UFC on Versus Preview: Can Brandon Vera Return to Form Against the Powerful Jon Jones?

In the UFC on Versus I main event, light heavyweights Brandon "The Truth" Vera (11-4, 7-4 UFC) and Jon "Bones" Jones (9-1, 3-1 UFC) will collide in a match-up that fits a battle we see in the spectrum of professional sports quite often. The bout featuring the young, rising prospect taking on the battle-tested veteran who is trying to scratch his way back into relevancy.

Vera will be looking to back up the years of hype he's spat at his critics by testing the 22-year-old Jones, a fighter who has showed impressive wrestling, strength, and explosiveness in his four-fight career in the UFC. It should be a tough challenge  for both fighters, but most fans are leaning toward the much more successful fighter in Jones in this fight.

Why have fans changed their minds about Brandon Vera? Vera's poor record following his return to the UFC nearly four years ago is probably the main reason, but even in his victories -- his peformances weren't exactly impressive. A drained Vera defeated former IFL fighter Reese Andy in a lackluster performance that was partially blamed on the weight cut to 205 pounds, but other fans will point to his loss against Keith Jardine as a sure sign that Vera won't return to top form. Vera showed promise against Couture at UFC 105, but he was unable to deal with Couture's vaunted Greco-Roman clinch game.

Unfortunately for Vera, he may have to deal with that type of power once again as Jones is well-known for tossing opponents around the cage by using his own brand of Greco-Roman techniques. His style of wrestling and ability to shift weight instantly has been successfully in putting opponents in bad positions on the ground, and Vera could be the next victim.

Vera should hold the advantage in the striking department as he has a very formidable Muay Thai background, strong body and leg kicks, and decent boxing. Jones has some reach and unpredictability in his striking, but he's left himself open to counters. He has also lacked the long-term conditioning to last for three rounds, something that was evident in his match-up with Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94. If Vera can withstand the early onslaught, he might just be the more precise striker to really hurt Jones late.

Jones should hold the advantage on the ground with his wrestling abilities and strength, but Vera has stated he'll be a submission threat on the ground from now on. Vera isn't historically known as a phenom in the submission game, but he is a competent enough grappler to be a danger when he looks for submissions. That doesn't happen very often, but a change in his thinking could change that.

Overall, I think this might turn into a striking battle on the feet in the early portions of the fight, but eventually -- Jones will want to manhandle Vera on the floor and use his strength to gain a dominant position and punch Vera out. Can he do that? Only Fabricio Werdum has successfully TKO'd Brandon Vera, so it isn't an impossible feat. If Jones can do so, he'll vault himself into the upper-echelon of the division at only 22 years of age. An impressive feat.

For me, I can't pick Brandon Vera here. He needs to prove that he still has what it takes to compete against the best in this division, and he's been absolute garbage in comparison to what he brought to the table four years ago. Even in his victories, I shrug my shoulders at how lackluster some of the vwins have been.

I'm going with the younger, stronger Jon Jones. While I think Vera can win with his dynamic striking ability, he'll need to prove he still has the tools to win. Jones is an absolute load who has explosiveness and unpredictability all on his side. I hope Vera can make this competitive, but I'm not holding out too much hope. Jones should take it to Vera on Sunday night.