Dana White: Brandon Vera is 'not the same fighter'
by MMAmania.com on Oct 16, 2008 1:01 PM EDT
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Props: Canadian Press
Quoteworthy:
"As soon as he had a few wins and all the money got involved and his new contract and his ex-manager and all that bullshit, he's changed. He's not the same fighter he was. He needs to put all that shit behind him and he's needs to come back and be the cocky, crazy Brandon Vera that I met a few years ago. That kid needs to come back. It seems that now the money's involved, he doesn't take chances like he used to, he doesn't let his hands go like he used to. He's got to come back and be the old Brandon Vera."
UFC President Dana White hopes to see the old Brandon Vera return against Keith Jardine at UFC 89: "Bisping vs. Leben" at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, this weekend. "The Truth" was undefeated before getting mired in an ugly contract dispute with the promotion and former manager Mark Dion, which kept him on the sidelines for more than a year. He returned to action only to lose to Tim Sylvia via unanimous decision and then Fabricio Werdum via controversial first round technical knockout stoppage. After the two losses at heavyweight, Vera took a 205-pound fight against Reese Andy at UFC Fight Night 14 back in July. He won the bout with a decision but didn't look very sharp while doing it, attributing the lackluster performance to the weight cut. Broken Hand, bad stoppage and weight cut: All reasons (and not saying they aren't valid) Vera has used to explain his three most recent performances ... none of which include money. Let's see which Brandon Vera shows up on October 18 and whether or not White may be onto something or Vera has indeed been the victim of misfortune.
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if im not mistake, didnt vera make six figures for his last fight? why would money be a worry for him? keith jardine is getting paid way less than that… hope he knocks vera out, forrest style
by brendan on Oct 16, 2008 1:04 PM EDT reply actions
I’m not sure if Brandon is with the same Kboxing coach as before.. cuz before his lay off.. he was dropping mofo’s left and right.. now since the Tim fight and his 205 debut in the UFc.. he is not the same high impact I’m going to KTFO type of a fighter.. this fight with Jardine.. should be real good. at 205 even though both a natural HW’s.. Jardine IMO.. has a slight edge over Brandon.. I just want to see a good fight between these two.
by PhilQNY on Oct 16, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
“jardine has the edge” please explain how phil???
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Jardine’s beat far better fighters. Vera has bored the crap out of me his last few fights.
Jardine’s losses are more entertaining than Vera’s wins.
Hi, my name isn’t Phil and I am an MMA fan.
by Jas on Oct 16, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Both where former HW’s.. but JArdine has been fighting at 205 much longer then Vera has. He has Greg Jackson formulating a fight plan. Vera since dropping down to 205 did not impress many.. including myself.. I’m a fan of his.. but I must keep it real.. He was having a tuf time with that former IFL figher.. Reese.. I think. This should be a good fight for us fans to watch if both step up.. and lay it all down.. but IMO a slight edge favors Jardine.. expect if you want to put into account his last devasting loss to Wandy in 38 seds.. but before that he defeated Chuck Lidell.. Jardine has settled in pretty well overall in the LHW division.. Brandon has yet to do the same.. this is anybodys fight to win or lose.
by PhilQNY on Oct 16, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Regardless of your opinion. Chuck had just lost his title.. which he had held down for a minute.. and was a huge feather in Jardine’s cap.. along side another notable 205’r.. Forrest Griffin.
by PhilQNY on Oct 16, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Also remember the intangibles in this fight, Vera was taken hostage this past week or last. That might mess with him when under pressure again. I still think he’ll win but we’ll see.
by NameNotRequired on Oct 16, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
hey phil, sent you a frien request for my myspace…my wife kicked me off hers!
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Fans are harsh.
Vera lost to a legit top 10/top 15 hvywt in Sylvia by a decision w/ a broken hand, got stopped prematurely by a good fighter in Werdum and grinded out a decision over a limited but tough as nails Reese. Those 3 fighters are NOT cans.
Give him a break.
Same thing w/ Jardine.
He lost to an overlooked Houston (at the time) and to a card carrying bad@ss HOF’er in Wandy.
Both receive too much criticism.
Vera by decision.
by OJR on Oct 16, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
overlooked houston???
hpow bout way over hyped houston?
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice take OJR…but I’m goin’ w/ Vera for the KO!!
by The Negation on Oct 17, 2008 4:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I think he is still w/ Rob Kamen (sp?). He had a really long layoff before fighting Sylvia, and he just gassed way too fast in his first 205 fight. I’m hoping to see the old Vera on saturday knock jardine out.
by LJ on Oct 16, 2008 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
it was the reason he took a year off Brendan. He had the same manager that KJ Noons has. they were in a contract dispute for a while.
I agree with Dana, he needs to get his swagger back, he was one of my favorite fighters for awhile, but the weight cut has affected him. The sad thing is, it’s not like he has to cut much weight, if anything, he’s naturally under 205, as long as he eats right. He needs to let his kicks go more…his legs are like tree trunks. I don’t see Jardine posing much of a problem, I think he’s one of the more over rated guys in the LHW division!
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
true…he only has to cut like 15lbs…doesn’y seem like enough to slow someone down that much. IMO he is fighting not to lose as opposed to fighting to win
by McArthur on Oct 16, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I heard he currently weighs 202lbs… No problem this time.
by BNF on Oct 16, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Well right now, i believe he’s way more than that…
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Oct 17, 2008 5:15 AM EDT up reply actions
alright guys, I’m off to my first AA meeting in 3 years. with the time off, I’m feeling as if I could help someone struggling with their sobriety. I’ve never felt the need to help, but have recently thought a lot about young people struggling with the pressures of addiction. I don’t quite understand it, but as with everything else in my life, I just go with it. talk to you fools later!
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions
good luck with that.I know that trying to abstain from alcohol can be very difficult for some individuals.I almost made it 2 years.I stopped when I turned 30 and almost made it to my 32nd B-day.it’s been almost a year since I started drinking again and I am currently trying to return to sobriety.itt has been difficult but I think as long as I take it from week to week I think I will be succesful.
by the Levi on Oct 16, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
no levi, good luck to you man, I don’t even think of drinking anymore, the repercussions are deadly..if I drink, I buy coke (lots of coke0 and then I get crazy and my wife leaves me…easy not to drink!!
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Vera’s contract is 100 to fight 100 to win. So… by laying back and fighting to not lose.. he makes 100k.
Ridiculous for him to be making that much anyway.. shoulda let him walk.
by Luppers on Oct 16, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really… At the time his contract was negotiated, he was at top of his game, undefeated and just ran through Frank Mir who is currently being granted a title shot?
by SDMMA on Oct 16, 2008 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really? So the UFC has definitely gotten a return on their 100k per fight investment?
Farthest thing from it… he isn’t a headliner, he isnt bringing highlight reel KOs… he is NOT worth anywhere even close to 100k per fight.
Name 15 fighters in the UFC that are more exciting then he, and make much less money. I know I can..
by Luppers on Oct 16, 2008 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey Kevin, maybe you keep getting moderated because of the (sh*t) in your name? How much longer do you have to keep that name?
by JV on Oct 16, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
One thing is certainly true, wether they are excuses or not he has certainly brought them up quite alot during press talks. The bad stoppage and weight cut do sound like bitter excuses to me. All praise to jardine for fighting anyone dana puts in front of him. Lidell, silva, forrest, now vera. I feel bad for jardine, from his pay, down to the disrespect he continues to get. Hope he pulls off a win.
by blah. anything can/and will happen in MMA on Oct 16, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Jardine. I’ll be going for him, but I want Vera to put on a good showing too, so he doesn’t get booted from the promotion.
by sinister on Oct 16, 2008 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
dana is right. vera needs to be hungry again and show it. his last fight with andy was a joke. he should have knocked that fool out in the 1st round. i hope he doesnt get all lathargic again with jardine. i’m sure all of us have high hopes that this fight is a good one.
by allamerican on Oct 16, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions
If he gets lathargic again, Jardine will put him away.
by Jeff on Oct 16, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
if the Truth gets lethargic then the DeanofMean might win by decison but I don’t think that he will be able to finish Vera.
by the Levi on Oct 16, 2008 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I loved it on the countdown show when Brandon said if Jardine throws some kicks at him he may just start giggeling! LMAO!
This is a great match up for Vera. Jardine likes to stand, throw kicks, and has a glass jaw. But Dana is right, he needs to let it go this fight. I think John said he weighed 202lbs. a couple of days ago. With no weight cut, there should be no excuses. Vera by TKO BABY!!!
by BNF on Oct 16, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions
How does Jardine have a glass jaw? He took Chuck’s best punch when Chuck was one fight after Rampage. Then, yeah, Houstan Alexander, but no one was ready for that shit, and how can you say someone has a glass jaw when Wanderlei KO’s someone? Cmon man, give Jardine his due. He even dropped Chuck with his own punch. Definetly not overrated. Maybe not at the LHW Elite level yet, but definetley top 10.
by sinister on Oct 16, 2008 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know if I will call that Chuck’s best punch considering that was the laziest preformance of his career. Sandwich that in between 2 brutal KO’s where Jardine was out for several minutes and that is a weak jaw, IMO. The Wandi KO didn’t even look that bad, and I was there, Jardine didn’t move for several minutes. Like I said, I expect Vera to put him to sleep yet again.
by BNF on Oct 16, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think he has a glass jaw but he folds under consistent and very high pressure. You can let him relax for one second or else he’ll just circle around.
by NameNotRequired on Oct 16, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
That may be a little harsh because I can’t stand Jardine, but you are right, as soon as he feels a little pressure he folds, just as bad. We will see now how he handles Vera, who has better kicks, hands and sub’s.
by BNF on Oct 16, 2008 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
my campus doesnt get ppv. how can i watch this fight?
by jim on Oct 16, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
good thing it’s free on spike!! where you been buddy??
by kevin doesn't know shit on Oct 16, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
wow i cant believe i missed that. but is there a website i can watch the ppv fights at though?
by jim on Oct 16, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
jim,
As others have said this is on Spike. If you want a UFC PPV go to Buffalo Wild Wings, they have a contract with the UFC to show all their fights.
by Jeff on Oct 16, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I had the privilage on training with Vera last summer, and Kevin’s right…Vera has legs like tree trunks and kicks like no one else in the sport!!
THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL THIS WEEKEND!!
by Crazy Canuck on Oct 16, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions
“it seems that now the money’s involved, he doesn’t take chances like he used to,”
Why… hello there Tim Sylvia!
No wonder their fight was so boring, two guys who fought not to lose.
by DirtyML on Oct 16, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions
Jardine may have a weak chin (3 of 4 losses by KO), but if Vera looks like he did his last time out Jardine will knock his head off his shoulders. This should be a good fight of a technical fighter vs. a brawler.
I think Vera will win (if he got this cutting thing down), but I am cheering for Dean.
by mike on Oct 16, 2008 2:32 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t know about ‘weak’ chin…
The guy got POUNDED by Wandi and Houston. You hit anyone as hard as he got hit in the jaw those two fights – 9times outa 10 they will fold like a lawn chair.
by Luppers on Oct 16, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Now that I think about it, Rampage kind of folded like a lawn chair through the ropes when he fought Wandy.
by DirtyML on Oct 16, 2008 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I hear ya, You get hit on the chin like that you are going down no matter who you are. I say weak chin because 75% of his losses are KOs. I think it might be more of him not keeping his head down than it is him having a glass jaw, but either way some one is getting KO’d
by mike on Oct 16, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I see Jardine being more active in rounds 2 and 3 and getting the unanimous decision (29-28 across the board)
by TheNewfie on Oct 16, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah, I think that’s the way it will go down if Vera is not aggressive.
by Luppers on Oct 16, 2008 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I have Jardine winning by KO in the 2nd round. Vera has sucked ass since he has returned, someone needs to relight his fire.
by rydinlow on Oct 16, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply actions
I believe he is the same fighter, he just broke his hand against Tim, and Werdum was just a jump up in competition that Vera could no longer walk thru. Vera is an awsome fighter, will hold a belt one day. Vera WILL win, and I got money on that.
by The Anomaly on Oct 16, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions
I was a big Vera fan when he debuted in the UFC, he was a good fiter and had a huge personality. His fite vs. Reese was lackluster. His conditioning should be a lot better this match, I think he’ll get the win over The Dean.
by Dayman Fan on Oct 16, 2008 4:51 PM EDT reply actions
Vera’s got the pressure of having a whole nation behind him (Philippines), hope he doesn’t mess up again.
by rockwell on Oct 16, 2008 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
Check the sportslines in Vegas or any gambling websites and find out from the experts who’s the favorite to win. Keith Jardine +145, Brandon -185. Go with the experts put your money on Brandon!!
by alexisnadine on Oct 17, 2008 9:22 AM EDT reply actions
Check Vegas Sportsline or any online gambling site, Jardine +145, Brandon -185. The experts have spoken, Brandon is the favorite to win. Put your money on Brandon.
by alexisnadine on Oct 17, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions
dana trying to motivate him..so that he can be brought to the Philippines to fight..and the UFC would make money out of it..what happened to Vera is called the HYPE!! they thought he was that good but he’s not..hell even the major network here in the philippines went all the way to england(plus tons of press releases) and try to cover his expected win to WERDUM.hell they were wrong.and he lost…now the network didnt have any news with veras fight tomorow snif snif… Jardine would win by KO
by ree on Oct 17, 2008 10:36 PM EDT reply actions
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