Couture, Vera Hit Marks for UFC 105

His chiseled physique streamlined by yet another move to the light heavyweight division, UFC hall of famer Randy Couture looked primed for battle.

The ageless Couture checked in at 204 pounds for his main event with Brandon Vera (204) at UFC 105 “Couture vs. Vera” this Saturday at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England. The 20 other men scheduled to compete -- including co-headliners Mike Swick (170) and Dan Hardy (171) -- also made weight without incident at Friday’s official weigh-in.

The fight represents Couture’s first appearance as a light heavyweight since he lost to fellow hall of famer Chuck Liddell in February 2006, ending a memorable trilogy that helped carry the UFC into a new age of prominence. The 46-year-old mixed martial arts legend last competed at UFC 102 in August, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -- the only man to hold both the Pride Fighting Championships and UFC heavyweight crowns. Couture has lost back-to-back fights for just the third time in his career, necessitating his move back to the 205-pound division. One of the sport’s most distinguished competitors, he holds wins against six former UFC champions, including Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort (twice).

Thirteen years Couture’s junior, Vera has delivered consecutive victories since his split decision loss to Keith Jardine at UFC 89. A skilled muay Thai striker and submission grappler, he cruised to a unanimous verdict against “The Ultimate Fighter 8” alum Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 102 three months ago. Seven of his 11 career wins have come by knockout or technical knockout, including a 69-second drubbing of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.

The winner of the Swick-Hardy showdown will move on to meet reigning UFC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound luminary Georges St. Pierre sometime in 2010.

Anchored at the American Kickboxing Academy, Swick has rattled off nine wins in 10 bouts, losing only to world-ranked middleweight Yushin Okami in that span. Hardy, meanwhile, will carry a six-fight winning streak into the welterweight title eliminator. The Team Rough House standout has not been finished in more than four years.

UFC 105 “Couture vs. Vera”
Saturday, Nov. 14
Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester, England

Randy Couture (204) vs. Brandon Vera (204)
Mike Swick (170) vs. Dan Hardy (171)
Michael Bisping (186) vs. Denis Kang (185)
James Wilks (169) vs. Matt Brown (170)
Ross Pearson (156) vs. Aaron Riley (155)
Paul Taylor (170) vs. John Hathaway (170)
Terry Etim (155) vs. Shannon Gugerty (155)
Matt Riddle (171) vs. Nick Osipczak (170)
Paul Kelly (156) vs. Dennis Siver (155)
Alexander Gustafsson (203) vs. Jared Hamman (204)
Andre Winner (155) vs. Roli Delgado (156)