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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
After multiple reports Sunday pushed the rumor that Randy Couture and Brandon Vera would face off at UFC 105, the organization themselves officially announced the bout Monday.
In Couture's first fight in the light heavyweight division since his second loss to Chuck Liddell, he'll also make his first trip overseas for a fight in almost nine years.
In the UFC's official announcement, Couture expressed his goals moving back down to 205, "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. That is my immediate goal. I am very intrigued by the current light heavyweight division, there are some great matchups for me here, and I believe I have to tools to win back the 205lbs title."
As for his opponent, Couture knows he's got a big, strong and dangerous opponent on his hands. "Brandon Vera is the first of these challenges at 205lbs... He is known for his stand-up in the UFC, but I know from experience that his wrestling is outstanding. He represents some interesting tactical problems, but I feel physically as good as ever and am ready to throw my name into the 205lbs title picture with a great performance."
For Vera, he's ready to get in there with a legend. "Even after my first UFC win back in 2005," Vera said, "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."
UFC 105 will air via tape delay on Spike TV on November 14th from the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. Tickets went on sale to the public today, and fans in Manchester can head to the Arena this evening for an autograph signing with Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy beginning at 5:30pm local time.
Penick's Analysis: It may not be the biggest name to face Couture here, but it will be the first time for U.K. fans to see Couture live. It's a good choice for a main event simply because it's Couture, and although it reeks of being a desperation move with nothing else scheduled, it's still a good fight. And like I stated in my thoughts on the rumor of this fight, this will by far be the biggest opportunity of Brandon Vera's career. It's different and it's out of left field, but it should still be good and it's definitely interesting.
[Randy Couture artist Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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