UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera. November 14, 2009. Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester, England. The second UFC event in Manchester. Randy Couture defeated Brandon Vera by unanimous decision — 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 — in a light heavyweight main event. It was Couture’s last win in the UFC.
Dan Hardy defeated Mike Swick by unanimous decision — 30-27, 29-28, 30-27 — in the co-main, earning a UFC Welterweight Championship fight against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 111. Alexander Gustafsson made his UFC debut with a KO/TKO win over Jared Hamman. Michael Bisping stopped Denis Kang by TKO in round two in front of the Manchester crowd. 16,693 attended. Spike TV peaked at 3.7 million viewers USA.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: November 14, 2009
Venue: Manchester Evening News Arena (now AO Arena), Manchester, England (second UFC in Manchester)
Attendance: 16,693; Gate: $2M; Spike TV 2.9M viewers (peaked 3.7M)
Main Event: Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera — Light Heavyweight
Result: Randy Couture def. Brandon Vera — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28 x3); Couture’s last UFC win
Co-Main: Dan Hardy def. Mike Swick — UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) — WW; Hardy earns GSP title shot at UFC 111
Notable: Alexander Gustafsson UFC debut; Bisping TKOs Kang (FOTN); $40k bonuses
The Build-Up
Randy Couture was looking to bounce back after consecutive losses to Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. At 46, facing Brandon Vera — a legitimate LHW contender 11 years younger — the fight was a genuine test. The Manchester crowd came for British stars Bisping and Hardy as much as for the American headliners.
Dan Hardy vs. Mike Swick was announced as determining the number one WW contender. Hardy, the British fan favourite after his KO of Markham at UFC 95, was fighting in front of a partisan home crowd.
Main Event
Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera — Light Heavyweight
Randy Couture used his clinch work, dirty boxing, and takedown offence to control Vera’s striking over three rounds. Vera landed some shots but couldn’t sustain consistent output. All three judges scored 29-28 for Couture.
Randy Couture's win over Vera at UFC 105 was the last of his UFC career. He lost to James Toney at UFC 118 in August 2010 by TKO and subsequently retired.
Co-Main Event
Dan Hardy vs. Mike Swick — Welterweight
Hardy outworked Swick over three rounds with his boxing and movement. Swick’s wrestling attempts were neutralised. Scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 30-27 — all for Hardy. The Manchester crowd erupted. Hardy earned his title shot. It was confirmed for UFC 111 in March 2010 against Georges St-Pierre.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Andre Winner def. Roli Delgado — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LW
Alexander Gustafsson def. Jared Hamman — TKO — R1 — LHW; Gustafsson UFC debut
Dennis Siver def. Paul Kelly — KO — R1 — LW; Perf Night ($40k to Siver)
Nick Osipczak def. Matt Riddle — Decision — R3, 5:00
Terry Etim def. Shannon Gugerty — Submission — R? — LW; Perf Night ($40k to Etim)
John Hathaway def. Paul Taylor — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) — WW
Ross Pearson def. Aaron Riley — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) — LW
Main Card
Matt Brown def. James Wilks — TKO — R3, 2:27 — WW
Michael Bisping def. Denis Kang — TKO (Punches) — R2, 4:38 — MW; Fight of the Night ($40k each)
Dan Hardy def. Mike Swick — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) — WW; Co-Main; Hardy earns GSP title shot
Main Event — Light Heavyweight
Randy Couture def. Brandon Vera — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28 x3) — Couture’s last UFC win
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang — $40,000 to each fighter.
Perf Night (x2): Dennis Siver and Terry Etim — $40,000 each.
Records & Milestones
Randy Couture's last UFC win — defeated Brandon Vera UD at age 46; concluded a six-championship run spanning two decades.
Dan Hardy earns WW title shot — confirmed for UFC 111 March 2010 vs. Georges St-Pierre.
Alexander Gustafsson UFC debut — TKO win over Jared Hamman; began a career that included two LHW title fights against Jon Jones.
Second UFC in Manchester — Manchester Evening News Arena; peaked at 3.7M Spike TV viewers USA.
Legacy & Impact
Randy Couture's win at UFC 105 is the final chapter in one of the sport’s greatest careers. He was the most decorated champion in UFC heavyweight history, had won titles at both HW and LHW, and fought in the octagon until he was 47 years old. The win over Vera was not his most dramatic performance — but it was his last.
Dan Hardy’s title shot at UFC 111 against Georges St-Pierre drew strong UK interest. The British WW contender who had broken through at UFC 95 with a KO of Markham in London was now headlining a PPV in New Jersey against the dominant champion. The narrative was compelling even if the result was not.
FAQ
Was UFC 105 the first UFC event in Manchester?
No. UFC 70 in April 2007 was the first UFC in Manchester, also at what was then the MEN Arena. UFC 105 was the second UFC in Manchester.
Was the Couture vs Vera fight at UFC 105 Randy Couture's last?
No, but it was his last win. Couture fought once more at UFC 118 in August 2010, losing to James Toney by TKO. After that fight he retired.
How did Dan Hardy earn his title shot after UFC 105?
Hardy defeated Mike Swick by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) in the WW co-main event. The winner of the bout was announced as the next challenger for Georges St-Pierre's Welterweight Championship.
Who made their UFC debut at UFC 105?
Alexander Gustafsson made his UFC debut at UFC 105, stopping Jared Hamman by TKO in round one. Gustafsson went on to become a perennial LHW contender, challenging Jon Jones for the title twice.
What were the UFC 105 Spike TV viewing numbers?
The tape-delayed broadcast in the USA drew an average of 2.9 million viewers on Spike TV, peaking at 3.7 million viewers.
References
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