Marlon Vera thinks a lot is on the line in his next UFC bout.

The rising UFC bantamweight thinks title contention is in the horizon, and if he beats Rob Font, he’ll quickly enter the top of the division. Vera (20-7-1 MMA, 12-6 UFC) and Font (19-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) are set to clash in the main event of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 35 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Its Vera’s first headlining bout under the UFC banner.

“I believe a great win on Saturday night would put me on title contention,” Vera told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 35 media day on Wednesday. “Depending on how the cards are played at the top, it’s either I can go straight for the belt or I have another fight. But a win this Saturday puts me right there.”

Currently, Vera is on a two-fight wining streak. He’s coming off a highlight-reel knockout win over former campion Frankie Edgar this past November.

The Ecuadorian fighter is 8-2 in his past 10 UFC outings. The only defeats came in 2020 in a controversial split decision loss to Song Yadong and a unanimous decision defeat to former featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

At 29, Vera thinks he’s in the best form of his career.

“I’ve got a lot of tough opponents in front of me, a lot of former champions,” Vera said. “I feel like all that and fighting at the top consistently will just make me a better fighter and make me more dangerous for future fights.

“I feel I’m at a great moment and a good mental space. Physically, I don’t think I can train harder than I already did. So I feel great, and Saturday night will come and I will kick Rob’s ass.”