After weeks of speculation, former title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera has officially secured his spot on the UFC’s Mexico City card when he faces rising prospect David Martínez at Arena CDMX on February twenty eighth. The bantamweight clash marks a vital moment for each competitors as they battle for rating implications in one in all the division’s best eras.
🚨🚨#UFCMexico🚨🚨
Rumored for over a month now’s finally a done deal. Marlon “Chito” Vera will fight David Martínez at #UFCMexico on February twenty eighth.#UFC #MMA #UFCParamount #UFConParamount #UFC2026 pic.twitter.com/8ACKMqyJlk
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) January 13, 2026
Vera arrives at this matchup as a seasoned UFC veteran competing since 2015, bringing 25 promotional appearances to the Octagon. Nevertheless, the longtime bantamweight contender faces adversity, currently riding a three-fight losing streak and posting a 1-4 record in his last five outings. The competitive landscape demands an emphatic performance to maintain his championship aspirations alive.
🚨 Aiemann Zahabi defeats Chito Vera via split decision. (29-28 x2, 28-29)
An incredible fight that turned bitter towards the top😳 pic.twitter.com/pLnVPXPZgE
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) October 19, 2025
Conversely, Martínez enters because the momentum fighter on this encounter. The Mexican prospect has showcased impressive form in recent competition, notching back-to-back victories and earning a rating at number ten within the bantamweight standings after defeating Rob Font—establishing legitimate credentials among the many division’s upper echelon. At just 2-0 within the UFC, Martínez represents the variety of hungry challenger that may derail veteran trajectories.
The February twenty eighth event serves as UFC Fight Night 268, headlined by flyweight fireworks between Brandon Moreno defending his home turf and Kazakhstan’s Asu Almabayev in a compelling matchup of ranked contenders. The co-main event features women’s bantamweight fireworks with Macy Chiasson squaring off against Ailin Perez in an escalating profession battle.
Vera faces potential sink-or-swim circumstances. A victory keeps championship fantasies respiratory; a defeat likely signals declining stock in an unforgiving promotion. Martínez, meanwhile, hunts his most vital scalp to ascertain himself as legitimate title-picture real estate. This bantamweight banger guarantees violent exchanges as each fighters navigate pivotal profession junctures on Mexican soil.
Confirmed Fights for UFC Mexico: Moreno vs. Almabayev (February 28, 2026)
- Brandon Moreno vs. Asu Almabayev (Flyweight Predominant Event)
- Macy Chiasson vs. Ailin Perez (Women’s Bantamweight)
- Daniel Zellhuber vs. Bobby Green (Lightweight)
- Edgar Chairez vs. Felipe Bunes (Flyweight)
- Imanol Rodriguez vs. Kevin Borjas (Flyweight)
- Wesley Schultz vs. Damian Pinas (Middleweight)
- Jose Medina vs. Ryan Gandra (Middleweight)
- Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Sofia Montenegro (Women’s Flyweight)
- Cristian Quinonez vs. Kris Moutinho (Bantamweight)
- Santiago Luna vs. Angel Pacheco (Bantamweight)
- Marlon “Chito” Vera vs. David Martínez (Bantamweight)