Vera looking for light-heavy breakout
FIGHTIN' WORDS | Couture provides formidable test in UFC's glamor division
For years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's light-heavyweight division has been the organization's marquee division.
Long dominated by superstars Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, the weight class has witnessed a revolving door with four title-holders in the last 16 months. In October, champion Lyoto Machida made the only successful title defense since September 2007 when he won a controversial decision against Mauricio ''Shogun'' Rua.
One fighter who seeks to sort through the logjam at the top of the division is Brandon Vera. He entered the UFC full of bluster three years ago as a heavyweight. But after back-to-back losses, he dropped to the 205-pound light-heavyweight division. With three wins in four fights as a light heavyweight, he faces his stiffest test yet tonight at UFC 105 with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture in Manchester, England (8, Spike).
Vera, who respectfully calls his opponent ''Mr. Couture'' and considers him a mentor, expects a chess match with the 46-year-old veteran.
''He's a great tactician,'' Vera said. ''He's always been able to pick opponents apart -- in any area. He always devises a good game plan and sticks to it.''
The stylistic matchup should make for an entertaining fight. An on-his-game Vera (11-3) brings exciting kicks, elbows and Muay Thai-style striking. He'll have a reach advantage, which should be key to avoiding Couture's clinch game.
''He has a lot of experience, and it's really hard to come up with something new that Randy hasn't seen before,'' Vera said.
Couture (16-10) admitted three months was his quickest turnaround between fights since 2003, but that's the case for Vera as well. Both last fought in August at UFC 102, where Couture lost a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Vera won a decision against Krzysztof Soszynski.
Don't make the mistake of holding Couture's age against him; his conditioning is legendary. He said he was ready to get back in the cage.
''I actually feel good,'' he said. ''The only thing coming out of the Nogueria fight was stitches in my right eye, and those came out in about a week. Other than that, I had no injuries and no complaints -- other than I didn't get the 'W.'''
A 'W' for Vera tonight could help him live up to the potential he showed when he first entered the UFC and vault him solidly into the upper ranks of the light-heavyweight division.
''I don't even want to begin to think past Randy at all. The 205 division is so stacked,'' Vera said. ''I just want to work hard, put on a great fight with Mr. Couture and then we'll go with the flow afterward.''
Tonight won't be the only Couture-Vera fight. Six days later, the female version will take place for Strikeforce. Vera's wife, Kerry (1-0), takes on Couture's ex-wife, Kim (1-1), as a part of the Strikeforce Challengers series at 10p.m. Friday on Showtime.
• The locals: Ricardo Lamas takes on James Krause on Wednesday on the undercard of ''WEC 44: Brown vs. Aldo'' in Las Vegas. The lightweight Lamas, a former Division III All-American wrestler who trains at Team Top Notch in Elmhurst, is seeking to rebound from an August loss to Danny Castillo.