Vera and Aldo set for submission grappling rematch at HYPE Fighting in Quito

Marlon Vera and Jose Aldo are running it back, this time without strikes. The two former UFC bantamweights are set to meet in a submission-only grappling rematch, headlining HYPE Fighting in Quito, Ecuador, on October 4.

Colby Covington and a fighter named Perea share top billing on the same card, meeting in their own grappling matchup. Perea is not among the fighters profiled here, so no further detail on that side of the bout is available.

The headliners

Vera, known as Chito, is Ecuador's homegrown star and will be fighting in front of his home crowd. The 33-year-old is 24-12-1 in MMA and sits at number 10 in the bantamweight rankings. A switch-stance fighter out of Team Oyama, he stands five-foot-eight with a 70-inch reach. He lands 4.24 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and averages 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Aldo, 40, is a Brazilian veteran from Nova Uniao with a 32-10-0 record. He is an orthodox fighter at five-foot-seven, also with a 70-inch reach. His numbers are 3.65 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy, along with 0.47 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Covington, 38, brings a wrestling-heavy résumé to the co-headliner. The American from MMA Masters is 17-5-0 and averages 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes, the standout figure among the three fighters profiled here. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach.

Why it matters

• The Vera-Aldo rematch is being contested on the mats rather than in the cage, changing the dynamic of their first meeting.
• Vera gets a home-country main event in Quito against one of the sport's most recognizable names.
• Covington's takedown-heavy style translates naturally to a submission-only format.

The card takes place October 4 in Ecuador, with the grappling format promising a different look at four well-known names.