating in the header.

Trajectory

Recent performances run about 46 points behind the rating: fighters this age typically run 31 points behind their rating, and his own recent results put him a further 15 points behind.

ComponentPointsMeaning
Age component-31what fighters aged 33.9 typically run relative to their rating (population curve, all UFC bouts since 2011)
Own recent results-15his recency-weighted mean and trend over 27 bouts, shrunk toward zero; trend -5 points a year
Combined-46the rating's likely distance from his current performance level, in rating points
Readingbehind ratingahead of, in line with (within 30 points), or behind the rating

Performance relative to the rating, by age

-1.0-0.5+0.0+0.5+1.0222426283032342014-11-15 (age 22.0): L vs Marco Beltran, residual -0.032015-08-08 (age 22.7): W vs Roman Salazar, residual +0.422016-02-27 (age 23.2): L vs Davey Grant, residual -0.522016-11-26 (age 24.0): W vs Guangyou Ning, residual +0.112017-03-18 (age 24.3): W vs Brad Pickett, residual +0.472017-07-22 (age 24.6): W vs Brian Kelleher, residual +0.532017-10-28 (age 24.9): L vs John Lineker, residual -0.042018-02-03 (age 25.2): L vs Douglas Silva de Andrade, residual -0.402018-08-04 (age 25.7): W vs Wulijiburen, residual +0.392018-11-17 (age 26.0): W vs Guido Cannetti, residual +0.382019-03-23 (age 26.3): W vs Frankie Saenz, residual +0.422019-07-06 (age 26.6): W vs Nohelin Hernandez, residual +0.332019-10-12 (age 26.9): W vs Andre Ewell, residual +0.302020-05-16 (age 27.5): L vs Song Yadong, residual -0.042020-08-15 (age 27.7): W vs Sean O'Malley, residual +0.492020-12-19 (age 28.0): L vs Jose Aldo, residual +0.032021-06-19 (age 28.5): W vs Davey Grant, residual +0.042021-11-06 (age 28.9): W vs Frankie Edgar, residual +0.612022-04-30 (age 29.4): W vs Rob Font, residual +0.012022-08-13 (age 29.7): W vs Dominick Cruz, residual +0.392023-03-25 (age 30.3): L vs Cory Sandhagen, residual -0.342023-08-19 (age 30.7): W vs Pedro Munhoz, residual +0.182024-03-09 (age 31.3): L vs Sean O'Malley, residual -0.492024-08-03 (age 31.7): L vs Deiveson Figueiredo, residual -0.072025-10-18 (age 32.9): L vs Aiemann Zahabi, residual -0.302026-02-28 (age 33.2): L vs David Martinez, residual -0.372026-09-19 (age 33.8): W vs Charles Jourdain, residual +0.42-0.07

Each dot is one decided UFC bout at his age then: the performance score minus the rating's expectation, on the score's own scale from -1 to +1 (filled = win, hollow = loss; above zero is better than the rating implied; a finish as a slight favourite is about +0.45). The dashed line is the population curve for all fighters; the solid line is this fighter's own fitted level and trend as of the data date, weighted toward recent bouts. One unit sustained over many bouts corresponds to about 695 rating points; a single bout's residual is noisy.

Held-out evidence (walk-forward 2016 to 2026, EXP-2026-10-21-01): the age curve held in every test year; the individual component is a weak signal (correlation 0.06 with the next bout's residual; among fighters aged 33 or over, the lowest predicted quartile won 38% of next bouts against 53% expected, the highest 48% against 52%) and adds nothing to bout prediction beyond the shadow model. No board uses any of it: the rankings answer who has earned the place, not who wins next (EXP-2026-10-20-09). Method: src/mmalab/decline.py; settings: config/decline.yaml (expectation from the resume rating; one unit of residual is about 695 rating points).

Context flags

Descriptive only. Each line is a population fact about fighters like him, not a forecast for him; the register entries hold the measurements.

REAL v1.0 (registered method) · build c166ee8 · data through 2026-10-31 · page built 2026-11-06 · changelog. Independent fan research project built on public UFCStats data. Not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by UFC, Zuffa, LLC, TKO Group Holdings, or any athlete. All trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify athletes and events.