CONFIRMED: Vera/Werdum in june

Bran · 02-20-2008, 09:50 PM

from Report: Vera-Werdum Possible for June - MMA on Tap

Quote:

Heavyweight contenders Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdum may possible meet in a bout with potential title shot implications when the Ultimate Fighting Championship travels overseas for the second time this year for UFC 85.

The news comes from Brian Knapp of The Fight Network, who reports that sources close to both fighters have said that the fight has been offered to them.

The event, which is currently slated to take place on June 7th at the o2 Arena in London, England, will likely feature a light heavyweight matchup between Chuck Liddell and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua as well as the next fight for one-time professional wrestler and WWE superstar Brock Lesnar.

Vera suffered his first career loss in October when he was decisioned by former champion Tim Sylvia, who ended up receiving a title shot as a result of winning the bout only to lose a shot at the vacant UFC belt earlier this month to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The San Diego native suffered a broken left hand during the first round of his fight against Sylvia and was expected to be out of action until this spring.

In fact, Vera has publicly stated that he broke the ‘scaphoid’ in his left hand with the very first punch he threw. The injury prevented him from bending the thumb towards his hand which in turn, didn’t allow him to throw a punch with his left hand during the bout.

Werdum bounced back from a disappointing performance against Andrei Arlovski in his UFC debut at UFC 70 last April with an impressive stoppage of Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 80: Rapid Fire last month. The win was rumored to have solidified Werdum’s spot as being next in line for a title shot but a fight against Vera would obviously dispel that.

guess another guy that dana promised a title shot isn't getting it.

neonatural45 · 02-20-2008, 09:53 PM

ya I was looking forward to Werdum rematching Nog but I really can't complain with this matchup. But now who faces Nog? Please don't say Frank Mir

Brutus · 02-20-2008, 09:54 PM

WTF. what happened to Nog/Werdum for the belt next?? This cant be true.

notrightn0w · 02-20-2008, 09:55 PM

Truth via KO

Bran · 02-20-2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neonatural45

ya I was looking forward to Werdum rematching Nog but I really can't complain with this matchup. But now who faces Nog? Please don't say Frank Mir

i have a feeling that's gonna be the case. either that or the winner of Kongo/Herring. everyone else is busy except for tim whom he just beat and andrei who is on contractual fritz

lilp86 · 02-20-2008, 10:03 PM

He never deserved the shot at the belt anyway not before AA. I think Vera is gonna Knock Werdum the fuck out. I think Werdum will have a tough time subbin him as well Veras JJ isnt as good as Werdums but its deffinitly good enough to hang with him. All in all I think its gonna be a tough night for Werdum

Dork8503 · 02-20-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neonatural45

ya I was looking forward to Werdum rematching Nog but I really can't complain with this matchup. But now who faces Nog? Please don't say Frank Mir

Mir vs Tim is most likely in the works soon so i doubt that.

This is making me think that AA an UFC came to terms an if he wins we will see him get the shot.

Mir isn't getting it.

Werdum vs Vera so their both out

Deff not Tim

and their not waiting for the winner of Vera vs Werdum, so only guess is AA

Dr. MMA · 02-20-2008, 10:06 PM

I hope this is true, I don't think Werdum deserves the title shot... why because he beat gonzaga? Thats only one win... Vera was on a tear and stopping all his opponents until he lost to a former champ in Sylvia. He broke his hand and still won one round. He didn't get dominated so I think this is a really good match for a title shot.

Werdum is improving his MT really well (espeicially now that he's with chute boxe) but Vera still has the edge in striking... he's such a natural when it comes to muay thai. He has solid credentials being the wka national champ and winning the 2004 k-1 trials. And although Werdum is one of the best BJJ heavyweights in the world... Vera is no slouch when it comes to grappling, he's a brown belt in BJJ, a 2 time pan am champ and 8 time grappler's quest champ.

This would be a match I would look forward to