LAS VEGAS -- Sean O'Malley will be back in the octagon next month.
The Helena native and undefeated UFC bantamweight announced on his verified YouTube channel that he'll be fighting Marlon Vera at UFC 252 on Aug. 15.
"The Sugar Show is back, Aug. 15 against 'Chito' Marlon Vera," O'Malley said. "It's signed on my side. I don't know if it's signed on his side, but it's happening. It's going down. The Sugar Show's back."
O’Malley, who fights out of the MMA Lab in Phoenix, is 12-0 overall and 4-0 in the UFC after earning a convincing knockout of Eddie Wineland at UFC 250 in June. O'Malley also recorded a first-round knockout of Jose Quinonez at UFC 248 in March and has won eight of his 12 pro matches with a knockout, nine of them in the first round.
Vera is 15-6-1 overall and 9-5 in the UFC.
The O'Malley-Vera bout is one of four fights listed on the UFC 252 card, which will be headlined by champion Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier.
"I'm looking to be champ next year," O'Malley said. "And that's what it is."
