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[notBJpenn]

I was thinking about "The Truth's" future today, and what his next move from here should be. I came to the conclusion that he should take a hiatus from competing for a while, and in that time off train with Overeem.

Vera has a similar frame to the Dutchman, and if he could get help building mass the correct way, without losing his speed (and without steroids obviously) and could get to the 240ish mark he could once again be a big threat at HW.

Plus when you take 2 fighters with some of the most dynamic Muay Thai around and put them together in the same camp, only good things could come from it.

Thoughts?

P.S. For the sake of this discussion lets not mention steroids, since AO has never tested positive anyway and at this point it's just speculation. Frank Mir has put on 40lbs of muscle in a year without steroids, so we are going to say that in this situation Vera would do it in similar fashion.

[The Natural994]

Kind of a pipe dream imo. He got screwed against Couture and whether he weighs 204 lbs or 240 lbs, he isn't beating Jonny bones Jones. He needs to stay at 205, fight Jardine in a rematch in a loser leaves town fight. If that doesn't get him motivated then nothing will....LHW is his home. HW is becoming a division of guys who need to cut to make 265. He took advantage of HW at a time when it was weak ...

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Brandon Vera reminds me of a bunch of those old New York Rangers or Washington Redskins, whereby, they've got all the fucking talent on the planet and somehow, just can't put it all together at the end of the day. He lacks the chemistry if you will, to really piece together all of his qualities into one TOTAL PACKAGE.

Vera's still got some of the greatest skills at 205 and really needs to simply find a way to release all those inhibitions which are really hindering his ferocity, making him tenative to really become a killer again. When it comes to standup, I don't know many at LHW who could rival Brandon's game and while he kinda got fucked against Couture, the bout should've never gone to a decision, because Vera's got the chops to end fights in the first or second with ease, he's just got that UFCrocopian disease of his inability to really bring it all to the table.

I guarantee he'll be back in full form, with knowledge that it's now or never for him being a fighter of consequence at 205 and will probably let his game hang a little more and search to make fights end with umph. I still believe Vera should've beaten Jones, but just didn't have the guts to close the deal and needs to find the ferocity or bloodthirstyness or AXEMURDER-ness to really do what he's capable of.

Vera vs. Forrest sounds like a plan for late fall after both have healed from their respective defeats.

[QOTSA420]

Vera has the tools to be a great fighter, he just cant utilize them. As a fan of his I have given up on him one day becoming a champion. However, I do see him being a successful gate keeper much like a Chris Lytle or Clay Guida. I actually think there is a lot less pressure on him after these consecutive losses, because he will obviously get fed a lower tier fighter now. He should just go out in his next bout and just try to have fun.

[MetallicKnight3X]

Well obviously he needs to bulk up.. he looks like a damn skin bean man but i think suggesting him training with Overeem isnt that smart. Overeem hasnt looked that great with his muay thai lately with his showing in K-1 and recent fights. Brandon seems to like to counter too much.. he doesnt pull the trigger at all he waits and i think thats his downfall. He needs to find a different camp and build muscle.. he needs someone to tell him to release those hands show him new things.. either greg jacksons camp or anderson silva and the nog brothers.. go train with them.

[jay-c]

Originally Posted by MetallicKnight3X

either greg jacksons camp or anderson silva and the nog brothers.. go train with them.

Maybe even BJ Penn.

[born2kill]

Hes fine where he is now. I'm getting tired of the mentality that if a fighter isnt steadily climbing towards a title shot they are spoken of as failures, and told they have to either change divisions or be cut/retire. Guys like Gonzaga, Vera, Joe Daddy etc. work their ass off and they put their hearts out there when they fight, win/lose/draw. Cant we as fans just be happy with that? In a different time, a Brandon Vera mightve been a top contender. Its just a very big pond right now, full of sharks. Theres only 5 belts and 100+ UFC fighters after all. So lets ease up a bit.

I wanna see Vera compete in the UFC & at his most comfortable weightclass until HE chooses to stop. So what he lost? He competes and when his skull is intact, he gives guys a run for their money.

[notBJpenn]

Originally Posted by born2kill

Hes fine where he is now. I'm getting tired of the mentality that if a fighter isnt steadily climbing towards a title shot they are spoken of as failures, and told they have to either change divisions or be cut/retire. Guys like Gonzaga, Vera, Joe Daddy etc. work their ass off and they put their hearts out there when they fight, win/lose/draw. Cant we as fans just be happy with that? In a different time, a Brandon Vera mightve been a top contender. Its just a very big pond right now, full of sharks. Theres only 5 belts and 100+ UFC fighters after all. So lets ease up a bit.

I wanna see Vera compete in the UFC & at his most comfortable weightclass until HE chooses to stop. So what he lost? He competes and when his skull is intact, he gives guys a run for their money.

No one competes to "give guys a run for their money". You compete to win, you compete to be the best, I'm not righting Vera off, never will. I am just saying as this sport continues to grow, you gotta grow with it. Look at BJ, changed up his camps, brought in new people, and now he is better then ever.

[Y2JUBAE]

He may want to go down to MW. Doesn't appear to be far from it.

Still, theres liddell, franklin.

[born2kill]

Originally Posted by notBJpenn

No one competes to "give guys a run for their money". You compete to win, you compete to be the best, I'm not righting Vera off, never will. I am just saying as this sport continues to grow, you gotta grow with it. Look at BJ, changed up his camps, brought in new people, and now he is better then ever.

Of course they compete to win and should do everything they can in terms of training and preparation. But you also have to realize that the level of competition is at an all time high now, and steadily rising. Its like imagine if you were part of the lightweight division a few years back, and were mainly concerned about BJ Penn. Now theres a CJ Penn, a DJ Penn; theres 10 axe murderers; theres Ultimate Fighter, IFL, Pride champions now; theres a slew new BJJ blackbests (mostly named thiago) coming in; etc.

Point being, its a very steep climb. And theres no shame in losing. If You can push Randy Couture like Vera did, hes a success in my book. And unless youre privey to his camp i dont think its respectful to criticize him and say his team his not good enough, just because he lost to a great fighter. Remember somebody is always going to lose. Thats the nature.

If you put Anderson vs. Machida, would you criticize the loser and tell him they need to find better training partners and evolve?? Thats messed up IMO.