Rumor: Vera vs Werdum @ UFC 85?

ChipShank · 02-21-2008, 08:20 AM

Report: Fabricio Werdum vs. Brandon Vera Slated for UFC 85 -- MMAjunkie.com
What does anyone think of this matchup? My gut would lead me towards Vera, but then again I drastically underestimated Werdum in the Gonzaga fight. I had only caught a few of his Pride and prior fights and then of course the snoozer against AA....Then again, Vera was some what underwhelming against Sylvia. Though it was revealed that he broke his thumb very early in the match and kinda lost his gameplan from there.

Guess that Werdum's title shot has been put on hold as well...for now at least.

I'm torn....I just glad that there IS some decent HW match ups to be made these days, even if they don't include names like Emelianenko and Couture.

Mulla · 02-21-2008, 08:43 AM

UFC 85 -- MMAjunkie.com

Quote:

Prior to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s victory over Tim Sylvia earlier this month, UFC President Dana White said that Fabricio Werdum would likely get the next shot at the title. However, it now appears he’ll first have to get by Brandon Vera (8-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

Werdum and Vera are slated to battle at UFC 85, an event that takes place June 7 at the O2 Arena in London, according to a report from The Fight Network.

According to the report, bout agreements have not been signed.

Werdum, a former PRIDE Fighting Championships fighter, signed with the UFC last year. He was considered an instant heavyweight contender (fresh off a first-round submission victory over Aleksander Emelianenko), but after a lackluster loss to Andrei Arlovski at UFC 70, Werdum seemingly fell off the UFC’s radar. After an eight-month layoff, though, he finally returned at UFC 80 in January and scored a stunning second-round TKO of UFC heavyweight contender Gabriel Gonzaga.

Vera, meanwhile, began his UFC career with three straight victories before he earned a bout with Frank Mir. Although questions marks still surrounded the brash youngster, Vera defeated the former UFC heavyweight with a first-round TKO at UFC 65. The November 2006 fight would be his last for nearly a year, though, as he worked out issues with his former management. Vera was supposed to fight then-champ Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 nearly a year ago, but with the issues still unresolved, Randy Couture got the fight instead.

Vera last competed at UFC 77 this past October, where he suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Sylvia. After the fight, Vera stated that he had suffered a broken hand early in the fight.

For all the latest fight cards, including UFC 85, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

Anyone heard anything about this? Seems a bit weird as they were hyping Werdum as the no.1 contender and now they're making him fight someone coming off a loss?

Saskabush · 02-21-2008, 08:57 AM

http://www.fightforum.com/ufc/16625-...bly-ufc85.html

A mod making a double thread?! Now I've seen it all!! Lol JJ buddy.

FrankenJim · 02-21-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

UFC 85 -- MMAjunkie.com

Anyone heard anything about this? Seems a bit weird as they were hyping Werdum as the no.1 contender and now they're making him fight someone coming off a loss?

Hmmmm What about thinking anout it this way:

Vera won 3 Stright wins with one loss at the end and IMO he due to the broken hand, If you look at the fight ( i remember that fight well ) The 1st i think its about 2 mins Vera was in control. Then after that ( the broken hand ) He lost his edge, But Also he didnt gett batterd either, so in my eyes i think hes still at the top Dispite the long lay off and coming off a loss.

See what i mean?, Mabye Dana See's this too ? Or am i being biasis coz i like Vera.

statikman · 02-21-2008, 10:13 AM

Also, if the UFC doesn't sign Sylvia and Arlovski is gone, the heavyweight division is pretty shallow, with maybe 2 Top 5 heavyweights. Maybe they try to build Vera or Werdum into stars and put the title on hold for a while.

mammoth91 · 02-21-2008, 10:35 AM

This will be a good fight. Both of these guys have awsome techniques. I give the edge to Werdum in strength and over all skills, as well as experience.
I think we will see many great sub attempts frrom both with Werdum wining via stoppage... Looking forward to this fight..

UFC_Legacy · 02-21-2008, 10:36 AM

This is a great match up. You could argue that may be a step back in terms of victories but Brandon has earn't some respect in the Heavyweight division so its still a good fight for Werdum.

At the end of the day im a big Vera fan and I think this would be a tough fight for him and a all round good match seeing as Werdum displayed some good stand up skills against GG. Also hopefully I will be there watching it woooo!

Vera KO 2nd round!

Mulla · 02-21-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

http://www.fightforum.com/ufc/16625-...bly-ufc85.html

A mod making a double thread?! Now I've seen it all!! Lol JJ buddy.

LOL Doh!!!

BCguy · 02-21-2008, 10:54 AM

*slaps Mulla* ..... n00b.

This could be a good fight. But i think it all depends which Vera shows up. The one who demolished Mir , or the one put me to sleep fighting Timmy.

KungFuGrip · 02-21-2008, 11:06 AM

I don't see Vera getting submitted. Werdum looked very good against Gonzaga. Looks to be a good fight, but I'm not sure who takes it

I see Vera maybe winning via KO 2nd rd or a decision win for Werdum thus setting up his title shot.

Gooner · 02-21-2008, 12:39 PM

Good stuff.

I wasn't interested at all in seeing Nog and Werdum fight again, for the title.
Plus this is an interesting match-up.
Werdum is not the biggest HW out there, and even though he seems to have improved his striking, I'm gonna have to go with Vera on this one.

FrankenJim · 02-21-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCguy

*slaps Mulla* ..... n00b.

This could be a good fight. But i think it all depends which Vera shows up. The one who demolished Mir , or the one put me to sleep fighting Timmy.

The same guy showed up for the Timmy fight but early in round one he broke the hand, then could not preform to his best imo anyway

earvinarp · 02-21-2008, 07:20 PM

Yeah, the UFC can put that fight on one of its cards and, at the same time, some other organization can have Arlovski and Fedor go at it.

Werdum-Vera has the appeal of a snail race and the UFC will find out soon enough.

Flying Triangle Choke · 02-21-2008, 11:24 PM

Definitely pulling for a double KO in this one.

Mickey Finn · 02-21-2008, 11:26 PM

im not much of a fan of either fighter. though id rather werdum have to beat vera before getting a title shot

RampageMcKellar · 02-22-2008, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Triangle Choke

Definitely pulling for a double KO in this one.

Haha that would be fantastic.

gumbel · 02-22-2008, 04:57 PM

imo vera wins by ko. but i woulda loved to see arlovski and nog. andrei is my favorite fighter and its terrible to see him pushed to the side

Kurtis636 · 02-22-2008, 05:02 PM

I like Vera in this one.

MTKrav911 · 02-22-2008, 05:04 PM

Werdum could potentially test Vera's submission skillz that everyone insists he doesen't have.

Vera can fight off his back.

Should be a good matchup.

Just hope Werdum doesent get KTFO'd in the process.

NateRupe · 02-22-2008, 05:30 PM

I'd take Vera by TKO.