Marlon Vera and José Aldo draw in Quito grappling rematch

Marlon Vera and José Aldo fought to a draw in the main event of the HYPE Fighting Championship held at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui in Quito, Ecuador. The match was contested under submission-only grappling rules, featuring a single 10-minute round with no points awarded for control or activity; victory required a successful submission.

This rematch occurred nearly six years after their 2020 UFC encounter, which Aldo won via unanimous decision. Unlike their previous mixed martial arts bout, this contest prohibited striking, focusing entirely on grappling, takedowns, and ground fighting. Despite Vera’s attempts to secure a submission, the 10-minute time limit expired without either fighter yielding.

The event in Quito featured a total of 15 bouts, including six grappling matches and nine bare-knuckle boxing matches. Prior to the fight, Aldo noted he had focused on tennis and footvolley rather than intensive jiu-jitsu training, expressing confidence in his lifelong grappling background despite his recent retirement from MMA.