Sean O’Malley insisted he’s not trying to play mind games with Marlon “Chito” Vera by dying his hair the red, blue and yellow of the Ecuadorean flag. “I’m just showing my Ecuadorean fans my love,” the 25-year-old American said at Wednesday’s UFC 252 virtual media day. “I didn’t think it would really bother him. If me changing my hair colour got in his head, that might be too easy a fight. It’s just for the fans, something to talk about. “I’m not doing it to get in his head.” But Vera (15-6-1) isn’t too bothered if O’Malley (12-0) is. “My skin’s thicker than his mom, so I’m good with that – it’s hard to get in my mind,” was the Ecuadorean’s blunt response. “I was youngest in the family. I’ve got a lot of bullies like my brothers, everybody, we grew up f****** a lot with each other.” “It could be Venezuela, it could be Colombia, it could be Ecuador – it doesn’t have the logo. I don’t know which country he died his hair, but good for him. I have yellow or blonde, ” Vera added, pulling back his beanie hat to reveal short bleached hair. “So I’m supporting all the yellow flags out there. We’re free to do whatever the f*** we want, that’s why we pick this sport. It’s not like a regular job where somebody tells you what to do and when to do it.” UFC: Dana laughs off Fedor’s claim to heavyweight ‘GOAT’ Vera is coming off a controversial unanimous decision loss to China’s “Kung Fu Monkey” Song Yadong (16-4-1, one no contest) in May. But before that he was riding a five-fight win streak, and feels he has enough to derail the O’Malley hype train. Neither man has ever been finished, which should make for an entertaining bantamweight co-main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. “I see myself going in there and [expletive] the guy up,” Vera said. “I’m pretty ready, I’m feeling good, confident. I come to fight and put on a show for the fans – that’s what they like and pay for. Nobody pays for a hugging contest or a fight against the cage. People love bleeding, exchanges. I’m an entertainer and that’s what I’m gonna do.”