Brandon Vera vs Mauricio Rua
by Dr. Octagon, J.D.
Jon Jones murdered Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in their previous fight, so when UFC boss Dana White announced that Rua would get a title shot if he beat Brandon Vera, people were pissed. This main event is considered a pretty soft matchup, and the criticism should give Vera plenty of motivation.
Brandon Vera used to be good. He actually beat Frank Mir as a heavyweight, but he doesn’t look like he has a lot of muscle tone as a light heavyweight. Vera hasn’t looked good recently. But Rua has a history of injuries, and he looked flabby and slow against Jon Jones. He looked better in his loss to Dan Henderson, but that might have just been because he was fighting a forty-year-old.
No matter who wins this fight, if we are going with “most impressive victory gets the title shot,” which is what Dana said (not that he doesn’t have a history of changing his mind), Machida should get the title shot. Vera would probably need two more wins to even be considered, and unless Rua knocks Vera out in five seconds with a flying kick off the cage, it isn’t going to be as impressive as Machida knocking out a much higher-ranked Ryan Bader.
Neither fighter looks particularly fit for the main event. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]
Round 1: Vera kicks. Vera with a leg kick. Rua misses with a kick. Vera kicks and Rua takes him down. Rua is on the top and pulling Vera away from the cage. Rua is trying to pull the leg through to get some leverage. Vera tries to roll out and Rua is in side control. Vera is able to work to his feet and the fighters clinch against the cage. Shogun gets a single leg and is trying to pick up Vera, but Vera sinks a guillotine. Rua has his head out and is now in Vera’s guard. Shogun lands a punch from the top and tries to pass, but still has a leg trapped. Shogun landing some big shots from the top position.
Vera pops out to side control and has Vera’s back with forty seconds left to work. A few head punches by Shogun. Rua is landing some punches with the body triangle locked in, but they’re not doing a ton of damage as the round ends. I’ve only seen one round of this, but neither of these guys deserves a title shot.
Round 2: Rua lands a huge leg kick and a left, then a knee from the clinch. Vera is hurt. Shogun landing some punches and a big knee; he gets a clinch, but Vera returns fire with a big elbow. Vera lands another nice elbow. Vera is guarding the left side of his face. Rua eats a straight left. Vera is much more in this than I thought he would be. Rua eats another right and a kick to the body. Vera wants this and Rua looks tired already. Rua lands a right and a trio of knees from the clinch, two of which are blocked. Rua grabs Vera and pulls him to the ground, and lands a few punches before Vera stands up.
Vera gets up and throws a kick, which is blocked, but Vera lands a right. Rua lands another right. These guys are killing each other. Vera looks very wobbly, but keeps landing nice shots. Vera with an elbow as Rua charges, then a right from Vera. Fighters tie up, both look tired. The crowd is cheeering Vera, who works a takedown with a minute left to work. Rua looks horribly out of shape. Vera’s trying some BS shoulder strikes so he doesn’t get stood up. Rua is gesturing to the ref that Vera’s not doing anything but holding on. Vera’s not getting the job done as the ref tells them to work.
Round 3: Vera is coming forward and Rua ties him up. Vera’s face is a disaster. Shogun’s conditioning stinks. Vera with a punch-punch-leg kick combo. Rua ties him up and lands a massive knee in the clinch. Vera is able to work back to his feet, he comes forward with two punches and a leg kick. Brandon Vera with another combination. Vera with a head kick that was blocked. Combination by Vera.
Shogun trips Vera and is on top, both fighters are really sucking wind. I can’t believe this is a five-rounder. Shogun is going to need an oxygen tank to make it to the fourth. Vera is trying hard to pass guard and get his leg out, but Shogun is able to posture up and gets popped. Not much else happens as the round ends.
Round 4: Vera kicks and eats a right. Vera lands a right. Vera is stalking Rua, but doesn’t land much. Shogun lands a left and works for the takedown. Shogun with a nice clinch and lands a massive knee to the body, then a knee to the head. Vera lands a knee of his own from the clinch. Rua lands a right. Vera is chasing and lands a leg kick. Brandon lands an elbow and Rua lands a right uppercut in response. Theighters clinch and don’t do much.
Both fighters exchange and Shogun is the one coming forward. Shogun is teeing off and looking to end it. Rua throws a vicious two-punch combination and Vera is out. Referee Herb Dean pulls Rua off.
Vera’s face is so damaged he looks like Max Schreck.
Rua by technical knockout.
Vera looked better than I expected and Rua looked worst. Rua was landing on Vera, but his cardio looked suspect and his defense was nonexistent. I can see why he ducked Glover Teixeira. Maybe he didn’t think Vera could hurt him, but if he pulls this stuff against a guy with a little more power, he’s going to get stopped.
Dana comes on TV to talk with Joe Rogan after the fight. These UFC guys wear nothing but black. Dana announces that Lyoto Machida is getting the title shot. Thank God. Machida will fight winner of Dan Henderson versus Jon Jones.