José Aldo and Marlon “Chito” Vera are getting a second chance to settle the score, but this time the cage and the strikes are gone. The two are set to meet again on October 4 in a submission-only grappling match at Hype FC in Quito, Ecuador. Aldo broke the news himself on X on August 27, and public ticketing for the event points to the Coliseo General Rumiñahui with a 4 p.m. start time.
Their history goes back to December 2020, when the two met in a three-round UFC bantamweight bout. Aldo took that fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 29-28 in his favor. The win came at a UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas, where Vera had stretches of pressure but Aldo’s late control ended up being the deciding factor.
Six years on, the rematch shifts into a completely different format, one that asks a different question of both men. Submission-only grappling strips away the striking exchanges that defined their first meeting and puts the emphasis entirely on position, control, and the ability to actually finish an opponent. The original scorecards give this matchup a real backstory, but they won’t tell anyone how things play out in Quito.
The event itself is built around more than just this rematch. According to the public listing, the card features two submission-only grappling superfights, with Vera and fellow Ecuadorian Michael Morales both competing in front of a home crowd. There’s also a bare-knuckle undercard rounding things out. For Vera, the timing means returning home for a rematch against one of the most recognizable names of his UFC career. For Aldo, it marks a return to direct competition, just under rules that look nothing like a standard MMA fight.
What hasn’t been confirmed yet are the finer details of how the match will actually be run. Hype FC’s ticketing page has locked in the date, venue, and the submission-only format, but it doesn’t spell out things like a time limit or an overtime system. Those specifics could end up mattering quite a bit if the match goes deep without either fighter forcing a finish.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
