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November - 2014
SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
16
and not get extra tired,” Vera
explained in an interview on
the news.
“It affected me tremendously,
back when I was cutting at
205. I would start at camp at
235 and everything would be
awesome, but the closer and
closer I got to the fight, the
more weight I lost, the weaker
and more tired I would get. I
hated it.”
New lease of life
Change can be a scary pros-
pect. Even for someone who
faces danger each and every
time they enter their combat
arena for something they have
been doing for so long.
When ONE FC expressed their
interest in this Fil-Am MMA
veteran, he knew it was the
right decision to make. When
everything was laid out in front
of him so neatly, he knew that
this was going to be an oppor-
tunity he just had to take.
“After ONE FC called me, I sat
down with Victor Cui for two
hours,” Vera revealed. “Speak-
ing with him and learning the
direction the company was go-
ing was very comforting as I
understood the whole picture
of what I am getting myself
involved in, as opposed to just
being a fighter.”
After being cut loose by the
UFC following an eight-year
career with the company, the
opportunity to continue com-
peting professionally was al-
ways going to be on the table.
For Vera, it was just a matter of
where the 37-year-old would
land and how quickly he would
be able to get back into action.
“When I got the call, I almost
fell out of my chair. I wanted
to in definitely! My very first
question was ‘Where would
the next fight be?’ Their an-
swer was ‘Manila’ so I said,
‘HELL YES, I’m in. Thank you!’
It was an easy decision,” Vera
explained. “I always wanted to
fight in Manila and I haven’t
had the chance to do that with
any organisation. I am super ex-
cited and blessed to showcase
my talent and skills in front of
my home fans.”
Homecoming
For the first time in his 12-year
career as a professional mixed
martial artist, Vera is set to
fight in Asia. His first bout un-
der the ONE FC banner is set
to take place on 5 December
at ONE FC: WARRIOR’S WAY at
the SM Mall of Asia Arena in
Manila, Philippines.
Fighting in Asia has been a long
time coming for Vera and hav-
ing the opportunity to make
his ONE FC debut in the coun-
try of his heritage means so
much to him. Finally, his fam-
ily in The Philippines can watch
him fight ‘live’ and understand
fully what his career has been
all about.
“Being in the Philippines and
fighting in the Philippines is a
major thing. HUGE. Everyone
keeps asking what it means to
be fighting in the Philippines.
Unless you know me, unless
you grew up with me, unless
you know my family, I can’t ex-
plain it to you fully,” he added.
“The only thing I can explain
to you is that half of my family
has been involved in my fights.
Up front, blood sweat and
tears. That’s my family state-
side. Now the other half of my
family gets to be up close and
personal with me here in the
Philippines. It’s complete now.
“That means I get to bring
my entire family into my line
of work, into my life, into my
culture. And they get to see it
firsthand and actually be a part
of it. This is for the Asian com-
munity; this is about making
my family proud and making
my family name look good –
that is a big, big deal. It’s such a
huge deal that my eyes almost
water when I talk about it. It is
and always will be about fam-
ily.”