UFC on Fox 4: Shogun Vs Vera
Written by Jordan Maskell
This Saturday nights UFC on FOX 4 may very well determine the next challenger for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship according to Dana White. The UFC President had originally indicated the winner of the main event between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Brandon Vera would decide who would get the shot. However, after a large opposition by fans it was announced the co-main event between Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader would also be taken into consideration.
White stated the fighter who wins in the most impressive fashion and makes the biggest impact would be granted the title shot. Current champion Jon “Bones” Jones has finished all four men in previous bouts. The champ will face Dan Henderson at UFC 151 on September 1st in Las Vegas.
Shogun (20-6-0) has not fought since losing a five round war to Henderson at UFC 139, which many named 2011 Fight of the Year. Vera (12-5-0, 1NC) has one win, two losses and one no contest in the last three years in the UFC. Meanwhile, Machida (17-3-0) will be competing in his first fight since losing to Jones at UFC 140 in Toronto, Ontario. Bader (15-2-0) on the other hand recently defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson by unanimous decision, and Jason Brilz by a first round knockout.
Lightweights Joe Lauzon (20-7-0) and Jamie Varner (20-6-1, 2NC) will also compete on the main card. Lauzon is coming off a KO loss to Anthony Pettis at UFC 144, while having two consecutive Submission of the Night wins before that. Varner is currently riding a three-fight win streak. He has two knockouts and one submission victory in his last three fights.
A bout between Heavyweights Ben Rothwell and Travis Browne was scheduled for this card, although Rothwell was forced to withdraw due to injury. Browne was later pulled from the event all together, while the Welterweight matchup between Mike Swick and DaMarques Johnson was promoted to the main card. This has set up a Heavyweight fight between Browne and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva for a UFC on FX event later this year.
On the preliminary card available on FUEL TV, a number of Featherweight bouts will be included as Cole Miller takes on Nam Phan, Josh Grispi meets Rani Yahya, and Manvel Gamburyan faces Michihiro Omigawa. Other bouts on the card include a Light Heavyweight fight between Phil Davis and Wagner Prado, a Flyweight matchup with John Moraga fighting Ulysses Gomez, and a Heavyweight encounter as Phil De Fries faces Oli Thompson.
This weekend will also feature the debut of the UFC’s new “Ref Cam.” The camera will be located near the top button of the referee’s shirt. Lithium ion batteries fuel the camera, while the transmitter will be underneath the shirt. Other promotions like PRIDE have used similar cameras in the past, although this will be the first time it is utilized within the Octagon. It will give fans a unique perspective they would usually never get to see, putting them into the shoes of a mixed martial arts referee.
UFC on FOX 4: Shogun vs. Vera will air Saturday August 4th 2012 at 8PM ET/5PM PT on FOX while the preliminary card begins at 5PM ET/2PM PT on FUEL TV.
