Vera started his career with 4 wins at Heavyweight, including a win over former champ Frank Mir. He finished all 4 fights.
Going into the Vera fight, Jones had 4 UFC fights. Two decisions, 1 finish and one DQ to Matt Hamill - so call it 2 finishes. His biggest name opponent was Stephan Bonnar.
So they were both basically 4-0, and the hottest prospects in their divisions at the point when Vera made the comparison, and none of the guys Jones had beaten was exactly a Frank Mir.
he needs to get someone whos appropriate for someone on a losing streak, thiago was too much to ask for a comeback but he listened to his heart not his head when he accepted it
i agree that thiago was quite a harsh opponent to give brandon after his second loss in a row. i still dont think he shouldve been fired though because the judges were terrible in the fight with randy couture, vera definately won that fight. i think he should fight somebody a lot lower down the ranks just to gain his confidence back but i really wouldnt be surprised if the ufc gave him lil nog. or even phil davis just so he can get more experience before being thrown in a title fight
I've liked BV from day one. I think he has a great deal of talent.
However, I've heard all this from Brandon before. I wish him all the best, but I'm not holding my breath. He should have easily beat Jardine, but did not. He should have finished Randy, but couldn't. He looked like a rank amateur against JJ. And he took a bitch slapping form Silva's PED body.
IMO - he is still too small for his division. He needs to either put on some size or suck it up, drop some more fat (which he has) and try 185. With that said, should he lose and get cut again, then there's always StrikeForce-UFC. That is, if he really wants to fight as much as he says he does.
I think its a little harsh to say he should have finished Randy i mean its not like Randy is easy to finish and i thought Vera was robbed by the judges on that one and Jon Jones has made everyone look like an amateur including shogun and Silva was hyped up on steroids. I think he should Vera should could back against a Tito Ortiz or maybe even Lil nog i think both those fights would make since and are very winnable for Vera
I wish Brandon much success, but my overall criticism of him would be his focus. His game, other than switching divisions, hasn't changed in (at least) the last five years. I have seen no improvement in his wrestling, his physical shape (size & power) and to the best of my knowledge, he's still a brown belt in BJJ; and he was that half-a-decade ago.
He always says the right things, the question is can he do the right things. I would love to see him be a big success. I think he has the skills and I think he's got a great manner or way about him. He's a very bright, affable, engaging and charming guy. He could do very well in The UFC, but he needs some wins; a win and regardless of who it is.
i really think brandon just needs to change his attitude not saying he could be champ but it seems like he is his own worst enemy.in that silva fight he could of won he was schooling silva on the feet but when he got the knockdown instead of trying for a finish he throws his hands up like a jackass. just one example of his many egocentric antics maybe if he finaly says in a interveiw that he will never be the HW and LHW champ at the same time he might gets some luck
It is late, but I don't know if it's too late - yet. He can / could still turn it around, but he doesn't seem to have the motivation and the clock is running.
What I wonder is - how many more kicks in the ass does he need to both get the message (evolve) and get motivated? And to be honest, I have a hard time getting my head around his comment of (paraphrasing)...I sat on the couch for two weeks wondering what I was going to do. I'd assume that he'd work his way into StrikeForce-UFC; dah.
I refuse to give up on the guy and I have a friend who rides me about it all the time, but I don't care - I like him. I think, however and I've thought this for some time, that he should be dropping the remaining baby fat and fight @ 185; Jardine is going to do it and for the same reasons that Vera needs to.
Vera does not get the respect he deserves in my opinion he beat Couture, he lost to Jon Jones big deal, and lost to roided out Silva who he was out striking before he got rag dolled by pure roid strength not technique. If anyone other than Couture tried that hugging crap agianst someone the refs would break it a lot sooner IMO
yeah, the biggest problem is his judo defense. his wrestling defense is great. randy didn't get him down once. but when people trip him he goes down. hopefully he really will work on it, cuz he's an amazing fighter.
Sounds like he's seriously seen the light. Of course we want to see him win in his MMA career but we need to see him trying as hard as he possibly can as well. We didn't see him try in his last fight. Thiago may have cheated but that doesn't mean Brandon shouldn't have tried or just stop trying. I hope you can get back to your winning ways and it would definitely be cool to see you avenging certain losses...Good luck!
I hope he truly gets it together. I like Vera but sometimes he just doesnt seem like his heart is truly in this sport. He doesnt seem passionate, honestly.
Comments
I'll Always support the dude as i'm of Filipino descent and i like his fight style, but that whole thing "on his deathbed" is an over-exaggeration
He always exaggerates remember when he said he was once the Jon Jones of UFC before he got wrecked by him?.
same here bruh
Vera started his career with 4 wins at Heavyweight, including a win over former champ Frank Mir. He finished all 4 fights.
Going into the Vera fight, Jones had 4 UFC fights. Two decisions, 1 finish and one DQ to Matt Hamill - so call it 2 finishes. His biggest name opponent was Stephan Bonnar.
So they were both basically 4-0, and the hottest prospects in their divisions at the point when Vera made the comparison, and none of the guys Jones had beaten was exactly a Frank Mir.
So now tell me, how was that an exaggeration?
umm maybe the fact that he wasnt dying
Mir was 2 years removed from the accident
he wasnt talking about the dead comment, he was talking about being the jon jones comment...
This is a bit differnt conversation then im back and new and focused. hopefully THIS time he can get back to where he should be
he needs to get someone whos appropriate for someone on a losing streak, thiago was too much to ask for a comeback but he listened to his heart not his head when he accepted it
i agree that thiago was quite a harsh opponent to give brandon after his second loss in a row. i still dont think he shouldve been fired though because the judges were terrible in the fight with randy couture, vera definately won that fight. i think he should fight somebody a lot lower down the ranks just to gain his confidence back but i really wouldnt be surprised if the ufc gave him lil nog. or even phil davis just so he can get more experience before being thrown in a title fight
I cant think of any givems anymore in the ufc unless they bring someone in. Give him steve cantwell that is the match up i think suits both
I've liked BV from day one. I think he has a great deal of talent.
However, I've heard all this from Brandon before. I wish him all the best, but I'm not holding my breath. He should have easily beat Jardine, but did not. He should have finished Randy, but couldn't. He looked like a rank amateur against JJ. And he took a bitch slapping form Silva's PED body.
IMO - he is still too small for his division. He needs to either put on some size or suck it up, drop some more fat (which he has) and try 185. With that said, should he lose and get cut again, then there's always StrikeForce-UFC. That is, if he really wants to fight as much as he says he does.
I think its a little harsh to say he should have finished Randy i mean its not like Randy is easy to finish and i thought Vera was robbed by the judges on that one and Jon Jones has made everyone look like an amateur including shogun and Silva was hyped up on steroids. I think he should Vera should could back against a Tito Ortiz or maybe even Lil nog i think both those fights would make since and are very winnable for Vera
@ Burn
I wish Brandon much success, but my overall criticism of him would be his focus. His game, other than switching divisions, hasn't changed in (at least) the last five years. I have seen no improvement in his wrestling, his physical shape (size & power) and to the best of my knowledge, he's still a brown belt in BJJ; and he was that half-a-decade ago.
He always says the right things, the question is can he do the right things. I would love to see him be a big success. I think he has the skills and I think he's got a great manner or way about him. He's a very bright, affable, engaging and charming guy. He could do very well in The UFC, but he needs some wins; a win and regardless of who it is.
Brandon Vera really needs to fight a Can this time around.
i really think brandon just needs to change his attitude not saying he could be champ but it seems like he is his own worst enemy.in that silva fight he could of won he was schooling silva on the feet but when he got the knockdown instead of trying for a finish he throws his hands up like a jackass. just one example of his many egocentric antics maybe if he finaly says in a interveiw that he will never be the HW and LHW champ at the same time he might gets some luck
This dude will lose his next fight & be dead again.
@ Pig
It is late, but I don't know if it's too late - yet. He can / could still turn it around, but he doesn't seem to have the motivation and the clock is running.
What I wonder is - how many more kicks in the ass does he need to both get the message (evolve) and get motivated? And to be honest, I have a hard time getting my head around his comment of (paraphrasing)...I sat on the couch for two weeks wondering what I was going to do. I'd assume that he'd work his way into StrikeForce-UFC; dah.
I refuse to give up on the guy and I have a friend who rides me about it all the time, but I don't care - I like him. I think, however and I've thought this for some time, that he should be dropping the remaining baby fat and fight @ 185; Jardine is going to do it and for the same reasons that Vera needs to.
Vera does not get the respect he deserves in my opinion he beat Couture, he lost to Jon Jones big deal, and lost to roided out Silva who he was out striking before he got rag dolled by pure roid strength not technique. If anyone other than Couture tried that hugging crap agianst someone the refs would break it a lot sooner IMO
if he can take a beating from thiago on roids.. i think he will destroy his next opponent
Brandon Vera was doing well in striking against a good striker Thiago Silva. But his lack of a ground game and adequate takedown defense was exposed.
Vera is no long a newcomer and he has known about his deficiencies for a while.
If this sport teaches anything, it teaches the need for constant evolution as a mixed martial artist--and Vera is not evolving.
Unless Vera improves his ground game--he is going to end up with another plate in his head.
yeah, the biggest problem is his judo defense. his wrestling defense is great. randy didn't get him down once. but when people trip him he goes down. hopefully he really will work on it, cuz he's an amazing fighter.
Sounds like he's seriously seen the light. Of course we want to see him win in his MMA career but we need to see him trying as hard as he possibly can as well. We didn't see him try in his last fight. Thiago may have cheated but that doesn't mean Brandon shouldn't have tried or just stop trying. I hope you can get back to your winning ways and it would definitely be cool to see you avenging certain losses...Good luck!
I hope he truly gets it together. I like Vera but sometimes he just doesnt seem like his heart is truly in this sport. He doesnt seem passionate, honestly.