Randy Couture vs.
Brandon Vera
Round 1
Vera lands a quick kick, and flurries on Couture with punches, putting him on his heels. As Vera swims to his neck, Couture gains control in the body clinch up against the fence. Vera using an overhook and wrist control to stop Couture’s takedown advances. Marc Goddard calls for a break at the pair grind to a halt against the cage, but Couture immediately ducks under a Vera punch, and pushes him into the fence again. Couture secures double underhooks, and gets a takedown, but Vera quickly shifts back up the cage. Couture secures a front headlock, and lands two knees to Vera’s head before changing levels in pursuit of another takedown. Couture gets a hold of a single leg, but can’t pull Vera off of the fence and finish the takedown. Couture lands a left hand over the top as he releases the leg. Marc Goddard separates the pair again with 20 seconds to go, but Couture again clinches up immediately.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10
Brian Knapp scores the round Couture 10-9
Loretta Hunt scores the round Couture 10-9
Round 2
A low kick by Vera lands south of Couture’s belt line, and simultaneously, Couture catches a thumb to the eye. Fortunately, “The Natural” appears unfazed by the inadvertent double foul. Vera switches to southpaw, allowing Couture to rush forward, and push him into the fence again. After a moment with Couture’s back on the fence, Vera is again reverse, with Couture grinding him into the fence, trying to drag him off his back leg and finish the elusive takedown. Marc Goddard breaks the pair up again. Vera lands a jab, and sinks a nice left body kick. A knee to the body from Vera folds Couture in half, sending him reeling across the cage. Vera attacks Couture, forcing him to his back, and into his full guard. Couture clings to Vera off of his back, and Goddard stands them up. The pair trade lazy left overhands. Clinching again, Couture finally starts to dirty box a bit, putting together some right uppercuts and hooks before the round ends.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Vera
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Vera
Loretta Hunt scores the round 10-9 Vera
Round 3
Vera lands an inside low kick on a bobbing Couture. Undaunted, Couture comes forward with a flurry of hooks and uppercuts, punching away as Vera covers up against the fence. Couture now dirty boxing more ably. Vera still showing stalwart takedown defense as he fends off a double-leg takedown. Couture lands a clean left elbow. Couture’s right uppercut and left elbow continue to land and Vera looks to control his wrist in the clinch. Marc Goddard separates the pair once again. Vera lands a pair of crisp body kicks, but Couture is able to get a collar tie in the middle of the cage, and land some uppercuts and knees to the body. Vera initiates the clinch this time, pushing Couture into the fence, and dropping for a double-leg takedown. The crowd beginning to boo the grinding pace of the fight, as Marc Goddard warns the pair for inactivity. Vera hits a beautiful kneetap on Couture, putting “The Natural” on his back and quickly taking mount. Couture overhooks Vera’s left arm, and sweeps him before he can mount any offense. Scrambling back to their feet, the pair trade knees to the body, and grazing hooks before the bell.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Vera
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Vera
Loretta Hunt scores the round 10-9 Vera
All three judges score the bout 29-28 for the winner by unanimous decision, Randy “The Natural” Couture. A crestfallen Brandon Vera exits the cage, and dejectedly sits on the perimeter of the Octagon hanging his head after the decision is announced.
