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At ONE 164, Brandon Vera will make his highly-anticipated return to the circle after nearly a year and a half away from the spotlight. The former heavyweight champion will take on Amir Aliakbari in a huge fight for his career after losing back-to-back fights.
In an interview with The MMA Superfan, Brandon Vera spoke about putting his other careers on hold whilst he focuses on coming back in a big way in front of his home fans in Manila:
“I just signed a 10-film deal in the Philippines for the next five years so I’ll be doing two films a year. Along with continuing to be the champ if we put Aliakbari away. On top of that a little bit more into the distant future, I’ve been asked to run for Senate in 2024. So, on the islands I’ve been asked this a long time ago where I would just always put it in the back pocket. We’ve been planning, we’ve been meeting, we’ve been traveling the world and meeting everybody. I think this is my moment for my life.”
Brandon Vera also cautiously added:
“I’m not comfortable with it but man, if this is how life is you know. So I’m either becoming the champ again, we’ll find out December 3rd, or we’re gonna be making movies and running for the Senate. I don’t know if I’m okay with either yet. I’m not okay, either way. But I made my mind up on this. I’ve been talking with my loved ones and my family.”
Watch the full interview below:
“Is it really like this?” - Brandon Vera recalls Arjan Bhullar, Eddie Alvarez being shocked with ONE culture
With over 20 years of experience having competed all over the world, Brandon Vera has seen it all in combat sports. Finding his home in ONE Championship, Vera has said that the promotion's culture is unlike anything else.
Ahead of ONE 164 on December 3, ‘The Truth’ spoke about his thoughts on the culture of ONE Championship in an interview with The MMA Superfan:
“At ONE Championship, in the back end, culture is modern day samurai. People are finding you things if you need things or getting you stuff when you need things. Everybody’s asking you ‘How are you doing?’ Each fighter is saying ‘How did camp go?’ ‘How are you guys?’ ‘Is everything ok?’”
The former champion also spoke about conversations he had with new signees Arjan Bhullar and Eddie Alvarez about experiencing ONE Championship for the first time:
“It’s mind-blowing how different the culture is in the back, it’s crazy how different the culture is. Like everybody just comes over. Even Arjan [Bhullar], he asked me when he first came over, ‘Is this really how it is? Is it really like this?’ Even Eddie Alvarez says the same thing, 'Is it always like this?' The culture is different in ONE Championship.”
