Randy Couture Returns to 205 at UFC 105 Versus Brandon Vera

Fighters.com’s ninth-ranked heavyweight “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-10) and “Truth” Brandon Vera (11-3) will headline UFC 105 at M.E.N. Arena in Manchester November 14, the UFC announced Monday.

The matchup will be contested at the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds, or 14 stone and nine pounds…cheerio!

Couture lost a three-round UD to fourth-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) at UFC 102 in Portland August 29, Couture’s second consecutive loss.

Before fighting Nog’, Couture had publicly expressed interest in fighting Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion “Dragon” Ryoto Machida (15-0) and didn’t rule out returning to 205 pounds in the post-102 press conference.

But, Vera is a long way from Machida in the light heavyweight class Couture once strode as champ.

Vera won a unanimous decision over “Polish Experiment” Krzysztof Soszynski (19-9-1) at UFC 102 and has collected three wins and a loss since dropping down from heavyweight on consecutive losses to top ten competition.  Vera’s loss at 205 pounds was a split decision to then top ten “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (14-6-1).

It’s the kind of matchup Couture has avoided his entire career in the Octagon.  Though his record is 16-10, win or lose, Couture has never fought outside of the top ten.  A win over Vera proves MMA’s Methuselah is still competitive, but a loss could consign “The Natural” to the next season of “Dancing with the Stars” or worse…”Bully Beatdown”.