UFC 105 will take place on November 14 in Manchester, England. The main event will be Randy Couture (16-10) versus Brandon Vera (11-3) in a Heavyweight match. Couture is coming off a two straight losses. The Natural lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship to Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Vera was once considered a future UFC Champion but his losses to Keith Jardine and Fabricio Werdum has prevented him in doing so.

Randy “The Natural” Couture

Randy Couture continues to fight despite his age but is still looking like a top contender. He should consider dropping down the the 205 lbs. Light Heavyweight division and contend for the title. Couture didn’t look exactly terrible against Nogueira but he also didn’t look impressive. Still, he showed why he is a major player in the UFC.

Couture should bring the fight to the ground against Vera. He should avoid Vera’s superior Muay Thai skills. If Couture allows Vera to establish any kind of rhythm in the stand-up game it’ll be lights out Randy Couture. Couture should utilize his wrestling skills to effectively pin down Vera. Vera does have experience in wrestling but Couture is the more skilled.

Brandon “The Truth” Vera

Vera displayed impressive skills early on his MMA career but his lost to Tim Sylvia signaled that he wasn’t ready to contend for the title. Many considered him the future of the heavyweight division until he lost two more times to Werdum and Jardine. He has a chance to redeem himself against a veteran fighter in Randy Couture.

Vera must effectively avoid take downs and utilize his Muay Thai knees and superior striking ability to down the aging veteran. Although, Vera might not be able to score a KO victory over Couture because The Natural still has a granite chin.

Couture and Vera do have one common opponent. Couture dominated Tim Sylvia while Vera lost via decision to Sylvia. Vera supposed “superior striking” skills was fully nullified against the bigger and stronger Sylvia.

Couture took Sylvia to the ground repeatedly and battered him with old fashioned ground-and-pound. Couture is not the most skillfull striker but when he chooses to put his wrestling skills to use, he is one of the most devastating fighters in the UFC.

In order for Vera to redeem himself he must not only beat Couture but dominate and win impressively. If Couture aims to win another UFC Championship he should show he still has that zing in his jab.