Brandon Vera

Brandon Michael Vera, nicknamed as "The Truth" (born in 1977 in New York) is a well known mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter as well as a popular heavyweight fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born to a Filipino father and a mother who was Italian-American, Brandon Michael Vera, grew up in Virginia and he also attended school there. He was amazingly good in wrestling, while he was at school and due to his hard-work and commitment, he gained an athletic scholarship of four years at Old Dominion University. He joined the US Air Force after about a year and a half so he was unable to complete his education and dropped out of University.

Although Brandon Vera took over at the Air Force, his passion continued. And so while at the force he enrolled in the wrestling team there. He also underwent training in Colorado at the US Olympic Training Center there. During his wrestling career in the force, he hurt his right elbow due to shredded ligaments and this caused nerve damage. Moreover due to this injury he could not get his right arm to function. These circumstances let him to be dismissed from the US Air Force on the basis of medical reasons.  

After recovery Brandon Vera was considered able and fit and entered the Grappler's Quest submission wrestling competitions. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt coach,  Lloyd Irvin, encouraged Vera in his game and also introduced him to mixed martial arts at his school, where Irvin had invited him to learn and train. At the  Linxx Academy and Hybrid Academy, Brandon received further training.

Under the training of  Irvin , Vera's entered his the very first of his mixed martial arts, professional competitions. This was in 2002. Brandon Vera fought and defeated, Adam Rivera, in the first round via TKO. In 2003, Vera began a training position with City Boxing and thus went to San Diego. Out here he met Rob Kaman, famous kick boxer. This was through his manager Mark Dion, who also happened to be the owner of City Boxing. Seeing his success as a trainer as well as a great fighter of mixed martial arts, Mark Dion made Vera, partial owner of the School.

Brandon Vera fought and won another bout in the year 2004. Brandon Vera then entered a World Extreme Cage-fighting heavyweight tournament in 2005. He won two rounds , as well as a round against  Mike Whitehead the Ultimate Fighter 2's in the finals. Brandon Vera was successful at UFC debut at Ultimate Fight Night 2 in 2005. He fought and defeated  Fabiano Scherner. This was in mid second round of the fight via TKO.
Vera also fought  Assuerio Silva , at the UFC 60. Silva lost to Vera who hammered him with a guillotine choke.

In Sacramento at the UFC 65, Vera reached the height of his career, when he defeated heavyweight champ Frank Mir in a matter of a few minutes. Vera's career soared and flourished under the guidance and training of Mark Dion. Thereafter, due to an unfortunate dispute and misunderstanding, Vera and Mark Dion his manager parted ways. Following this, Vera was away from the UFC heavyweight championship for a while. The California Athletic Commission, acted as arbiter and settled this dispute later. Vera returned at the UFC 77, and unfortunately at this fight he not only broke his left hand, but was also defeated in the first fight by Tim Sylvia.