UFC on FOX 4 Aftermath: Brandon Vera's Redemption

LOS ANGELES -- All summer long, Brandon Vera told anyone who would listen that he was going to bring it when he set foot in the Octagon at the Staples Center on Aug. 4.

And all summer long, Vera served as a verbal punching bag for everyone from snarking fans to too-cool-for-school journalists.

Those who gave the Alliance MMA light heavyweight a fair hearing before his UFC on FOX 4 main event against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua were few and far between (though there were, in fact, some).

But the beauty of mixed martial arts is that ultimately, the only thing that matters is what happens when the cage door locks. And though Vera didn't get his arm raised Saturday night, Vera's tenacious performance was a statement to the MMA world, one that said that no one should question his heart.

"You can't put a number or a ranking on someone's heart and determination," UFC president Dana White said at the postfight press conference. "Brandon Vera told me at the last press conference that we was going to stick it on Saturday night. And he did, he fought like the wanted to win that fight. And he stood toe to toe, ‘Shogun' was actually shooting on him. Brandon Vera came to fight tonight and he looked awesome."

White wasn't the only person who noticed Vera's performance. Rua won the first round and rocked Vera early in the second, but Vera redoubled his efforts and rallied to win the round. By the start of the third round, the crowd of 16,080, who had greeted Vera's walkout with classic SoCal indifference, sensed the possible upset bid and thundered a deafening "Vera" chant across the Staples Center.

"I've never experienced anything like that, man," said Vera. "It was cool, bro. It reminded me of Rocky when he was fighting Ivan Drago. Everyone was rooting against him at first, but when they started banging it out and he was still in there, everyone started chanting his name. What I was feeling, I knew I was doing work against one of the legends. I'm not happy I lost, but I'm happy I fought the way I did."

Vera has had some great victories -- think the night he destroyed Frank Mir -- and he may have more yet. But a fight Vera lost will go down as the most important moment of his career: The moment in which he proved he's learned his lessons, and the moment at which he re-earned his respect.

With two black eyes and a face full of bruises to prove it, Vera reflected on where his path has taken him and where it might go.

"I thought just by being Brandon Vera, a.k.a. "The Truth," people would be nervous just by fighting me and they would back off," he said. "It's not like that. This is a place of champions. Its been a hard lesson, but I've learned it, I had a great time fighting tonight, but I'm going to keep pressing forward. I'm not going to stop training. ... I'm not done man, not by a longshot.

Grid View

• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua and Brandon Vera slug it out during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua enters the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua walks into the Octagon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Shogun works ground and pound on Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Shogun lands a hard right hand on Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Shogun Rua fires a knee to the face of Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera lands punches on Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera eats a right hook from Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera fires a left hand to Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua's face during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua fires punches on the ground during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera walks back to his corner between rounds during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua lands a left hand on Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Referee Herb Dean pulls Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua off of Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua walks away after beating Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua is declared the winner during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua talks to Joe Rogan during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Brandon Vera looks dejected during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Terry Crews applauds the action of the fights during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida finishes off Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Ryan Bader enters the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida enters the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Fans cheer for Lyoto Machida during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida lands a body kick on Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida between rounds during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida gets out of the way of a kick from Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Referee 'Big' John McCarthy pulls Lyoto Machida off of Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida bows after stopping Ryan Bader during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida celebrates his victory during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida is declared the winner during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida raises his hand in victory during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Lyoto Machida poses for the cameras with his team during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner cracks Joe Lauzon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Joe Lauzon enters the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner stretches during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner attempts a body shot on Joe Lauzon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner fires a jab at Joe Lauzon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner rears back to punch Joe Lauzon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Jamie Varner and Joe Lauzon exchange strkes during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Joe Lauzon throws a right hook at Jamie Varner during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Joe Lauzon locks up a triangle choke on Jamie Varner during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Joe Lauzon celebrates after Jamie Varner taps out during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Joe Lauzon raises his hands in victory over Jamie Varner during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick blasts DaMarques Johnson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick enters the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick gets checked by the commission before entering the cage during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick lands a hard right hand on DaMarques Johnson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick misses with a punch against DaMarques Johnson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos DaMarques Johnson attempts to choke Mike Swick during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick puts DaMarques Johnon to sleep during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick celebrates his victory over DaMarques Johnson atop the Octagon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos DaMarques Johnson is attended to by the officiating crew during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos A dejected DaMarques Johnson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick screams in happiness during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Mike Swick poses for the camera with his coaches during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan throws a right hand at Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Pham lands a jab on Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan and Cole Miller exchange strikes during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Cole Miller's right hook finds the mark on Nam Phan during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan drives a body shot to Cole Miller's stomach during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan between rounds during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan catches a kick from Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan is declared the winner over Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan celebrates his victory over Cole Miller during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Nam Phan enjoys his winning moment during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Wagner Prado gets emotional after his fight is stopped against Phil Davis during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil Davis makes his way to the Octagon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Wagner Prado drills Phil Davis during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Wagner Prado winces after getting poked in the eye during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX Photos The Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado fight is ruled a no-decision during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Josh Grispi drills Rani Yahya with a knee during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Rani Yahya submits Josh Grispi via north-south choke during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Rani Yahya celebrates his decision win during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries makes his way to the Octagon during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries punches Oli Thompson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries knocks down Oli Thompson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries tries to finish Oli Thompson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries celebrates his submission win over Oli Thompson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Phil De Fries celebrates his submission win over Oli Thompson during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Michihiro Omigawa knocks down Manny Gamburyan during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Manny Gamburyan tries to kick Michihiro Omigawa in the head during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Michihiro Omigawa punches Manny Gamburyan during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Manny Gamburyan tries to take down Michihiro Omigawa during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos Manny Gamburyan kicks Michihiro Omigawa in the head during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos John Maroga kicks Ulysses Gomez during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos John Maroga drops Ulysses Gomez during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos John Maroga celebrates his knockout win over Ulysses Gomez during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos John Maroga celebrates his knockout win over Ulysses Gomez during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.
• UFC on FOX 4 Photos A shot of the crowd during UFC on FOX 4 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Aug. 4, 2012.

UFC on FOX 4 Notes

There's a line of thinking that implies that if the UFC is going to become like other major sports, it needs to start acting more like them. There's some merit to that. But UFC on FOX 4 seems proof that maybe marching to the beat of its own drummer is the company's best path. Many have criticized the UFC's decision to give the most impressive 205-pound performer on Saturday a title shot, but ask yourself this: How would pro boxing handle the situation in the UFC's light heavyweight division? If MMA was run like boxing, with its endless layers of bureaucracy, Jon Jones likely wouldn't even have gotten a title shot yet. Mauricio Rua would be the WMMAA champ, Quinton Jackson the WMMAC champ, Lyoto Machida the IMMAF champ and Rashad Evans the WMMAO champ. Hell, Tito Ortiz would probably be holding some sort of minor title right now. And their managers and promoters would all come up with reasons not to fight Jones, who would be fighting James Irvin because no one else would step to the plate. If Dana White didn't have the ability to decree that there was a title shot at stake, would last night's co-main events have been so compelling? While the system isn't without its flaws, I'll take a model that aims high and sometimes misses but usually hits over one that routinely deprives the fans of fights it wants to see.

I'm still going with Chan Sung Jung's May 15 victory over Dustin Poirier for fight of the year, but Joe Lauzon's victory over Jamie Varner certainly belongs on the short list. For the better part of three rounds, Lauzon and Varner showed the casual fans who may have been channel surfing everything that's great about MMA: The momentum swings, the sharp striking, the artistic ground work, and an endless supply of fighting spirit. But Jung-Poirier had all that as well. It's also worth remembering that few gave "The Korean Zombie" a real chance of beating Poirier. Comparing Jung-Poirier to Lauzon-Varner is like trying to pick a favorite Picasso. But the fact Jung's win was considered a major upset and one that altered the landscape at 145 pounds, whereas Lauzon's win was a great fight that doesn't really change the lightweight picture, makes the difference.

UFC on FOX 4 Quotes

"Everything I've seen from Lyoto Machida looks like he wants this fight worse than 'Shogun' does. 'Shogun' hasn't shown me anything that says he demands to fight Jon Jones again. Machida is." -- Dana White.

"I thought I had a chance at both, I wasn't sure when the Brandon Vera and ‘Shogun' fight was going on. It started out all hot and heavy, so I thought they might have gotten fight of the night. I'm thrilled I got both and I'm even happier I got the record." -- Joe Lauzon, whose Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night awards gave him 11 career postfight bonuses, surpassing Chris Lytle's previous record of 10.

"It's still hard to put into words. It was amazing. I just pushed forward and hoped something like this word happen. To be sitting here after a big fight on FOX, I can't put it into words." -- Mike Swick, sitting at the postfight press conference after winning his first fight in 910 days.

Good call

To the ringside doctor who called off the Phil Davis-Wagner Prado bout after Davis suffered an eye poke. Is it a downer to have a fight end in such a manner? Sure. But Prado walked directly in front in front of me on his way back to the locker room, a good five minutes after the eye poke, and there was still blood coming out of the injured eye. The doctor's there for a reason. Better safe than sorry.

Bad Call

It's my policy that I won't pick a "Bad Call" for the sake of picking a bad call if there really wasn't one. That's the case with UFC on FOX 4.

Stock up: John Moraga

The Arizona Combat Club flyweight made his UFC debut count. Moraga used a sharp and varied striking attack to batter Ulysses Gomez and his finishing sequence was both a thing of beauty and an awesome display raw power for a 125-pounder. Moraga is 11-1, with his only loss a decision against John Dodson. I don't think I'm alone in saying I want to see more of Moraga.

Stock down: Cole Miller

It might be time Miller to re-think his drop down to 145 pounds. Miller had an enormous size and reach advantage over Nam Phan on Saturday night, but once Phan managed to find his range and timing, Miller had no answer against his significantly smaller foe. This puts Miller, who looked like a walking skeleton at Friday's weigh-ins, at 0-2 since dropping down from lightweight. Miller at featherweight is an experiment which simply isn't working.

Fight I want to see next: Joe Lauzon vs. Nate Diaz.

Yeah, I know, this fight wouldn't make sense for Diaz, since he's in line for a lightweight title shot. But I'm not thinking in terms of the title picture, I'm thinking purely in terms of exciting fights. Lauzon set the UFC record for postfight awards Saturday night by getting his 10th and 11th. Diaz has nine. What's not to love about a Diaz-Lauzon fight?