UFC 96 Breakdown: The Undercard

Brandon Vera vs. Michael Patt

Brandon “The Truth” Vera Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’3/205 lbs.
Age: 31
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
Fighting out of: San Diego
Team: Alliance MMA
Record: 9-3

The breakdown: Vera needs to get back to basics and start doing something with his muay Thai other than firing off the occasional high kick. Keeping the pressure on Patt will be critical, as Vera has a bad habit of getting complacent inside the cage. As long as Vera stays active with his strikes, he should send Patt on the bullet train to la-la land.

The X factor: Everyone knows Vera has all the talent in the world, but it remains questionable as to just how badly he wants to prove himself. Unless he keeps the fire burning, it may only be a matter of time before the UFC grows tired of waiting on Vera to grow up.

Michael Patt Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’0/205 lbs.
Age: 34
Hometown: Chicago
Fighting out of: Dayton, Ohio
Team: Team Jorge Gurgel
Record: 12-3

The breakdown: If Patt plans to have any success against Vera, he needs to turn this into an ugly fight. That means crowding Vera, smothering his offense and frustrating him with short blows and takedowns. Even if Patt cannot actually wrestle Vera to the mat, he can at least force him out of his comfort zone by making him stay on the defensive. If Patt can keep Vera on his back foot, he could score the upset of the night.

The X factor: Patt showed a less-than-genius-level fight IQ in his bout with Tim Boetsch at UFC 88, and if he tries that same headfirst strategy again, he will experience the same synapse-scrambling result. Basically, Patt needs to ditch the “Raging Bull” routine and focus on what will actually win him the fight.

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The bottom line: This is a nightmare matchup for Patt, who will not be able to take down Vera and gives up so much reach and power to him on the feet that he will be stuck wondering which poison to pick. Vera will choose for him by scoring a spectacular late-round knockout.