LOS ANGELES — Oddsmakers aren't giving UFC on FOX 4 headliner Brandon Vera much of a chance against former champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, but UFC President Dana White thinks "The Truth" might be primed to offer a big surprise.
"This guy has been publicly smashed by the fans, the media — I mean everybody is just hammering this guy," White said. "That's the type of thing that motivates a guy. Before Thursday's press conference, he told me, 'Thank you so much for this opportunity. I have never, ever been this motivated. I've never had so many people talk so much trash about me.'"
Vera (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) meet in the main event of UFC on FOX 4 on Saturday at Staples Center. Four main-card fights air on FOX (8 p.m. ET) following six preliminary-card bouts on FUEL TV (5 p.m. ET).
The original announcement of the matchup, especially its headlining status and potential championship implications, left many questioning the UFC's logic.
Rua is just 2-3 in his past five fights, but those bouts have been against the sport's very best fighters. The Brazilian's loss to Dan Henderson in 2011's fight of the year, for example, is worth a pass.
Vera, meanwhile, has notched just two UFC wins in the past three years, which raises questions about his worthiness as a headliner in a major network-televised event.
Vera said he recognized the value of what he'd been given and promised to make good on his end of the deal.
"The UFC gave me a great opportunity," Vera said. "People wait their whole lives for a moment like this — one moment — and it's been given to me. I'm not going to squander this. I'm not going to throw it away."
White, who admits Vera hasn't fulfilled the potential that once had the Filipino American pegged as a future champion, thinks UFC on FOX 4 could prove the fighter's opportunity to silence the naysayers.
"It's all about opportunities in life," White said. "Every once in a while, a great opportunity comes along, and you have to go grab it. I think the opportunity and the humiliation of people saying 'you don't deserve it' has lit a fire under that kid."
UFC on FOX 4's co-main event pits former light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) and Ryan Bader (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC). The four co-headliners are all vying for a shot at the winner of September's title fight between current champion Jon Jones and top contender Henderson. White said whoever wins "most impressively" Saturday gets the title shot.
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