Vera hopes to rebound vs Reese

Fil-Am Brandon “The Truth” Vera tries to redeem himself from an earlier setback as he clashes with Andy “Riptide” Reese in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night on July 19 at the Pearl, Nevada.

The 30-year-old Vera is still reeling from a loss to Brazilian Frabricio Werdum via a controversial referee stoppage in the first round in the UFC 85: Bedlam last month in London, England.

It was actually Vera’s second straight setback following a three-round unanimous decision loss to Tom Sylvia in UFC 77 late last year that blemished a previous 8-0-0 (win-loss-draw) record.

The Norfolk, Virginia native, fighting out of San Diego, California, needs to win his next fights, including this one, since a victory will put him back on track for a shot at the championship.

Vera has been raring to win the heavyweight title now held by interim champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira.

But it won’t be easy. Like Vera, the 35-year-old Reese is an All-American wrestler at University of Wyoming who is a former bronze medalist in the World Juniors Greco Roman event, a veteran of many World Wrestling Championships and a college wrestling coach. – Joey Villar