Dansby's Dirt: UFC 105 Couture vs. Vera Pre-Fight Forecast
The following entry was written by BSN Assistant Vice President and Kickboxer Stuart Dansby.
BSN is the official nutritional supplement provider of the UFC.
To read more of Dansby’s Dirt, go to BSNOnline.net.
UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera Pre-Fight Forecast
This Saturday, live from Manchester, England the UFC comes back at you with a plethora of powerhouse fights that will feature the old Warrior, the questionable warrior and maybe even the wannabe warrior; you can figure out who that one is on your own! This will be UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera and as usual, it promises not to disappoint!
Georges “Rush” St. Pierre must feel like the resident gun slinger in an old west movie these days. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is out to allegedly notch their belt with his blood. While “Rush” heals from his groin injury, the rest of the-would be contenders talk and stalk him, and his belt; young knights waiting for the return of Sir St. Pierre to see if they can knock him off his throne. Mike Swick (#5 in the world) waits and wants, as does his opponent Saturday night, one Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (#13 in the world); and fighting on next week’s UFC 106 co-main event card are two more young gunslingers looking for a chance at the welterweight title, one Josh “Kos” Koscheck (#4 in the world ) and of course, Team BSN’s very own Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (#22 respectively). They all want what King George has; fitting then that one of the two of the contenders may get his shot by winning a bout in jolly ol’ England!
Mike “Quick” Swick (14-2) versus Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (22-6-0, 1 NC)
Okay, a lot of trash talking going on here. Both of these men believe they deserve to be St. Pierre’s next opponent, or victim, whichever the case may be. “Quick’s” had a great career derailed with some major injuries, but he’s healthy now and no one lives up to their nickname more than so than he does. He is a blur of fists that seem to consistently overwhelm his opponents, whether standing or on the matt. Hardy is playing the underdog role and claiming he’s not getting enough respect. But with only three UFC fights (all wins) and no wins over any real big name fighters, this is his chance to at least establish himself. A win here puts “The Outlaw” on the road to contention. Not so fast however. Look for Swick to be his usual intense, fast paced striking machine. Swick is right when he says people underestimate him… and I believe Hardy will come to understand that.
Michael “The Count” Bisping (17-2) against Dennis Kang (31-11)
The UFC is pulling more and more quality talent from all over the world. Although this will be Kang’s third UFC bout, many fans may not know who he is, still. Hardcore MMA aficionados know exactly who this guy is, and that he’s a very formidable opponent for “The Mouth”…. uhmm, I mean “The Count.” Bisping is coming back from a devastating and embarrassing knockout at the hands of Dan Henderson; so his pride and his rise to championship contention both need some shoring up right now. You have to love Bisping’s take on getting knocked out. Borrowing a line from Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, he said, “I just got caught!” Ya, and if I step in front of a tracker trailer on the interstate then “I just got run over!” That’s how bad he “got caught.” But for fighters, a short memory and minimizing a loss is vital to success, so I don’t blame “The Count.” I also think that this is a respectable fight for him to get back on the winning track with. Although, this will be a tough bout, as Kang is a very capable and a smart cage veteran with 46 fights at only 32 years of age. The difference I think will be Bisping’s speed, and don’t be shocked if it goes to the ground a few times. Bisping is underrated on the matt and can hold his own there. I think Bisping will be hungry. He’ll also be in great shape, and he’ll win.
Randy “The Natural” Couture (16-10) takes on Brandon “The Truth” Vera (11-3)
So, how many guys with 10 losses and for that matter, two losses in a row, command a main event UFC fight? The answer is only Randy Couture, as he has become the deserved Godfather of the modern day sport and an example of what a true MMA super athlete should be, both in and out of the cage. His fights, even when he loses, always reflect heart, preparation, excellent conditioning and top level skill. Dropping back down to 205 from being a highly undersized heavyweight just might be the smartest thing to prolong his career. And if you listen to him speak, it seems as though he has no immediate plans to retire. Why not if he keeps winning and stays healthy? However, this may be a must win situation for him to continue to be a major draw. Three losses in a row do not bode well for anyone’s future in the UFC… much less a 46 year-old. Vera on the other hand has won two in a row, including a highly impressive victory over a very tough Krsystof Soszynski on August 29th of this year. Yes, the same night that Couture fought Nogueria. Two and a half months from your last fight is not a lot of time for “The Truth” to prepare for “The Natural.” Couture has the advantage in this department, as he always stays in top shape. “The Truth” has taken some of the same parallel routes Couture has. Starting his career as a heavyweight and then after a meteoric rise and two defeats in a row, he dropped down to 205 where he’s 3 and 1. This fight will be a contrast in styles, like many MMA bouts. Brandon’s a 6’2″ classic Muay Thai-style fighter and of course, Randy is known for his world class wrestling. Some have questioned Vera’s desire and commitment. One thing’s for sure though; when he’s on his game, he’s one of the best that the UFC’s light heavyweight division can offer. And he will be on, and motivated for this fight, in England… main event… against a living legend? Come on, that’s a no brainer! This will be close in my opinion. There will be no knockout, but I think Couture’s experience and conditioning will allow him to out wrestle Vera for a close victory. And that’s the “The Truth!”
Thanks for reading and supporting.
Have a powerful day!
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