Brian Knapp at the Fight Network is reporting that Brandon Vera and Fabricio Werdum have both been offered fight contracts to face each other at UFC 85 this June in London, England.
It was widely assumed, based on comments made by UFC President Dana White, that Fabricio Werdum would be next in line for a heavyweight title shot against Antonio Nogueira. Werdum last fought at UFC 80 where he defeated previous #1 contender Gabriel Gonzaga in the second round.
Brandon Vera last fought at UFC 77 against Tim Sylvia, gathering the first loss of his career via decision. The fight was Vera’s first after an 11 month layoff. Vera did suffer a broken hand in the Sylvia fight but appears to be recovering fine.
If both fighters accept the fight as expected, the next question is who will be the first challenger to current heavyweight champion Antonio Nogueira.
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this rumor has been popping up all over the place eh? i would like to see Vera vs. Werdum it could be an interesting match up.
this kind of pisses me off because i can see dana sayin the winner of this bout gets big nog… and that fight aint till ufc 85 so we wouldnt see the winner of that and big nog till like ufc 88… i can see dana doing that ….wtf
More like Joe Silva.. and man who can get in the head of that man anymore?????? Kicking out Arlovski????? What a friggin idiot.. probably told Dana that he couldn’t figure out where to put him in the lineup or something.. yeah like how about against CONGO or NOGUIRA ?
that pisses me off… ill boycot the ufc for kickin out my guy
@Dr.J
Well, with Herring vs Kongo and Arlovski vs Obrien next week, that limits the choices for the next HW title fight. Theres no other HW matches setup until UFC 85, which could be Werdum vs Vera, so that counts them out. Whos left??? Randys not coming back, Lesnars not even close to ready and crocops gone..
So within like the next 4 months, the only HWs who will be fresh are Nog and Sylvia. They definately wont match them up again though, how many title shots can big Tim get in his career based on lack of opponents.
Theres still Gonzaga, but how do you get a title shot right off a loss??
Well, we know its not going to be Arlovski and it won’t be O’Brien because he is coming off the injury and really doesn’t have any name recognition.
My guess is they are banking on Kongo beating Herring and then he will get the next shot. After beating Cro Cop in his last fight, if he beats Herring I’d say they’ll throw him up against Nog.
Where is will get submitted in about 30 seconds…
yup i was thinking kongo too, if he wins next week that will be 3 straight, but i dunno, they seem to leaning toward Werdum also.
It would be an awesome BJJ match to see Werdum vs Nog, for a while atleast. I could see him fending off Nogs submissions but end up sacrificing position, then Nog putting the GnP on em.
Yeah.. Doc I think your right.. Congo would get subbed in less than 2 minutes, done, finito, see you man! lol
Did you guys see Congo and Cro Cops latest trade of barbs?! Hillarious stuff man! Congo says good riddance to Cro COp off to Dreams where he can get some “JUICES” till his hearts content without having to look over his shoulder…
Then Cro Cop responds with ‘yeah you got that body by eating potatoes and vegetables right”? lol…. then threatens Congo with a future fight and win right.. lol
They are accusing each other of steroid use, and Cro Cop DOESN’T DENY IT! LOL!
Heres what i would like to see happen at HW..
Kongo vs Arlovski
Sylvia vs Gonzaga
Problems ofcourse could arise, like if Tim and Andre both win, we dont really want to see them fight again. Also we might lose Arlovski from the UFC, then there will be even LESS interesting matchups at HW..
I like Werdum vs Vera too, but i think its a bad matchup for Vera, hes gonna get submitted man, unless he gets lucky with a knee or something.
I dunno.. I think they match up pretty well with size ect…. I also think that Vera’s lanky wild style would throw Werdum off.. I think Brandon could catch Werdum with a punch or kick and knock him out personally, he throws a bit like Anderson Silva when he is on beat and its hard to time his shots … he was thrown off a bit by Tims size I think .. just my thoughts
I think Werdum will get him down man, then hes just str8 outclasses Vera. Veras got skills on the ground, but not to the extent that Werdum does. Veras getting submitted man, you can take that to the bank baby! lol
@BV
hah.. the guy couldn’t even get Arlovski down… he isn’t gonna take down Brandon and sub him man.. KO Vera round 2
I think Veras all hype man, and Werdum looks more determined than he EVER has been in his career. Im sure Dana told him hes right on the cusp of getting a title shot if he beats Vera.
Veras nothing man! hes nothing!!!!!! LOL
I think Vera has a good chance at winning and I have given good reasons why… BV sometimes I think you just like to hear yourself talk, or see your self post, whichever it is.. lol
Well heres why i think Werdum will win..
Hes got way more experience fighting TOP ranked fighters. Veras biggest fights were, Justin Eilers, Mir and Sylvia. He KOed Mir and Eilers in the first round, not a huge feat considering they were both over the hill when they faced Vera.
Werdum on the other hand has been in there with Gonzaga twice, Erikson, Kharitonov, Alistair Overeem, Nog, Aleks Emelianenko and Arlovski. The experience goes to Werdum, hands down man.
Striking, its all Vera, lets not kid ourselves, its definately a possibility that Vera could land that clean punch, kick or knee.. I think Werdum is pretty smart on his feet, considering hes never been KOed and hes been in there with some HEAVY HITTERS.
Grappling, i hope you realize, its all Werdum baby, Veras good on the ground, but Werdum totally outclasses him man.
Check out Werdums abu dhabi stats man, thats even more to his credit and experience, guys like, Monson, Various Gracies, TK, Van Arsdale, Marcio Cruz, Lindland, Shoji, etc..
WHOS VERA FOUGHT??? MIR? LOL
ON TOP OF ALL THAT, WERDUM IS WITH CHUTEBOXE!!! LOL. How can you be against him?? its against your religion hehe
**** I dont talk just to hear myself talk man, i make points. betta rekanize!! lol
OH! also, Vera went to Abu Dhabi once, he got submitted in the first round of the tourney and he never went back! lol.
Whos watching Strikeforce tonight? I think its worth a download personally. Its a pretty weak card, but it still interests me more than WEC lol.
Maurice Smith vs. Rick Roufus
Eddie Ellis vs. Mike Pierce
Bob Sapp vs. Jan Nortje
Jorge Masvidal vs. Ryan Healy
Steve Berger vs. Eddy Ellis
Lyle Beerbohm vs. Ray Perales
Joe Riggs vs. Cory Devela
Andrew Pedersen vs. Mychal Clark
Zach Skinner vs. Scott Shaffer
Nathan Coy vs. Chris Davis
Mainly, its the Sapp fight. I love watching that guy fihgt man lol. Its not everyday you get to see a guy whos 360 lbs of muscle.
I know what your thinking, hes a big for nothing, but your wrong, hes MASSIVE for nothing..
Now that I’ve finally got HDNet I’ll be watching the Strikeforce show. Got to see MFC 15 last night from Canada. Pretty weak card that had Pete Spratt get submitted in the main event.
I’m looking forward to the card tonight. While its not a stellar card, it should be good to see Sapp, Riggs, Masvidal, and even Roufus vs Mo Smith
Ya Doc, theres alot of events on these days, sounds like you watch alot of them, more than i do atleast. I dont even watch WEC, just individual fights if i hear theyre good. Are you gonna watch K1 tomorrow? im not.. just not the same these days..
I won’t catch the K-1 fight card live, of course, but I’ll download it and watch it on torrent the day after probably.
I love K-1 .. but torrent is the way to go on those I agree…
@Dr.J
Where do you stand on the Vera - Werdum fight? are you on the brandon-band-wagon too? LOL
I think it will actually be a pretty close fight, but I’m only saying that based on Werdum’s two most recent fights in the UFC.
Brandon Vera is no joke. Just because the toughest guy he has faced so far (Tim Sylvia) he lost too, doesn’t mean he isn’t the real deal. The kid can fight, and I think he’s making a big mistake my locking himself into the heavyweight division. He’s too undersized to fight some of the 255 lbers and I think he should drop to 205, but thats another point.
I think, at this point, I’d probably take Werdum by submission in the third round
I am not on any wagon BV.. why are you being a jerk? Trying to get something stirred up man? I just think that Brandon will win.. I don’t like him, I don’t think he’s GREAT, I picked Tim over him, and would again, but I think he can beat Werdum if he strategies right thats all.. this whole “gathering the clan and circling the wagons” of getting people to join you in clanging the “werdum bell” or labeling them “band wagoners” is just immature bull crap that makes me want to slap the turban off your head man…
bv
i agree with ya… i believe vera is all hype… im sure werdum would knock him out…
No Patrick, Werdum is going to SUBMIT him..
ill be ko like he did with gonzaga
@Patrick
You would jump on anyones nuts to get under my skin… I give no credence to your opinions at this point, they are entertainment at best and an eyesore that lowers the IQ of others at worst….
But hey we love ya Patrick!
Kansas, why you take it so personal man? you said that thing about hearing myself talk, i didnt get pissed off.
And where do you get the Turban thing from??? LOL
Just getting you riled man… love you bro don’t get mad! :)
haha Kansas, i know your lookin to beef now that Richards gone, its cool heh.
You read my mail exactly.. lol thanks …