Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Profile: Who is Brandon Vera?

Name: Brandon Michael "The Truth" Vera
Sport: Mixed Martial Arts fighter of UFC
Born: October 10, 1977
Age: 30
Race: Filipino, Italian-American
Biography:

Vera is the son of a Filipino father, Ernesto, and an Italian-American mother, Amelia, and grew up in a family with seven boys and three girls. He was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and attended Lake Taylor High School, where he excelled in wrestling and earned a four-year athletic scholarship to Old Dominion University. He however dropped out of Old Dominion after a year and a half when he felt college was not for him, and he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

He was however released from the air force due to medical discharge when he shred ligaments in his elbow while wrestling.

Lloyd Irvin later recruited him to join his school of mixed martial arts and eventually, also trained with Linxx Academy, and Hybrid Academy, where he received a foundation of his Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Career:
8 wins 2 losses 0 draws. Vera made his UFC debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2 on October 3, 2005 against Fabiano Scherner. Vera won the fight via TKO mid-way through the second round. Following the Scherner bout, he faced Justin Eilers at UFC 57, winning early in the first round by knockout. At UFC 60, Vera defeated Assuerio Silva with a guillotine choke. Vera's career as a mixed martial artist flourished under the management of Mark Dion. It reached its zenith on Nov. 18, when he needed just 69 seconds to stop ex-heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 65 in Sacramento, Calif.

Vera lost his most recent fight against Fabricio Werdum by TKO at UFC 85. The fight was controversially stopped by referee Dan Miragliotta as Werdum was doing some ground and pound. After the stoppage Vera was visibly upset as he felt he was defending himself effectively. Dan Miragliotta was the same referee involved a week prior in the controversial stoppage in the Kimbo Slice/James Thompson fight.

Trivia:
  • He has a tattoo on his back inked in the Filipino writing system called Alibata. Clockwise, it reads mundo (earth), hangin (wind), apoy (fire), and tubig (water).
  • While staying in the Philippines, he trained Filipino actor Richard Gutierrez in martial arts and has been given a role as The Assassin for Philippine primetime television show Kamandag on the GMA Network.
  • UFC is rumored to come to the Philippines some time next year 2009.
    “I kept telling them to bring the UFC to the Philippines any time soon because I know Filipinos love the UFC,” UFC President Dana White said.
    “I’m open to fighting in the Philippines,” said Vera. “It would be great if I win in front of my countrymen.”

Source: Wikipedia

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