The Truth Refuses to Be Denied: Brandon Vera Signs with ONE FC

After ending an 8-year run with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), many thought that Brandon "The Truth" Vera might step away from active competition. Not long after parting ways with UFC however, the Filipino-Italian fighter was signed by ONE Fighting Championship, the biggest MMA organization in Asia. The signing was announced via the organization's offical Twitter account, @onefcmma.

The Truth signs with the ONE FC.

Vera, 36, was at one point a highly touted talent, even considered a future champion, thanks to an amazing 8-0 start to his MMA career. With notable wins such as a finish over former UFC Heavyweight champion Frank Mir, it seemed like the sky was the limit for Vera.

Unfortunately, issues with old management would keep him inactive for some time, and the bad experience from an invasion of a friend's home would end up further derailing The Truth's momentum. Those challenges coupled with health issues, put Vera in a spot where he seemingly could not pick up where he left off. After exploring the UFC's light heavyweight ranks and returning to heavyweight for what would be his final fight for the organization, Vera would finish with 5-7 record after his undefeated start.

While some of his losses in the UFC were definitive, it must be noted that he put up an exciting fight against former Pride and UFC Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, and dropped a rather questionable decision to former UFC Champion Randy 'The Natural" Couture.

Brandon "The Truth' Vera

Though he may no longer be the hot prospect that he was earlier in his career, Vera still poses a great threat to his new organization's LHW and HW divisions. The Truth's muay thai-centered style lends itself well to ONE FC's rules.

It has yet to be determined which weight class Vera will compete in, or when his debut for ONE FC will be, as he is still currently tending to a nagging hand injury. Known as the biggest MMA organization in Asia, ONE FC has a large Filipino fan base, with may top class Pinoy fighters in its roster. With his Filipino lineage, Vera will likely be considered for the organization's year end event in Manila.

For Filipino MMA fans and the ONE FC, The Truth's signing is a winning situation. For Vera, it is a fresh start and an opportunity to re-establish a winning situation of his own.

Team Lakay Fighters Ready for Combat at PXC 44

While most Pinoy MMA fans will be paying close attention to Roldan Sangcha-an as he makes his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut in Auckaland, New Zealand, "The Executioner" will not be the only Pinoy fighter going in for combat over the weekend. Crisanto Pitpitunge (5-3) and Troy Bantiag (5-3), Sangcha-an's teammates from Team Lakay, will have their own bouts at PXC 44 this June 27th across the pond in Guam.


'The Slugger" Starting Road Back to the Title 

Duenas vs. Pipitunge. Photo property of PXC.

Pipitunge, a former Pacific Xtreme Combat bantamweight champion, will be facing Josh Duenas (4-4) of Saipan in a three-round flyweight affair. With his most recent PXC outing resulting in a third-round submission lost at the  hands of Han Bin Park at PXC 41, fans can expect "The Slugger" to be looking to bounce back in dominant fashion and get his name back into title contention.

Duenas has evenly split the wins and losses of his total eight pro fights, with the most recent being a victory by way of submission. Despite the slightly lower win percentage, it must be taken not of that all four of Duenas' victories have come in the form of a stoppage. While a true challenge, Pinoy MMA fans can expect Pipitunge to go into battle in true Team Lakay fashion, backed by months of hardwork and an exceptional unwillingness to yield.


Bantiag Hunting for Big Win

Aguon v. Bantiag. Photo property of PXC.

Like Pipitunge, Bantiag will for the first time be competing outside of the Philippines, taking on Guam’s Kyle Aguon. While "The Hunter" will likely not have the live crowd's support going up against a Guam-based competitor, many can expect Bantiag to be fighting with a great sense of urgency as he looks to snap a two-fight losing skid with a victory in a bout with title implications.


Despite his last fight being a loss, Aguon last competed against current bantamweight champion Michinori Tanaka, and a win against Bantiag will immediately get him back in title contention. With different, yet both high, stakes in the fight for both competitors, many expect the great blend of speed and skill commonly associated with the lighter weight classed to be on full display for this bout.

Pacific X-Treme Combat 44.

Pacific X-treme Combat 44

Pacific Xtreme Combat 44 will be held on June 27 at the UOG Filedhouse in Mangilao, Guam, headlined by a five-round bout between Josh Calvo and Zebaztian Kadestam for the vacant PXC Welterweight Championship.

UFC Weekend: An Important Time for Philippine Mixed Martial Arts

On June 1^st Manila time, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is set to stage two separate fight cards on the same day. One will be the promotion’s first ever event in Berlin, Germany, and the other is the 42^nd edition of the promotion's Fight Night series being hosted in Sao Paolo, Brazil.



“The Filipino Wrecking Machine” in Berlin

Photo courtesy of Mark Munoz's official Facebook page. Property of the UFC.

The Germany card will be headlined by a 5-round affair between Mark Munoz (13-4) and Gegard Mousasi (34-43-2). Just a win away from title contention two years ago, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” looks to get himself back in the mix with a victory over the former Strikeforce middleweight champion.
Going 1-2 in his last three bouts, it is crucial for Munoz to obtain a win over “the Armenian Assassin”, not only to shore up his record, but more importantly to further stake his claim as a title contender. While Munoz may have not sustained as much damage in MMA as he started at the peak age of 29, he's now 36 years old, and time is always of the essence when it comes to title opportunities in any sport.
When the cage door closes for the main event in Berlin, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” gets a chance to make his kababayans proud by displaying his skill and work ethic, and earning a signature win over a decorated opponent.



Eddiva Fights Once Again in Opponent Territory

Photo courtesy of the Team Lakay official Facebook page. Property of the UFC.

The stakes will be high in Brazil, as Mark Eddiva (6-0) out of Team Lakay takes on the host country’s own Kevin Souza (14-3). Apart from putting his own undefeated streak on the line, Eddiva’s bout against the feared Brazilian striker (13 of 14 wins via KO) will possibly be what sets the stage for having more Filipino mixed martial artists competing in the biggest MMA promotion of all.
As recently as just over a year ago, Filipinos were greatly anticipating when a home-grown fighter would compete in the UFC. Eventually, Eddiva’s Team Lakay teammate, Dave “The Scarecrow” Galera, would be the first to grace the octagon. A few months later, Eddiva would become the second, making his promotional debut by defeating heavily favored Chinese fighter Jumabieke Teurxun at UFC Fight Night 28 in Macau .
With a Pinoy fighter competing in the big show now a reality, it is presently up to Eddiva to continue pushing the bar for homegrown Filipinos in the UFC. Come June 1^st, he has the opportunity to show even more of what Filipino mixed martial artists are capable of by earning what would once again be considered an upset win in opponent territory.



Catch UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi on June 1st (MNL) at 3:30am and 6:00pm, and
UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs. Maldonado also on June 1st at 10:30am, both aired locally on Balls Channel.