UFC on FOX 4's 'Shogun' Rua vs. Brandon Vera winner gets title shot

The winner of Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 headliner will get a title shot.

Despite both fighters having already suffered losses to reigning light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones – the winner of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) vs. Brandon Vera (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will get a shot at the belt.

UFC president Dana White today confirmed the plans. "Yes," White said flatly when asked about the title stakes.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/29936/ufc-on-fox-4s-shogun-rua-vs-brandon-vera-winner-gets-title-shot.mma

Really? A win over Vera isn't enough in my eyes and Vera is more than a win over Shogun seT in my honest to god opinion. Guess the LHW division is running thin.....time to find more depth

I love the sense of humour Dana has adopted over the last couple of weeks.


wait.....


really?!?!

I cant even remember the last time Vera had an impressive win.

I think their doing this to get Vera to actually try to win.


I still think he lost to Elliot Marshall

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Posted by Franklinfan47

I cant even remember the last time Vera had an impressive win.

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How about the last Vera beat a top 10 opponent?? The UFC already gave Vera one gift by giving him his job back, after Silva tested dirty, now this.

Rua beating Vera no matter how badly shouldn't get him a title shot either.


Part of me wants this fight to be the biggest stinker of a fight, so that Dana looks like a complete moron for making this into a #1 contender fight. I'm hoping Dana just was confused and meant to say winner of Machida/Bader is for #1 contender.

The UFC has to promote this event somehow. Instead of billing the main and co-main event as two fights that will put some "contenders in the mix," it seems they are adopting the equally popular "walk-it-back" tactic. Which Dana White will use after the fight is over. (And before Teixeira or Gustaffson gets the shot.)

Dana's word holds no weight.


But this is just comical. Dana should just say "I don't know" when reporters or whoever ask these repeated questions. So, then Dana doesn't look like a fool when he changes his mind.

UFC must be trying to build Jones' legend by purposely giving him opponents that he will crush, in fights that the UFC will sell as "the biggest fight in UFC history".
Nice way to pad Jones stats and build his highlight reel.
Is the UFC still sponsoring Jones?

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Posted by Franklinfan47

I love the sense of humour Dana has adopted over the last couple of weeks.


wait.....


really?!?!

I cant even remember the last time Vera had an impressive win.

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He had one of the more impressive losses in recent memory when he had his skull busted by a Jones elbow.

It made and impression on me at least, I still remember Vera recoiling and going into the fetal position....

Not a chance dies the winner get Jones! Good thing we all bank very little on what Dana has to say.

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Posted by SpiderSilva

I think their doing this to get Vera to actually try to win.


I still think he lost to Elliot Marshall

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agree on both

I think Shogun would fair better than Vera.

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Posted by tepid55

I think Shogun would fair better than Vera.

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I think you're splitting hairs. You and I know that both those guys would get destroyed by Bones. He has only gotten better since fighting them.

this is for a shot at the belt but they are still unsure what to do chris weidman. I'm just saying if i was weidman id be pissed that these 2 guys r up for title shot and you are still waiting with the possibility of bisping jumping past you. if i was jones i would ask to get a fight at HW like anderson went to LHW when there were no contenders. jones devastatingly beat these guys, how can get a shot after so little.

ya who ever wins needs to face the winner of machida vs bader or alexander gustafsson

total untrue bullshit. Gustaffson vs the winner for my lols when he destroys either.

Clearly attempting to sell a main event which is not even close to the most interesting fight on the card.

Must've asked Dana during cocktail hour. There's no way either guy get's a shot next. Maybe it's just a motivational sort of thing, but more often than not a promised title shot leads to two guys fighting not to lose.

Wait... WHAT???!!!!

Whats funny is I would bet everything I have that Vera wants no part of Jones and I am sure Shogun isnt really all that thrilled of a fight with Jones just for teh belt...Shogun would prolly want way more money to step in the ring...

Dana lost his fucking mind

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Posted by kingsmasher

Whats funny is I would bet everything I have that Vera wants no part of Jones and I am sure Shogun isnt really all that thrilled of a fight with Jones just for teh belt...Shogun would prolly want way more money to step in the ring...

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Shogun has already stated he wants to fight Jones again!!!

am I missing something?

Vera takes this, and destroys Jon Jones for the belt. Dana White is found hanging in his broom closet after the event.

This is really the type of thing that gets said, right before a major upset.

Dana's probably super-thankful everyone knows his word doesn't mean anything anymore.

But, i think this kind of hints that they're trying to throw shogun back in the mix.

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Posted by kingsmasher

Whats funny is I would bet everything I have that Vera wants no part of Jones and I am sure Shogun isnt really all that thrilled of a fight with Jones just for teh belt...Shogun would prolly want way more money to step in the ring...

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If you really think Vera wouldn't want the fight if by some miracle he beat Rua, I would gladly take everything you have on this bet, even give you 10-1 odds.

I would agree that Rua wouldn't be thrilled.... He would rather be ecstatic at the chance to get the rematch, to get the belt back and avenge the beat down Jones put on. Shogun also isn't in the position to demand more money to fight Jones, he is the challenger, not the title holder.

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Posted by infestructure

Vera takes this, and destroys Jon Jones for the belt. Dana White is found hanging in his broom closet after the event.

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Wish, too bad Veras cardio and explosiveness are super weak at 205. Would be a cruiserweight champ if it was around 210-215 pound class.

I cant figure out why it drains him so badly.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? this is blasphemy...no offense to Vera, but even if he wins he doesn't deserve it....this is ludicrous and unfair

Now Vera can get working on getting those two belts, LHW & HW.

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Posted by BuffaloDave

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Posted by kingsmasher

Whats funny is I would bet everything I have that Vera wants no part of Jones and I am sure Shogun isnt really all that thrilled of a fight with Jones just for teh belt...Shogun would prolly want way more money to step in the ring...

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If you really think Vera wouldn't want the fight if by some miracle he beat Rua, I would gladly take everything you have on this bet, even give you 10-1 odds.

I would agree that Rua wouldn't be thrilled.... He would rather be ecstatic at the chance to get the rematch, to get the belt back and avenge the beat down Jones put on. Shogun also isn't in the position to demand more money to fight Jones, he is the challenger, not the title holder.

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@ Shogun and Vera both throwing the fight so they don't have to face JJ.

JJ isn't the second coming of jebus....




He can't be -he's black

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Posted by ghandikush

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Posted by infestructure

Vera takes this, and destroys Jon Jones for the belt. Dana White is found hanging in his broom closet after the event.

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Wish, too bad Veras cardio and explosiveness are super weak at 205. Would be a cruiserweight champ if it was around 210-215 pound class.

I cant figure out why it drains him so badly.

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IMO, it has more to do with his reflexes. At HW, he could benefit from a general edge in quickness over everyone to compliment his stand-up skills. At LHW, he's still moderately fast, but he doesnt react quick enough to pull the trigger against faster opponents.