Vera says no to Machida UFN14 fight

[Onion]

Brando Vera “run away” from Lyoto
By Guilherme Cruz

Another Brazilian could fight at the UFC Fight Night 14, made to face Affliction on July 19, but his participation already been discarded. Dana White offered to Lyoto Machida, after his victory against Tito Ortiz at UFC 84, to face Brando Vera and the Brazilian accepted. But the Lyoto return to the octagon will have to be postponed because Vera, defeated by Fabrício Werdun at UFC 85, didn’t accept the bout. “It is true. The Ultimate offer me, but Brandon Vera didn’t want this fight. I don’t know what happened, but he didn’t accepted the fight”, said Lyoto that didn’t receive more offers and should be out of this UFC edition.

http://www.tatame.com/2008/06/21/Brando-Vera-run-away-from-Lyoto

[LuckyD]

To be fair that's not a lot of preparation time for your first bout at a new weightclass...

[Lakers0411]

I wouldn't fight Lyoto either if I was Vera. He needs a can. Perhaps Jason Lambert is available.

However, if Vera has any designs of being the champ at 205, he should've taken this fight.

[Briezy]

That's a tough first matchup in a new division. It takes time to adjust to a new weight class and beating Lyoto is tough enough to begin with.

[Jay]

If he did accept and won, it would of put him high up the 205 ladder for a title shot. But if he accepted and lost.. that'd be 3 losses in a row.

Tricky position for Vera.

[Ash]

Lyoto is probably the worst guy to lose to, as well. He beats you, and makes you look terrible in the process.

[BulldogWrestler]

Yeah, nothing wrong with Vera saying no here. He had little time to prepare for that fight, plus he has weight to lose and control for his new weight class. So he has to take that into account.

Too soon.

However, the reward for handing Machida his first loss would be great.

[PREDATOR]

nobody wants to fight machida. The ufc is having a hard time trying to get him an opponent.

[sportsgenius86]

if this fight was for UFC 88 and he said no then there'd be some news

but six weeks to prepare for Machida in your first fight at 205??? nope.