UFC 105 Preview: Randy Couture Stole Brandon Vera's Mojo

by Kid Nate on Nov 9, 2009 10:23 PM EST in News Comment 35 comments

He had four stoppage wins in his first four UFC fights, including three in the first round. The highlight of his streak came against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 65, where Vera won in just 1:09 by overwhelming Mir standing.

The win put Vera in line for a shot at then-heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. But Vera and the UFC had a contract dispute, and he never signed for the match. It was his upcoming opponent, Couture, who came out of retirement to fill the vacancy, leading to Couture's win in one of the most memorable moments in UFC history.

Just as Couture's storybook career hit its apex, Vera's unraveled.

After his contractual issue with the UFC came a management problem and a dispute. He sat out a year, and when he came back at UFC 77, he broke his hand in the first round in a fight against Sylvia, losing a decision and ending his undefeated status. The loss derailed him from a heavyweight title fight he would have received with a win.

Anyone who was following Brandon Vera up to 2006 knows that at one time he was one of the most exciting fighters in the heavyweight division: a skilled Greco-Roman wrestler with devastating Muay Thai skills and the jiu jitsu to rack up a string of submission wins. He wasn't just well rounded either, he was aggressive, confident, devastating.

And then he got into a business dispute with first the UFC and then his manager and when he finally came back after sitting out a year, he wasn't the same fighter.

Meanwhile, Randy Couture came out of retirement, where he'd been since Chuck Liddell had KTFO'd him right out of the light heavyweight division. Couture got the title shot against Tim Sylvia that should have been Vera's. This was when Tim Sylvia seemed like a vampire atop the heavyweight division, relentlessly draining the life out of the division just as he relentlessly took decision win after decision win over shorter, smaller foes. Then he stepped into the cage to face Randy Couture.

The rest is history.

Somehow the career momentum that had been accruing to the brash young Brandon Vera transferred to Randy Couture and the Natural went on a tear while Vera went on a downward spiral that almost saw him run out of the UFC.

We'll find out Saturday if Vera can get some of that mojo back from the ageless Captain America.

0 recs | Comment 35 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

"UFC 105 Post Fight: Brandon Vera Stole Randy Couture's Mojo"

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 9, 2009 10:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If Vera wins, he’ll be disliked as the guy who beat up Couture. Win or lose, he won’t “win” this fight.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Nov 9, 2009 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i really don’t care about what people think.. He’s already disliked now, how can a win over Randy be worse for his reputation?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 9, 2009 11:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I disagree with his assessment. It’ll be a major boost to his credibility, whether people like him more or not.

Don’t worry weo— I like Vera too.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Nov 10, 2009 12:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m tired of living in the shadows… I too like Brandon Vera!

by pdl on Nov 10, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

High five rainbow poop!

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 10, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it speaks volumes that if Randy wins he gets a title shot and if Vera wins he might still not be in the top 10.

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Nov 9, 2009 10:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think Vera should fight the winner of Cane/lil Nog.

by mmalogic on Nov 10, 2009 7:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cane vs. Vera would be great!

by dancingChicken on Nov 10, 2009 7:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I expect Vera to be hungry. I think he’ll beat Couture.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Nov 9, 2009 11:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

countdown show was pretty dull. still have a man crush on randy though.

by woooburn on Nov 10, 2009 12:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Are you serious?!! Did you not notice the whole revamp of the show? It was top notch and the production was insanely polished. I loved it. It seems wayyyyyyy more proffessional and less rock metal garbage.

Mojor props to Zuffa.

Mauricio Shogun Rua #1 LHW in the World. The TRUE Champion.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Nov 10, 2009 12:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I haven’t watched the 105 countdown yet, but I’ve noticed a major increase in overall production value and just general awesomeness in the past couple I’ve seen.

by goodbones on Nov 10, 2009 1:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mojo-r props for relating it to the post. haha :)

yeah, this countdown show kinda looked cleaner..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 10, 2009 3:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Better production

Boring content.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Nov 10, 2009 3:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, that’s what i intended to say with my post.

by woooburn on Nov 10, 2009 7:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huh? Okay… O_o

Just for that, WAR RANDY. I actually really think Randys gonna win anyway. lol

Mauricio Shogun Rua #1 LHW in the World. The TRUE Champion.

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Nov 10, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Every time Fishbob fights we hear how he's back

And even when he wins he seems to find a way to dissapoint. I’m taking the Natural. (I also like the nickname Fishbob, Ubernoober, even though I’m not quite sure what it means. I hope its not a slur on Filipinos)

by hlebtasic on Nov 10, 2009 1:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ubernoober named him that because he’s taking a shot at how Vera’s eyes look.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 10, 2009 3:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for spreading the Fishbob.

Keep firing Assholes!

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

by Ubernoober on Nov 10, 2009 9:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mir should be fighting Vera to avenge his devastating loss

by pandaboy99 on Nov 10, 2009 1:48 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vera=LHW.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t drink last night, so I’m not funny today."
-Sakuraba

by Blackout612 on Nov 10, 2009 1:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alot can happen in this fight, really looking forward to it.

One thing that Couture is amazing at, is getting his gameplan to work. I just re-watched Sylvia vs Couture and it shows just how good a job he was doing in frustrating Sylvia, making him complete garbage on his feet.

Vera will have to work hard on staying on his feet and keeping the distance, since Couture is still great at getting take downs, no matter how good someones take down defense is.

by grein on Nov 10, 2009 3:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’d like to see Vera mature into the fighter that his potential tells me he can be. Couture is wonderful and I look forward to seeing him fight, but not getting the title shot is okay with me. I just want to see him have great fights, and somehow I’m not sure him having a title is the best way to get that. Perhaps that has no logic in it, but it’s how I feel.

I think that Vera has a ton of potential as a top-notch fighter but also as an entertainer and top draw. That’s what’s so frustrating about him. He almost reminds me of Andersons at times.

by Dooda on Nov 10, 2009 4:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I personally, wouldn’t go that far. haha. :)

…and also, I want to see Randy take on Cro Cop if he loses. or Chuck vs Cro Cop.. Rothwell is a waste.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 10, 2009 5:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what about arlovski/crocop?

by mmalogic on Nov 10, 2009 7:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

…you playing mind games there Mr. Logic?

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 SamCupitt on Nov 10, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

not really… but the only fights that make sense for arlovski in the UFC are fights like these.

Maybe Crocop, Gonzaga (if he loses to dos santos), Kongo (if he loses to mir).

Losing to Fedor and Brett makes it very hard to do anything with him… but he has built up some good will with the fans.

Placing him on overseas cards with name fighters who are outside of the title picture has some value.

by mmalogic on Nov 10, 2009 11:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that would be a fun fight too..

both are coming off loses anyway.. IF the UFC gets him.. are you hinting there’s a chance?

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 11, 2009 3:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

oops, that was a reply to the crocop vs AA thing.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 11, 2009 3:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said 'almost'

by Dooda on Nov 10, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All I can think of when I hear Vera is how he kept saying how he was going to hold both LH and HW belts. Then I laugh hard to myself because I know it will never happen. Seriously though, Vera looks like some kind of scrawny cartoon character at LHW. His fight with Jardine was embarrassing to watch.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Nov 10, 2009 7:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

People are so sick of Vera. He talks so much sh*t and never delivers anything exciting or interesting. The fight with K-Sos was the last straw for me. Brandon had a massive speed and technical advantage and never pushed the pace.

And even when Vera wins, he does that stupid dance that gives the 6 billion citizens of planet Earth a reminder to hate him.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Nov 10, 2009 7:47 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Ever since that contract dispute, he has kind of shit the bed.

I always liked Vera. But I did like him better when he was putting the stamp on fools and doing that kickass dance afterwards. He hasn’t done the dance lately though because it is hard to dance when you just won a limp dick decision over Krzyetc. Sosetc..

All that being said, I hope Randy wins. As much as I like Vera I don’t want Randy losing to someone of his stature.

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.

by SamCupitt on Nov 10, 2009 8:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs