UFC 105 Preview: Fighting His Idol Will Bring Out "A Brandon Vera You Haven't Seen Before"

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 12, 2009 4:54 AM EST

This coming weekend, Brandon Vera will be facing Randy Couture, a mixed martial arts legend, who is also one of the guys who he wanted to emulate when he first entered the sport back in 2002. Ironically though, Vera was thinking the same thing about a past opponent:

In 2003, Brandon Vera saw the September issue of Muscle & Fitness on a newsstand, pointed to the cover of soon-to-be UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, and said, "that’s the guy I want to be."

"...I do see it," said Vera when asked about the similarity between the two bouts. "It’s kinda reminiscent of the Frank Mir fight. He (Couture) is someone I wanted to be and somebody that I want to emulate."

Brandon Vera stopped former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir in 69 seconds, and it was the highlight of his young MMA career. While it is yet to be seen if fighting another one of his idols will give him enough motivation to repeat the feat, he promises to show us the best Brandon Vera yet:

"It’s safe to say that you will probably see a Brandon Vera you haven’t seen before, more so than ever before," he said. "I’m in a different spot in my training and I didn’t know I could get like this in training – mentally, physically, and emotionally - and that it could be like this. I’m on a new journey now and there’s still more to do and more to grow and more to learn. So you’re gonna see the best Brandon Vera to date."

HT: UFC.com

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Now now Brandon, you’re a good kid but I’ve apparently seen the best Brandon Vera to date the last four fights and I’m sorry sir but you have been wrong.

I would ask you to prove me wrong…but I don’t want you to. You can be the "best Brandon we’ve seen’ when you destroy someone like Thiago Silva after you lose this one. Leave the Natural alone.

Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.

I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.

by Sam Cupitt on Nov 12, 2009 7:40 AM EST reply actions

I’m sure Randy will be beating Fishbob into all sorts of new shapes, therefore making him “A Brandon Vera You Haven’t Seen Before”

Keep firing Assholes!

I am the King of Rome, and am above grammar. -Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor

by Ubernoober on Nov 12, 2009 9:50 AM EST reply actions

Boy I can't wait till you change your avatar after this fight. :)

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 12, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

I think many of us

saw the potential of Vera early in his career, and this is just the kind of fight that will allow him to show a large audience what kind of threat he could be to this division. He’s made changes to everything from training to his diet, so I’m excited to see him put these things together in a big fight.

by rzor on Nov 12, 2009 11:08 AM EST reply actions

I have a hard time believing he’s going to do any better this fight than he has the past few fights where he’s looked terrible. I want to believe old Vera is back, but I have plenty of doubts.

by lowellthehammer on Nov 12, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

I don't think

he’s looked terrible, per se. In fact, his kickboxing has looked pretty sharp against Patt and K-Soz. The Reese fight was his first time cutting, and Jardine is just a guy who’s very hard to look good against. Ask Rampage.

I think Vera takes this rather handily, as much as it pains me to say

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Nov 12, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

I love this match-up; i agree that vera being young and hungry is going to take this one. It is all gonna come down to if vera’s wrestling is up to par against the natural. For Vera to win he is gonna have to keep couture from imposing his will G-N-P!

by mr. gogoplata on Nov 12, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed. Vera is supposed to be a very good wrestler so we will see how he does against Randy. IMO if Vera can keep it standing he wins. If Randy can out wrestle him Vera is going to be in some serious trouble.

by attgnp on Nov 12, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

So you’re gonna see the best Brandon Vera to date.

I also hear Tito says he’s 100% for the first time since he fought Randy, Jorge Gurgel is going to KO his next opponent, Charlie Brown is going to kick the football, Mike Whitehead and Joe Riggs are going to bring it in a big fight, the next Wu-Tang album is going to be just like the ones from the classic ‘93-’97 era, and TUF ~~1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10~~ 11 is going to be the best season ever!!!

by Jahbulon on Nov 12, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions 7 recs

YES!

by Riney on Nov 12, 2009 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure when TUF 1 came out, it was the best TUF season ever..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 12, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Nov 12, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Good point. I’m hoping that during the main event my wife looks up from whatever she’s doing so I can tell her she’s seeing the best Brandon Vera she’s ever seen.

by Jahbulon on Nov 13, 2009 1:17 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs