Randy Couture readies for light heavyweight bout, quest for sixth title

UFC

Randy Couture throws a punch towards Tim Sylvia during their heavyweight championship bout on March 3, 2007. Couture won the fight by unanimous decision, marking the third world title of his career.

By Andy Samuelson (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 | 3 p.m.

Associated Press

Brandon Vera, left, throws a punch at Keith Jardine, during their Ultimate Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight fight in the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008.

Sam Morris

Heavyweight champion Randy Couture, right, and Brock Lesnar trade punches during their title fight Saturday, November 15, 2008 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Lesnar won by TKO in the second round.

Five-time UFC champ Randy Couture will continue down his path for a sixth title when he takes on Brandon Vera in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 105.

“I would love to be a six-time UFC champion, to set the bar very high in that regard, and that’s what I want to accomplish at 205 pounds. That is my immediate goal,” Couture said in a statement today as the UFC officially announced the Nov. 14 card in Manchester, England, which will be shown on tape delay on Spike TV at 8 p.m. Vegas time.

The 46-year-old Couture (16-10 overall MMA record), who has spent the last two and a half years at heavyweight, is making his first return to 205 since losing to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57 in February 2006.

“I am very intrigued by the current light heavyweight division. There are some great matchups for me here and I believe I have the tools to win back the light heavyweight title.”

The 31-year-old Vera (11-3) is looking for his third consecutive win when he squares off against the UFC Hall of Famer.

“It will be an honor and a privilege to fight a living legend like Randy Couture,” said Vera, who is coming off back-to-back victories over Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 102 and Michael Patt at UFC 96.

“He has been someone that I have looked up to and I can't wait to get in there and fight in November.”

UFC 105 will also feature a co-main event between UK up-and-comer Dan Hardy and late fill-in Mike Swick, who took Dong Hyun Kim’s place.

Michael Bisping, the country’s biggest MMA headliner who lost a shot at the middleweight title with his knockout at the hands of Dan Henderson at UFC 100, meets Dennis Kang.

Two of Bisping’s fighters from “The Ultimate Fighter: Team U.K. vs. U.S.A.,” winners Ross Pearson and James Wilks are also on the card, which will be going head-to-head the same night with Manny Pacquiao's boxing match against Miguel Cotto.

Wilks is fighting Las Vegas-based fighter Matt Brown, while Pearson takes on Aaron Riley.