Charles Jourdain vs. Marlon VeraW
UFC 331 · September 19, 2026 · Crypto.com Arena · Prelims 7:00 PM ET
The brief
- The result
- Marlon Vera by KO/TKO (punches), R3
- What kind of fight
- Rising contender vs. former title challenger
- Finish likelihood
- Medium
- The line
- Jourdain -225 · Vera +185Consensus (multiple sportsbooks)
- The stakes
- Bantamweight · Prelims
The result
Marlon Vera def. Charles Jourdain — KO/TKO (punches), R3 2:02
Marlon Vera snapped a four-fight skid, battering Charles Jourdain to a third-round TKO.
Jourdain held his own into the second round, but Vera's power began landing clean as the pace slowed, and after a big hook dropped him in round three, Jourdain waved off the fight from the canvas at 2:02.
The breakdown below was written before the fight.
The read
Jourdain's momentum and output make him the pick, but Vera's chin and championship-level experience mean this is unlikely to be easy.
Jourdain's switch-stance kickboxing and opportunistic submission game give him paths everywhere the fight goes, while Vera will look to walk him down and find the leg kicks and body shots that have carried him through five-round wars before.
A competitive Jourdain decision is the likeliest outcome, with Vera's durability keeping him in it deep into the third round.
The matchup
This is a must-win fight for both men, pairing a rising bantamweight on a three-fight streak against a former title challenger trying to snap a four-fight skid.
Vera has never been finished in his career and remains a live threat with 18 finishes of his own, but Jourdain's activity and freshness at 135 give him a real speed and volume edge.
Whoever adjusts faster from their most recent setback likely controls this one.
Tale of the tape
| 18-8-1 | Record | 23-12-1 |
| 30 | Age | 33 |
| 5'9" | Height | 5'8" |
| 69" | Reach | 70.5" |
| Switch | Stance | Switch |
| Canada | Country | Ecuador |
| Brazilian Top Team Canada | Team | RVCA Training Center |
The numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
The fighters
Charles Jourdain 18-8-1
“Air”
Charles "Air" Jourdain is a 30-year-old Canadian bantamweight from Beloeil, Quebec, who has won three straight since dropping to 135 pounds, all finishes or dominant decisions, most recently outpointing Kyler Phillips in April 2026. He gets his biggest name yet in former title challenger Marlon Vera, a fight that could push him into the bantamweight top 15 with a win.
- WKyler Phillips · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Malott · April 18, 2026
- WDavey Grant · SubmissionUFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen · October 18, 2025
- WVictor Henry · SubmissionUFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi · November 2, 2024
Marlon Vera 23-12-1
“Chito”
Marlon "Chito" Vera is a 33-year-old Ecuadorian bantamweight and former title challenger who has never been knocked out or submitted in a career that includes three losses to Sean O'Malley, Deiveson Figueiredo and Aiemann Zahabi, and now a fourth straight defeat to David Martinez. He hasn't won since a 2023 decision over Pedro Munhoz, making this a must-win fight against a similarly hungry Charles Jourdain.
- LDavid Martinez · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night · February 28, 2026
- LAiemann Zahabi · Decision (split)UFC Fight Night · October 18, 2025
- LDeiveson Figueiredo · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night · August 3, 2024