Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera at light heavyweight headlines UFC 105

[DimeCFH]

Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera at light heavyweight headlines UFC 105

With several potential main-event options falling by the wayside for a variety of reasons, the UFC today announced a light heavyweight bout between MMA legend Randy Couture (16-10 MMA, 13-7 MMA) and a recently surging Brandon Vera (11-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) would headline the event.

UFC 105 takes place Nov. 14 at Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England.

A former two-time light heavyweight title holder, Couture returns to the 205-pound division for the first time since a 2006 loss to Chuck Liddell. The drop shouldn't be drastic for the 46-year-old, as Couture weighed just 220 pounds for his August headlining loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at "UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira."

Vera has also competed at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. "The Truth" has maintained his desire to be a champion in both divisions, though 205 pounds is his focus for the time being.

The 31-year-old has compiled a 3-1 record in the UFC's light heavyweight division after dropping from heavyweight in 2008 following back-to-back losses to Fabricio Werdum and Tim Sylvia. Vera most recently fought in a unanimous-decision win over Krzysztof Soszynski on the main card of the same UFC 102 event that saw Couture in the main-event bout.

Tickets for UFC 105 are currently on sale. The event airs in the U.S on Spike TV.

With the official addition to the card, UFC 105 now includes:

•Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
•Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang
•Dan Hardy vs. Dong Hyun Kim
•Matt Brown vs. James Wilks*
•John Hathaway vs. Paul Taylor*
•Terry Etim vs. Shannon Gugerty*
•Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley*
•Nick Osipczak vs. Matthew Riddle*
•DaMarques Johnson vs. Peter Sobotta*
•Roli Delgado vs. Andre Winner*
•Alexander Gustafsson vs. Jared Hamman*