Rua/Vera to get next title shot

[Cory]

MMAJUNKIE

The winner of Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 headliner will get a title shot.

Despite both fighters having already suffered losses to reigning light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones – and despite the competitors owning a combined 3-5 record (with one no-contest) in their past nine fights – the winner of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) vs. Brandon Vera (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will get a shot at the belt.

UFC president Dana White today confirmed the plans.

"Yes," White said flatly when asked about the title stakes.

UFC on FOX 4 takes place Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card, including the Vera vs. Shogun five-round headliner, airs on FOX following prelims on FUEL TV.

"'Shogun' Rua just came off a 'Fight of the Year' last year," said White, referring to Rua's close decision loss to Dan Henderson in November at UFC 139. "He's probably one of the best fighters of the last decade. Think about it. This guy knocked out 'Rampage' (Jackson), knocked out Chuck Liddell, knocked out Mark Coleman, knocked out Lyoto Machida, knocked out Forrest Griffin, knocked out Alistair Overeem twice, submitted Kevin Randleman. A win vs. [Vera] puts him right back in position, and then he's probably the No. 2 guy in the world."

As for Vera, who hasn't won back-to-back fights in three years, he understands it's icing on the cake. He was just happy to have a main-event fight on network television after UFC on FOX 4 lost an originally planned headliner of Hector Lombard vs. Brian Stann.

"Like I said before, this is already a blessing in disguise, and by Dana throwing [the title shot] out there, it's like winning the lottery twice," he said.

Despite some recent setbacks, Vera is coming off a decision victory over Eliot Marshall. Rua, meanwhile, fights for the first time since the loss to Henderson, who fights Jones in next month's UFC 151 headliner.

Rua, a former champ, lost his belt to Jones via TKO in early 2011. Vera also suffered a TKO loss to Jones, which came in 2010.




Ahahahahah what trash. Gustafsson is a much more deserving contender than either of these two....Rua maybe....VERA AHAHAHAHAHA

[Black Death]

Henderson fight was close ...  if Vera beats him , hell give vera the shot... Vera not going to beat him

[Nick]

What the hell happened to all the contenders? They're going to have to rush Gustafasson and Texeira at this rate.

[Cory]

^

That

[Black Death]

I think that reason there giving rua or Vera a title shot first ... might be trying to not rush those two

[T-Birder]

Gotta use the name of former stars to keep the title relevant while they build some new contenders.

[Flins.]

I think Dana has also come out and said that whoever puts on the best performance out of Shogun/Vera & Bader/Machida gets the next title shot. He has beat all of them, so if he gets past Henderson I'd imagine his reign will continue.

Teixera will be catapulted up somewhat once he demolishes a disinterested Rampage. But yeah the LHW division is looking real thin. Davis could get back in the picture if he can beat Prado, who could make a name for himself against the 'prospect'.

Gustafsson vs Griffin could be a good fight but he probably needs to face someone higher up the rankings to get his shot.

[Johnny Rebel]

Machida just made Bader look silly.

[Flins.]

Machida was great, but if he goes on to face Jones, he'll face the exact same problems he had before. Not as easy to counter strike with a guy who doesn't have to get inside.

It was a great show overall though, J-Lau is awesome.

[brkendown]

Machida will be made look silly by Jones again. Then again, I think Hendo is going to dethrone Jones.

Nam Phan looked great in his fight. Varner looked good despite losing. But what about Vera? He shocked the hell out of me surviving that long.