Two strikers, Vera w/ his Muay Thai against Machida's Shotokan Karate.

I just looked at Machida's fight record, and on his list, he has fought two fighters who were true strikers in Michael McDonald(whom he beat by sub) undoubtedly was a world-class striker and Sokoudju(in my opinion is garbage).

With Vera, he's dealing w/ someone who has proven himself in the strike game and the ground game, unlike the two aforementioned fighters, whose ground skills were really subpar for the top ranks of professional MMA.

I don't know much about the ground game, but maybe Vera can hold his own in the ground, but I think his best chance would be standing up.

Another thing, both guys are natural counter-strikers.

Who y'all see taking it, and how do you guys see it playing out?

Are you serious?

The Truth is a joke. He chokes and won't beat any top fighters.

Are you serious?

The Truth is a joke. He chokes and won't beat any top fighters.He's not a joke, Vera's biggest problem is that he's neither a natural heavyweight nor a light heavyweight.

Meaning, he's overpowered by the heavies and really drains himself to light-heavy. He's basically stuck between a rock and hard place. But Vera got skills, I briefly trained alongside the guy(1 year) and he's coached by one of the legends of Muay Thai, Rob Kaman in Los Angeles.

Vera is a traditional Muay Thai Striker, loads up on his kicks which Machida will see coming. Vera couldn't handle the awkwardness of Jardine. Machida will confuse him and pick him off. Plus I'd give power to Machida and all-round skills to Machida also.

Machida via whatever he wants.

how about, there is no fighter in the LHW division that stands a chance against machida. machida will be ruling that division forever.

Vera is a traditional Muay Thai Striker, loads up on his kicks which Machida will see coming. Vera couldn't handle the awkwardness of Jardine. Machida will confuse him and pick him off. Plus I'd give power to Machida and all-round skills to Machida also.

Machida via whatever he wants.I don't think, well, I know for a fact Vea does not telegraph his kicks. So, are you now saying that all Muay Thai stylists load up on their kicks?

FYI - I pick Machida to win, but I just think Vera will be competitive for however long it lasts, and I also think that he has a decent chance for an upset, if and it's a big if Vera is willing to put it all on the line.

I don't think, well, I know for a fact Vea does not telegraph his kicks. So, are you now saying that all Muay Thai stylists load up on their kicks?

FYI - I pick Machida to win, but I just think Vera will be competitive for however long it lasts, and I also think that he has a decent chance for an upset, if and it's a big if Vera is willing to put it all on the line.

No, read again. I said he's a traditional Muay Thai stylist, and that HE loads up his kicks. The fact that he is a traditional stylist means he has a traditional stance and timing. And when he kicks he does load up, not so much with his leg kicks, but with his head kicks he does. Plus you have to factor in that he ( Machida) trains daily with Anderson Silva who is a far more effective fighter on the feet than Vera.

Either way, it's an MMA match not a K1 bout. It's going to be determined on all-round skills and experience. Machida is above and beyond Vera in both respects.

1. Vera's is not even on the level to be able to cut off the octagon from machida's circling.
2. Even if he could, his hands are dinosaur slow compared to machida's hands or his head movement.
3. Overall with machida's skills in BJJ, Karate, Sumo, and his MT training with Anderson, Vera's whole game plan would be composed of lucky shots at best, cause it's sure as hell not going to be his skillset against Machida.

This would be more of a one-sided ass whooping then when Machida fought Ortiz.

p.s. with all these flawless victories machida's getting over these guys, is everyone hoping he's going to use his fatality next time?

how about, there is no fighter in the LHW division that stands a chance against machida. machida will be ruling that division forever.

Pretty much the truth.

vera doesnt even stand a chance against machida. machida will out kick, out strike and win however he wants. that would be a bad night for vera.

Vera is a traditional Muay Thai Striker, loads up on his kicks which Machida will see coming. Vera couldn't handle the awkwardness of Jardine. Machida will confuse him and pick him off. Plus I'd give power to Machida and all-round skills to Machida also.

Machida via whatever he wants.Vera had fits with Jardine's awkward style, but to say that he couldn't deal with it is ridiculous. That fight could've gone either way and it showed on the scorecards.

Anyway, we haven't seen Machida go against anywhere the stand-up skills that Vera possess's in the UFC that is. Evans ain't on Vera's level of stand-up, Thiago Silva was nothin' but a showcase fight for Lyoto and last but not least neither was Tito(prime and past prime).

All three past Machida opponents had a straight ahead style of stand-up fighting with lil or no striking skills whatsoever. I really think y'all are underrating Vera a bit too much.

In the event that Vera does fight Machida, I can guarantee that he'll do alot better than Thiago Silva, Evans and Ortiz combined!! Even if he ends up losing.

Vera had fits with Jardine's awkward style, but to say that he couldn't deal with it is ridiculous. That fight could've gone either way and it showed on the scorecards.

Anyway, we haven't seen Machida go against anywhere the stand-up skills that Vera possess's in the UFC that is. Evans ain't on Vera's level of stand-up, Thiago Silva was nothin' but a showcase fight for Lyoto and last but not least neither was Tito(prime and past prime).

All three past Machida opponents had a straight ahead style of stand-up fighting with lil or no striking skills whatsoever. I really think y'all are underrating Vera a bit too much.

In the event that Vera does fight Machida, I can guarantee that he'll do alot better than Thiago Silva, Evans and Ortiz combined!! Even if he ends up losing.

I'm not underrating anything. You say Machida has never dealt with the type of striking Vera has. Dude, he trains with Anderson Silva for one which gives Machida a pretty good idea of what Muay Thai Strikers can do. Also he's been training striking since he was 3 years old. Vera was a wrestler and took up striking once he got into MMA. Machida has the edge in experience and in competetion when it comes to striking. So really what am I underrating exactly?

If anything your overrating his skills because for every opponent you give as an example of someone with little to no striking skills, the same can be said for Vera. I mean, Scherner, Mir, Whitehead, Patt, Mussi, Werdum to name a few all have awful to no striking when compared to some of the guys on Machida's record.

And as far as Evans having a straight ahead style. What fight were you watching last night? Evans did more backing away and moving to the side than coming forward and look what happened. So as for not being able to deal with someone who moves that isn't the case.

And what do you base your prediction that Vera will do better than Evans, Silva & Ortiz combined. Other than Tito Ortiz catching Machida in a Triangle for a few seconds, all 3 of those guys did nothing to Machida and two of those guys are former champions. Vera isn't on the level of Ortiz and Evans and if he was his accomplishments (or lack thereof) don't reflect it.

I'm not underrating anything. You say Machida has never dealt with the type of striking Vera has. Dude, he trains with Anderson Silva for one which gives Machida a pretty good idea of what Muay Thai Strikers can do. Also he's been training striking since he was 3 years old. Vera was a wrestler and took up striking once he got into MMA. Machida has the edge in experience and in competetion when it comes to striking. So really what am I underrating exactly?

If anything your overrating his skills because for every opponent you give as an example of someone with little to no striking skills, the same can be said for Vera. I mean, Scherner, Mir, Whitehead, Patt, Mussi, Werdum to name a few all have awful to no striking when compared to some of the guys on Machida's record.

And as far as Evans having a straight ahead style. What fight were you watching last night? Evans did more backing away and moving to the side than coming forward and look what happened. So as for not being able to deal with someone who moves that isn't the case.

And what do you base your prediction that Vera will do better than Evans, Silva & Ortiz combined. Other than Tito Ortiz catching Machida in a Triangle for a few seconds, all 3 of those guys did nothing to Machida and two of those guys are former champions. Vera isn't on the level of Ortiz and Evans and if he was his accomplishments (or lack thereof) don't reflect it.
I agree with most of your points. But, I just see something in Vera that makes me think, he'll be a game guy against Machida. I'm not gonna say he's gonna win. But, Vera will not lose in an easy manner, that's all.

vera's too drained at 205 to have any real chance, besides lyoto's better skills

if Vera learns to cut properly (and his body can deal with it) then he'll be a force @ 205. never really seen him wrestle but if its as good as every1 sez it is then i think he could give Lyoto some problems. a good striker with reach and solid wrestling i think would be the most competitive opponent for Lyoto and Vera fits that bill to the tee.

The Vera hype train continues lol.

Did you guys hear that Dan Severn is cutting to 205lb to make a title run in the UFC?