UFC Fight Night: Brandon Vera Takes On John ‘Bones’ Jones March 21 In Colorado

Broomfield, CO, United States (NewsBahn) – It has been nearly four months since Brandon Vera took center stage.

Vera, one of the most dazzling young 205 pound warriors the UFC has in its arsenal last graced a main event card in November.

Seemingly at the top of the world, Vera was coming off a two-fight win streak to take on UFC legend Randy “The Natural” Couture.

The fight – hyped by the label of “old vs. young,” – found Vera on the latter end of a unanimous decision, keeping the legacy of the 46 year-old bruiser Couture intact.

A clean slate for Vera (11-4 MMA record, 9-4 UFC) now comes by virtue of headlining another UFC card at its upcoming UFC Fight Night on March 21 from the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo

The night, a freebie loaded with solid undercards will air on Spike TV (9 p.m EST).

Vera will touch mitts with John “Bones” Jones (9-1, 3-1) in a heavyweight bout that will serve as a litmus test in Vera’s desire to return his winning ways and a chance to earn consideration for a heavyweight title shot.

“Me and Bones, it’s going to be a good fight, man,” said Vera, 32. “We are going to find out just how hard his bones are, and see if he likes to bang. He’s a good fighter, super talented, quick and fast, he’s like a Ninja.”

Jones, 22, a no nonsense fighter in his own right doesn’t mince words. When asked his favorite punch and submission moves Jones replied, “whatever KO’s him” and “whatever knocks him out.”

At 6-1, 205 this Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist out of Endicott N.Y. boasts a pair of unanimous decisions and a submission victory after choking out Jake O’Brien at UFC 100, one of the biggest nights in the history of the fight outfit.

But, six years ago it was Vera who dreamed that he’d be in the UFC.

With his talents, a lethal Muay Thai game, big hands and a ground game that tough to figure out, Vera exploded on the scene winning his first six fights in the Octagon -three by way of knockout or TKO and two by submission.

The biggest arguably a TKO victory of former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir in UFC 65 (Nov. 2006).

But problems with his weight led to confidence issues and a string of losses found Vera stuck in the middle of the pack in a class filled with talent.

“Back in the day before I even started fighting, I was just dreaming about being here,” said Vera. “I’ve  come a long way, and I don’t intend to now. It’s been a process and I really had to learn by fire. I mean this is my career and I used to train only when I had a fight set up or I’d eat whatever I wanted to eat.

“Now I am starting to realize that to become an upper echelon fighter, you have to treat this [fight] stuff like it’s your life and to me that’s what this is. I am learning that this is not a game anymore, this is my profession and my life.”

In Jones, Vera will get as good a test as any to prove he is taking his fight game to the next level.

Notable undercards

Junior Dos Santos (10-1 MMA record) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4) will go three rounds in a heavyweight teaser bout?Cheick Kongo (24-6-1) will have it out with Paul Buentello?Clay Guida (25-8-1), a killer amongst the lightweights of the WEC moves up to the UFC ranks to take on fellow 155 pounder Shannon Gugerty?Heavyweight Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub, finalist in the latest installment of Spike TV’s reality series “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” will battle fellow UFC greenhorn Chase Gormley (6-1).

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