Philippine Sports News and Updates

Filipino-American fighter Brandon “The Truth” Vera gets the biggest break in his career when he faces MMA legend Randy “The Natural” Couture inside the Octagon on November 14.

"It will be an honor and a privilege to fight a living legend like Randy Couture. He has been someone that I have looked up to and I can't wait to get in there in November,” said Vera in UFC.com.

The light heavyweight match will take place at the at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England.

“Even after my first UFC win back in 2005, I was begging the UFC to put me in with a legend like a Chuck Liddell or a Randy Couture. I always knew those are the sorts of guys who would bring the best out of me and, finally, I have my chance to prove myself against a true legend in the sport,” said Vera.

Vera, who has compiled an 11-3 record, is coming off a unanimous-decision win over Krzysztof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski in the undercard of UFC 102 last August.

The battle-scarred Couture (16-10), meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from his loss to Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira in their heavyweight match, the main feature of UFC 102.

In battling Vera, the 46-year-old Couture will have to get down to light heavyweight.

“I would love to be a six-time UFC champion, to set the bar very high in that regard, and that’s what I want to accomplish at 205lbs,” said “The Natural”.

“Brandon Vera is the first of these challenges at 205 lbs… but I feel physically as good as ever and am ready to throw my name into the 205 lbs title picture with a great performance,” said Couture.

• ABS-CBN