Brandon Vera’s goal for 2010? To be No. 3

LAS VEGAS – Usually, the stock answer for a fighter’s career aspirations is rote: I want to be No. 1. But that’s not the case with UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera.

No. 3 is just fine.

“I’m asking for the No. 3 spot,” Vera said Friday. “I don’t give a damn who’s at No. 3. I can’t ask for No. 1, and I can’t ask for No. 2; that’s (champion Lyoto) Machida and (Mauricio) “Shogun” (Rua) respectively. You’ve got to climb the ladder.”


LAS VEGAS – Usually, the stock answer for a fighter’s career aspirations is rote: I want to be No. 1. But that’s not the case with UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera.

No. 3 is just fine.

“I’m asking for the No. 3 spot,” Vera said Friday. “I don’t give a damn who’s at No. 3. I can’t ask for No. 1, and I can’t ask for No. 2; that’s (champion Lyoto) Machida and (Mauricio) “Shogun” (Rua) respectively. You’ve got to climb the ladder.”