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Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:55 am EST

Proud Filipino Vera looking for two wins on Saturday

By Steve Cofield

It's going to be a long night tomorrow for Brandon Vera in Manchester, England. Vera is hoping to nail one of the biggest wins of career against Randy Couture at UFC 105 and follow it up by watching another W from one his heroes Manny Pacquiao. Pacman battles Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Vera is fired up to watch his Filipino brother go for a world title in a seventh weight class: 

“I want to get business out of the way, then I can still watch the Pacquiao fight. I'm hoping I will be able to watch it. I love watching Pacquiao fight," Vera told Gareth A. Davies from The Telegraph. "I think he'd make a brilliant mixed martial artist - he's one of those guys who'd be a brilliant sportsman at whatever he took up."

Vera is 100-percent an MMA backer but everyone with Filipino blood is a Manny backer:  

"I’m not really a big fan of boxing, but I’m a fan of Manny Pacquiao. He is a phenomenal athlete. If you’re a professional athlete yourself, you have to admire his qualities. He’s one of those guys whose opponents realize how good he is when they wake up on the canvas standing over them. He’s that quick." 

Vera is a first generation American but as you can tell, very proud of his Filipino heritage. Much of that comes from his father Ernesto:

"What does it mean to be Filipino? No matter what odds you're up against, no matter how bleak it looks, if you keep pressing forward, it's bound to get better no matter what. My Dad came over with nothing and ended up owning seven restaurants. He made the American Dream happen with nothing. That's what it means to me." 

Vera wants to follow in the footsteps of his father and Pacman. He like to take it one step further and help bring a UFC event to the Philippines:

“Man, I would not let the UFC have an event there without me on it. That is one huge motivating factor for me going forward knowing that I might be able to fight there. I’d want all my family to come."

Vera will either be nursing his wounds or at the end of long stint of partying when the boxing match starts at approximately 4 a.m. in Manchester. 

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17 Comments

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  1. NewYork
    1. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:09 am EST

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    I’m Italian, so I love to watch other Italians eat eggplant parmesan.
    Even though I HATE eggplant Parmesan.
    WTF?
  2. Rob R
    2. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:23 am EST

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    New York: Do other Italians actually eat eggplant parmesan? I thought that was just a prank that Italians play on non-Italian Americans.
    "Oh yes, our eggplant-a parmesan is-a delicious."
    "Excellent...We'll both have it."
    "Sucker Americans."
    (FYI...Also a NY native with some roots...3 generations back...in Naples.)
  3. Patrón
    3. Posted by Patrón Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:28 am EST

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    I'm Irish and I just love watching a good bartender pour a drink. The guy who cleans the Guinness keg pipes, my hero. I also like me Lucky Charms, go figure
  4. tdube09
    4. Posted by tdube09 Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:33 am EST

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    I'm Canadian so i like watching other Canadians eating French Fries and Gravy
    But i HATE French Fries and Gravy
    Not being Italian i had to put it into context i would understand and now that i did i can definitely see your point... it doesn't make any sense... Just like Eggplant Parm... EW
  5. The Boss
    5. Posted by The Boss Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:34 am EST

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    I like to watch Italians make pizza and lasagna
  6. joonlee
    6. Posted by joonlee Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:38 am EST

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    Washed up Randy and he think this will make his career what a joke. Good thing he beat up MIR
  7. Rob R
    7. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:44 am EST

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    Tdube...Now...I'm also from upstate NY, and have 2nd generation Quebecois blood in me.
    So I have to disagree. Poutine. Is. Awesome.
    I'm just glad some of the chili shacks in Cincinnati feel the same.
  8. Instant Money
    8. Posted by Instant Money Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:45 am EST

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    Randy will make sure Vera is finished in time to watch the Pacquiao fight from a hospital bed. Randy is going to make an example of this fresh fish, like he did Gonzaga. Randy said, "I like my fish flopping." Randy is not the champ anymore, but he is still a man fighting amongst boys.
  9. NewYork
    9. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:42 pm EST

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    Rob R.........
    I agree.
    I think eggplant parmesan is just a cruel joke.
    Nasty.
    Strange, I do love Lucky Charms though................
  10. lee
    10. Posted by lee Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:28 pm EST

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    Morons. I'm American and hate baseball, but I'll watch the world series. I'm American and could care less about swimming, but I'll watch Phelps. Morons.
  11. NewYork
    11. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:03 pm EST

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    #10 Lee ..........
    Man, relax.
    Take your meds and take a step back.
    You HATE baseball, but you watch the World Series.
    You HATE swimming, but you have a gay crush on Michael Phelps and his little speedo.
    All that, and WE'RE the morons?
    Wow.
    Take a look in the mirror you freakin' idiot.
    Does your mon know you wandered off the Pokemon website?
    Isn't it past your bed time, you pathetic child?
  12. Rob R
    12. Posted by Rob R Fri Nov 13, 2009 5:35 pm EST

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    NewYork...
    Sorry, man...he's right. We're morons.
    He's right.
    I'm just going to turn in early tonight...Lee completely dressed us down.
    We're such morons.
  13. Barry McCociner
    13. Posted by Barry McCociner Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:17 pm EST

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    I was gonna say something and lee facepalmed me before I could say it. Lee, if using the english language to beat somebody down was MMA, you would be fedor. But I am guessing you have been dropped on your head more than once.
  14. Charlene Isabelle
    14. Posted by Charlene Isabelle Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:03 pm EST

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    Pac by KO, 9 or 10! good luck to vera! i hope he wins!
  15. Rampage #1 FAN
    15. Posted by Rampage #1 FAN Sat Nov 14, 2009 7:23 am EST

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    Vera will go for d win you've got Filipino heart just lie Pacquiao and We know you could do It man. f Vera and Pacman win its a huge celebration for d Filpinos in 2 famous fighting sports. That is the real talent of the Filipinos Heat of the warrior.
  16. mike5o
    16. Posted by mike5o Sat Nov 14, 2009 2:00 pm EST

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    I'm American, my first wife was Italian and my second is Pilipina. I like to watch them eat my eggplant. Couture by tko in the 3rd, Pacquiao by decision.
  17. VictorR
    17. Posted by VictorR Sat Nov 14, 2009 7:08 pm EST

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    #17 LMAO! I think Vera needs a "brown pride" tatoo in his chest now to further honor his father. I hear they're not controversial at all.

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