It wasn't pretty, but "The Natural" got it done. Or did he?
Randy Couture took a unanimous decision over Brandon "The Truth" Vera in the main event of UFC 105, but many in the commentating booth and audience felt the decision may have been unfair.
The first round saw Couture dictating most of the offense or at least the aggression, working for takedowns even while Vera deftly defended them. It was much of a stalemate, but Vera spent the vast majority of the round on the defensive.
Here's where things get sketchy.
Couture finished the second round nicely with dirty boxing, but only after a vicious knee from Vera folded the UFC Hall of Famer. Vera followed up the crumpled Couture, but did very little damage until the referee stood the two up.
Round three saw the two fight gritty clinch battles where both scored with knees and punches. Vera stopped Couture's takedowns attempts and eventually landed a crisp knee tap of his own against the former Olympic wrestling alternate. Vera initially moved right to mount, but not before Couture could reverse the position and escape.
So how was the fight scored? Most saw rounds two and three as Vera's. Most, of course, except the judges.
Will Randy Couture get a title shot against Machida? Maybe, but it's hard to see Couture taking the title from the light heavyweight division's top contenders.
As for Vera, he looked clearly dejected after the fight. This was a major opportunity that was arguably taken from him. A case can be made that Vera has let too many fights go the distance since returning to the UFC after his year long layoff, but nevertheless, the judging in this fight is certainly suspect.
Randy Couture defeats Brandon Vera 29-28 on all three judges' scorecards.