Wiseguy
14-09-2009, 03:52
19658
UFC hall of famer Randy Couture (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Randy-Couture-166) will meet Brandon Vera (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brandon-Vera-4886) in the UFC 105 main event on Nov. 15 at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. The Daily Telegraph was first to report the bout on Sunday.
Sources within the camps of both fighters confirmed to Sherdog.com that verbal commitments have been made, though bout agreements have not yet been signed.
The fight will be Couture’s first as a light heavyweight since he lost to Chuck Liddell (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chuck-Liddell-192) in February 2006, ending a memorable trilogy that helped carry the UFC into a new era of prominence. The 46-year-old mixed martial arts legend last appeared at UFC 102 in August, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Antonio-Rodrigo-Nogueira-1440) -- the only man to hold the Pride Fighting Championships and UFC heavyweight crowns. Couture has lost his last two fights at heavyweight, leading some to question his place in the division. One of the sport’s most decorated competitors, he holds victories against six former UFC champions, including Liddell, Tito Ortiz (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tito-Ortiz-158) and Vitor Belfort (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitor-Belfort-156) (twice).
Vera, who turns 32 in October, has posted back-to-back wins since his split decision loss to Keith Jardine (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Keith-Jardine-2638) at UFC 89. A skilled muay Thai striker and grappler, he cruised to a unanimous verdict against Krzysztof Soszynski (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Krzysztof-Soszynski-9178) at UFC 102. Seven of his 11 career victories have come by knockout or technical knockout, a 69-second drubbing of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Frank-Mir-2329) included.
Other bouts already confirmed for UFC 105 include a middleweight matchup pairing Michael Bisping (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michael-Bisping-10196) with Denis Kang (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Denis-Kang-935) and a pivotal welterweight showdown pitting Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) against the undefeated Dong Hyun Kim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dong-Hyun-Kim-16374).
UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera
Saturday, Nov. 14
Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester, England
Randy Couture (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Randy-Couture-166) vs. Brandon Vera (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brandon-Vera-4886)
Michael Bisping (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michael-Bisping-10196) vs. Denis Kang (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Denis-Kang-935)
Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dong-Hyun-Kim-16374)
Aaron Riley (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Aaron-Riley-1567) vs. Ross Pearson (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ross-Pearson-11884)
Paul Taylor (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Paul-Taylor-6326) vs. John Hathaway (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Hathaway-16704)
Matt Riddle (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Matt-Riddle-34072) vs. Nick Osipczak (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Nick-Osipczak-30033)
Alexander Gustafsson (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Alexander-Gustafsson-26162) vs. Jared Hamman (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jared-Hamman-15949)
Terry Etim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Terry-Etim-13332) vs. Shannon Gugerty (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shannon-Gugerty-11001)
Vind het overigens nog steeds een zwakke card.
UFC hall of famer Randy Couture (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Randy-Couture-166) will meet Brandon Vera (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brandon-Vera-4886) in the UFC 105 main event on Nov. 15 at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. The Daily Telegraph was first to report the bout on Sunday.
Sources within the camps of both fighters confirmed to Sherdog.com that verbal commitments have been made, though bout agreements have not yet been signed.
The fight will be Couture’s first as a light heavyweight since he lost to Chuck Liddell (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chuck-Liddell-192) in February 2006, ending a memorable trilogy that helped carry the UFC into a new era of prominence. The 46-year-old mixed martial arts legend last appeared at UFC 102 in August, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Antonio-Rodrigo-Nogueira-1440) -- the only man to hold the Pride Fighting Championships and UFC heavyweight crowns. Couture has lost his last two fights at heavyweight, leading some to question his place in the division. One of the sport’s most decorated competitors, he holds victories against six former UFC champions, including Liddell, Tito Ortiz (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Tito-Ortiz-158) and Vitor Belfort (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitor-Belfort-156) (twice).
Vera, who turns 32 in October, has posted back-to-back wins since his split decision loss to Keith Jardine (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Keith-Jardine-2638) at UFC 89. A skilled muay Thai striker and grappler, he cruised to a unanimous verdict against Krzysztof Soszynski (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Krzysztof-Soszynski-9178) at UFC 102. Seven of his 11 career victories have come by knockout or technical knockout, a 69-second drubbing of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Frank-Mir-2329) included.
Other bouts already confirmed for UFC 105 include a middleweight matchup pairing Michael Bisping (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michael-Bisping-10196) with Denis Kang (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Denis-Kang-935) and a pivotal welterweight showdown pitting Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) against the undefeated Dong Hyun Kim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dong-Hyun-Kim-16374).
UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera
Saturday, Nov. 14
Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester, England
Randy Couture (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Randy-Couture-166) vs. Brandon Vera (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Brandon-Vera-4886)
Michael Bisping (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Michael-Bisping-10196) vs. Denis Kang (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Denis-Kang-935)
Dan Hardy (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dan-Hardy-10629) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Dong-Hyun-Kim-16374)
Aaron Riley (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Aaron-Riley-1567) vs. Ross Pearson (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ross-Pearson-11884)
Paul Taylor (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Paul-Taylor-6326) vs. John Hathaway (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/John-Hathaway-16704)
Matt Riddle (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Matt-Riddle-34072) vs. Nick Osipczak (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Nick-Osipczak-30033)
Alexander Gustafsson (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Alexander-Gustafsson-26162) vs. Jared Hamman (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jared-Hamman-15949)
Terry Etim (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Terry-Etim-13332) vs. Shannon Gugerty (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shannon-Gugerty-11001)
Vind het overigens nog steeds een zwakke card.