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Brandon Vera
Born	Brandon Michael Vera (1977-10-10) October 10, 1977 (age 47) Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Other names	The Truth
Nationality	American
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	203.8 lb (92.4 kg; 14.56 st)
Division	Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Reach	78.0 in (198 cm)
Style	Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Greco-Roman Wrestling
Stance	Orthodox
Fighting out of	San Diego, California, United States
Team	Team Lloyd Irvin/ Alliance MMA
Rank	Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Lloyd Irvin
Years active	2002–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	19
Wins	12
By knockout	7
By submission	1
By decision	4
Losses	6
By knockout	3
By decision	3
No contests	1
Other information
University	Old Dominion University
Spouse	Kerry Vera
Notable school(s)	Lake Taylor High School
Website	http://www.brandonvera.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Brandon Vera
Born	(1977-10-10) October 10, 1977 (age 47) Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1997-1999
Other work	Professional Mixed martial arts

Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Vera holds a Notable win over former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir.

Early life

Vera is the son of a Filipino father, Ernesto and his Filipino step-mother, Amelia. His birth mother is Italian American and was not involved in most of his upbringing. He grew up in a family with three brothers and one sister. He also has two other brothers and another sister outside of the family in which he was raised and they were occasionally involved in his life. He was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and attended Lake Taylor High School where he excelled in wrestling and earned a four-year athletic scholarship to Old Dominion University. However, he dropped out of Old Dominion after a year and a half when he felt college was not for him, and enlisted himself in the United States Air Force.

In the Air Force, Vera joined the force's wrestling team and trained at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His military wrestling career was cut short in 1999 when he tore ligaments in his right elbow. Arthroscopic surgery repaired the ligaments, but he had nerve damage from the experience, causing him to be unable to use his right arm. He was released from the Air Force on a medical discharge.

Vera returned to Virginia where he steadily rehabilitated his arm, and eventually was fit enough to enter the Grapplers Quest submission wrestling competitions on the East Coast. There, his solitary training methods (he did not belong to a camp and trained and cut weight on his own) caught the attention of Lloyd Irvin, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt and coach, who invited him to train with his school. At Irvin's school, he was introduced to mixed martial arts. He also trained with Linxx Academy, and Hybrid Academy.

Mixed martial arts career

Vera's first professional mixed martial arts bout was on July 6, 2002, while training under Floyd Mayweather. He won the fight against Adam Rivera via TKO in the first round. He fought and won another bout in 2004 before entering a World Extreme Cagefighting heavyweight tournament in 2005, where he won two bouts in one night, including a bout against The Ultimate Fighter 2's Mike Whitehead in the finals.

Vera moved to San Diego, California, on December 31, 2003, to accept a training position with City Boxing in San Diego. At City Boxing, Vera excelled as a trainer and was taken under the wing of City Boxing owner Mark Dion, who became his manager and introduced him to kickboxing great Rob Kaman. With Vera's success as a trainer and a mixed martial arts fighter, Dion gave Vera partial ownership of City Boxing.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Vera made his UFC debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2 on October 3, 2005, against BJJ black belt Fabiano Scherner. Vera won the fight via KO due to knees from the clinch mid-way through the second round. Following the Scherner bout, he faced Justin Eilers at UFC 57, winning early in the first round by KO. At UFC 60, Vera defeated Assuerio Silva with a guillotine choke in the first round. On November 18, he stopped former heavyweight champion Frank Mir by TKO due to strikes in just 69 seconds at UFC 65 in Sacramento, California.

White had been telling the media prior to UFC 65 that the winner of the Vera-Mir fight would face the winner of the Tim Sylvia-Jeff Monson bout, which was also being held that same night, for the championship. Vera's victory secured him a championship bout against then title-holder Tim Sylvia, but a contract dispute with the UFC forced him to be replaced by Randy Couture.

In August, the UFC announced the "return" of Vera. His first fight was at UFC 77 against Sylvia, who had recently lost the championship to Couture. Vera lost for the first time via unanimous decision. He also broke his left hand at 4:40 of the first round.

Vera had his second loss at UFC 85 against Fabricio Werdum via TKO. The fight was controversially stopped by referee Dan Miragliotta as Werdum mounted him and landed some ground and pound. After the stoppage, Vera was upset as he felt he was defending himself effectively.

After his two recent losses, Vera dropped down to the light heavyweight division, facing IFL alum Reese Andy at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19, 2008, on Spike TV. Vera defeated Andy via unanimous decision.

At UFC 89, Vera lost to Keith Jardine via a narrow split decision. Following the fight, Vera incurred criticism for his performance since his return to the UFC having been victorious in only one of his last four fights.

A more focused Vera appeared on the preliminary card of UFC 96. It was the first time Vera was not on the main card since he made his debut in the UFC. He had an impressive performance against Mike Patt, showing a more aggressive and intense striking approach and stopping him via TKO (leg kicks) in the 2nd round.

Vera fought Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 102 after his original opponent, Matt Hamill, was forced to drop out due after suffering a meniscus tear while training. Vera won via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Vera lost a close fight to Randy Couture via unanimous decision on November 14, 2009 at UFC 105, with the media comparing the decision to a previous UFC event (UFC 104 Machida-Rua) which prompted that MMA judging should be changed. Despite Vera significantly outstriking Couture and successfully defending numerous takedown attempts, judges awarded the victory to Couture. The verdict surprised many people; UFC commentator Joe Rogan was highly critical of the decision during the live event broadcast and in a post-fight interview, Randy Couture admitted that he didn't expect the decision to be made in his favor.

Vera faced Jon Jones on March 21, 2010, at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones and lost via TKO in the first round after an elbow from Jones broke Vera's face in three places.

Vera was defeated by Thiago Silva via unanimous decision on January 1, 2011 at UFC 125. At the end of the third round, Vera stood up to reveal a badly broken nose. Vera was cut by the UFC with a 7–6 record in the organization. However following the fight it was revealed that his opponent Thiago Silva had failed the post-fight drug test. As a result of this, Vera was rehired by the UFC and the result of the Silva fight was changed to a no contest, resulting in Vera's UFC record changing to 7-5-0-1.

Vera defeated Eliot Marshall on October 29, 2011 at UFC 137 via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).

Vera was briefly linked to a rematch Thiago Silva on May 15, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 3. However, Vera was forced out the bout with an injury.

Vera was expected to face James Te-Huna at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman. However, Vera was pulled from the bout with Te-Huna to face Maurício Rua on August 4, 2012 at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera. Vera was defeated via TKO late in the fourth round. Vera showed great heart after being rocked early in the second round, but as both fighters showed early signs of fatigue in the late stages of the second round, Vera ultimately succumbed to Rua's power. This fight is widely considered the best performance of Vera's career, despite the loss.

Personal life

Vera's wife, Kerry, is also a mixed martial artist who now fights for Strikeforce. She was featured on the second season of Oxygen's Fight Girls. Vera has a tattoo on his back, inked in the Filipino writing system called Baybayin. Clockwise, it reads mundo (earth), hangin (wind), apoy (fire) and tubig (water).

While staying in the Philippines, he trained Filipino actor, Richard Gutierrez, in martial arts and has been given a role as an assassin for Philippine primetime television show, Kamandag on the GMA Network.

In the latter part of his training for UFC 89, Vera was reportedly held at gun point by two men attempting to rob the house in which he was staying. Vera stated that the incident did not affect his performance against Keith Jardine.

Accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

• World Extreme Cagefighting
  • WEC Heavyweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	13–6	Mauricio Rua	TKO (punches)	UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera	August 4, 2012	4	4:03	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	13–5	Eliot Marshall	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz	October 29, 2011	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	12-5	Thiago Silva	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 125: Resolution	January 1, 2011	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	12–4	Jon Jones	TKO (elbow and punches)	UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones	March 21, 2010	1	3:19	Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win	12–3	Randy Couture	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera	November 14, 2009	3	5:00	Manchester, England
Win	11–3	Krzysztof Soszynski	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira	Aug 29, 2009	3	5:00	Portland, Oregon, United States
Win	10–3	Mike Patt	TKO (leg kicks)	UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine	Mar 7, 2009	2	1:27	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Loss	9–3	Keith Jardine	Decision (split)	UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben	Oct 18, 2008	3	5:00	Birmingham, England
Win	9–2	Reese Andy	Decision (unanimous)	UFC: Silva vs Irvin	July 19, 2008	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Light Heavyweight Debut
Loss	8–2	Fabricio Werdum	TKO (punches)	UFC 85: Bedlam	June 7, 2008	1	4:40	London, England
Loss	8–1	Tim Sylvia	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 77: Hostile Territory	October 20, 2007	3	5:00	Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Win	8–0	Frank Mir	TKO (knee & punches)	UFC 65: Bad Intentions	November 18, 2006	1	1:09	Sacramento, California, United States
Win	7–0	Assuerio Silva	Submission (guillotine choke)	UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie	May 27, 2006	1	2:39	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	6–0	Justin Eilers	KO (head kick and knee)	UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3	February 4, 2006	1	1:25	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	5–0	Fabiano Scherner	TKO (knees and punches)	UFC Ultimate Fight Night 2	October 3, 2005	2	3:22	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	4–0	Mike Whitehead	TKO (doctor stoppage)	WEC 13: Heavyweight Explosion	January 22, 2005	2	1:12	Lemoore, California, United States	Won the WEC Heavyweight Tournament.
Win	3–0	Andre Mussi	KO (knees and punches)	WEC 13: Heavyweight Explosion	January 22, 2005	1	0:51	Lemoore, California, United States
Win	2–0	Don Richards	Decision (unanimous)	Next Level Fighting 1	September 13, 2003	2	5:00	Steubenville, Ohio, United States
Win	1–0	Adam Rivera	TKO (punches)	Excalibur Fighting 11	July 6, 2002	1	3:20	Richmond, Virginia, United States

References

1. ^ "Don't Fight Mad". San Diego Reader. 2007-02-08. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
2. "WEC: Heavyweight Explosion". Sherdog.com. 2005-01-03. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
3. ABS-CBN Interactive, Vera loses to Werdum
4. 411mania.com, 411's UFC 85: Bedlam Report 6.07.08
5. "Soszynski Replaces Hamill At UFC 102". MMAweekly.com. 2009-07-27.
6. "UFC 105 Brandon Vera Randy Couture by decision". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
7. "UFC 105 Roundtable". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. November 16, 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
8. "UFC 125: Brandon Vera's Broken Nose". Retrieved 8 January 2011.
9. "UFC 125 Medical Suspensions: Brandon Vera Suffers Nasal Fracture". Retrieved 8 January 2011.
10. "Brandon Vera Released by the UFC". Retrieved 8 January 2011.
11. ((cite web|url=http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2011/02/23/brandon-vera-poised-for-a-ufc-return-with-a-dark-cloud-still-hovering-over-thiago-silva/))
12. "Brandon Vera Not Cut by the UFC". bloodyelbow.com. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
13. "UFC 137: Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall booked for Oct. 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada". mmamania.com. July 16, 2011.
14. "Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera rematch set for May 15 in Virginia". mmajunkie.com. February 2, 2012.
15. "Brandon Vera injured, out of UFC on Fuel TV 3 rematch with Thiago Silva". mmajunkie.com. February 4, 2012.
16. "Brandon Vera Returns to Action Against James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL 4". cagepotato.com. April 13, 2012.
17. Mrosko, Gene (June 6, 2012). "New UFC on FOX 4 main event announced: Shogun Rua vs Brandon Vera". mmamania.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
18. "The Cast of Fight Girls". Oxygen Pressroom. Oxygen. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
19. Brandon Vera's Baybayin tattoos : PinoyTattoos.com - Filipino Tattoo Source
20. "UFC warrior is now an actor in Kamandag". GMANews.tv. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
21. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/vera-held-at-gunpoint-14888

External links

• Official Brandon Vera Website
• Professional MMA record for Brandon Vera from Sherdog
• Alliance Training Center
• Brandon Vera Fight Results
• Official UFC Profile

Template:Persondata

• Living people
• American people of Italian descent
• American people of Filipino descent
• American mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists from Virginia
• Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
• American mixed martial artists of Italian descent
• 1977 births
• American practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• American sportspeople of Asian descent