UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera

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1 Background
2 Fight Card
3 Pre-Event Notes
4 Results
5 Bonus Awards
6 UFC Event Chronology
7 External Links

Background

UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera is an 11-bout fight card that is set to take place on November 14, 2009 at the Manchester Evening News Center in Manchester, England.

The card will air on Spike TV and will feature a light heavyweight bout between UFC Hall of Famer and former two-time light heavyweight champion, Randy Couture and rising contender, Brandon Vera.

A welterweight No. 1 contender bout bout between TUF 1's Mike Swick and Britain's Dan Hardy as well as a middleweight bout between TUF 3 winner, Michael Bisping and PRIDE veteran, Denis Kang will serve as co-main events.

Fight Card

Preliminary Card

Lightweight Bout: Andre Winner vs. Rolando Delgado
Light Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman
Lightweight Bout: Paul Kelly vs. Dennis Siver
Welterweight Bout: Nick Osipczak vs. Matt Riddle
Welterweight Bout: Paul Taylor vs. John Hathaway
Lightweight Bout: Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty

Main Card

Lightweight Bout: Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley
Welterweight Bout: James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
Middleweight Bout: Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang
Welterweight Bout: Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy
Light Heavyweight Bout: Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera

Pre-Event Notes

This will be Randy Couture's first fight at light heavyweight since being knocked out by Chuck Liddell at UFC 57 in 2006.

Early rumors had a lightweight title fight between BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez penned for this event, but it was later moved to UFC 107 in Memphis.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was also rumored to make his debut at this event against Luis Cane but that bout was moved to UFC 106.

Dong Hyun Kim had to pull out of his bout with Dan Hardy due to injury and was replaced by Mike Swick who had to pull out of his UFC 103 bout with Martin Kampmann due to concussion. It has been stated that the winner of Hardy/Swick will earn themselves a shot at Georges St. Pierre's welterweight title in early 2010.

This event will mark the first UFC bout since winning TUF 9 for Ross Pearson and James Wilks.

A welterweight bout between Peter Sobotta and DaMarques Johnson was planned for the event but cancelled due to Sobotta's military commitments.

Results

Lightweight Bout: Andre Winner defs. Rolando Delgado via KO (punch) at 3:22 of round 1.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Alexander Gustafsson defs. Jared Hamman via KO (punches) at :41 of round 1.
Lightweight Bout: Dennis Siver defs. Paul Kelly via TKO (spinning back kick and punches) at 2:53 of round 2.
Welterweight Bout: Nick Osipczak defs. Matt Riddle via TKO (punches) at 3:53 of round 3.
Welterweight Bout: John Hathaway defs. Paul Taylor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).
Lightweight Bout: Terry Etim defs. Shannon Gugerty via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:24 of round 2.

Main Card

Lightweight Bout: Ross Pearson defs. Aaron Riley via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 4:34 of round 2.
Welterweight Bout: Matt Brown defs. James Wilks via TKO (punches) at 3:53 of round 3.
Middleweight Bout: Michael Bisping defs. Denis Kang via TKO (punches) at 4:24 of round 2.
Welterweight Bout: Dan Hardy defs. Mike Swick via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Light Heavyweight Bout: Randy Couture defs. Brandon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28 x3).

In his first light heavyweight bout since 2006, Couture edged out a semi-controversial decision as he used cage control to take the first round and arguably take the third. Vera was happy to play the clinch game with Couture to his detriment but when he had space he would use his vicious kicks to hurt Couture, at one time dropping him with a body kick. Although he scored a takedown and mount for thirty seconds in the third it was not enough to sway the judges.