Denny Burkholder

Brandon Vera's debut at light heavyweight is up next, as he takes on Reese Andy. The fighters are entering the cage.

Round 1: Andy forces Vera against the cage. Vera with a Muay Thai clinch. He lands one knee before Andy backpedals out of harm's way. Vera is hanging back, waiting for Andy to walk into range and throwing combos. Andy with a knee. Vera takes him down. Vera with side control and Andy's head is against the fence. Andy with a series of upkicks to escape back to his feet. Vera throws a looping head kick and misses. Andy with a right cross as the round ends. Vera 10-9.

Round 2: Vera takes Andy down and goes for his back. Andy is against the cage. He turns his back to the cage and grabs Vera's leg. Andy back to his feet. Andy moves in to strike. Vera throws a combo before grabbing another Muay Thai clinch for a knee. Andy fakes a takedown and catches Vera on the chin with a right. Andy gets inside and pushes Vera to the cage. Vera with knees to the ribs. Vera's looking to counterstrike and Andy knows it, so neither guy is throwing much. Vera with a strong leg kick as the round ends. Vera 20-18.

Round 3: Andy is more active now, aware that he's probably losing on the scorecards. He forces Vera back against the cage again but doesn't do much while there. Mazzagatti breaks them up and brings them to the center. Vera looks tired but Andy's not looking much better. The crowd is not happy with this fight by the sounds of things. Andy with a left hook. Vera with a clinch again. He lands three solid knees to the jaw, then lets go of the clinch. Andy puts him back against the cage again. Andy chasing Vera down for punches but can't find anything. Another knee by Vera. Vera's not throwing much in the way of punches. Vera puts Andy against the cage as the round ends. 10-9 Vera again, so I score it 30-27. But this was not his finest hour.

Winner: Brandon Vera defeats Reese Andy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) after three rounds.

"The 205 cut was a little more tough than I thought, but I'm happy where I'm at," Vera said after the win. Joe Rogan asked him if cutting from heavyweight to 205 was what tired him out.

"I didn't think it did, until me and Reese locked up," he said. "Then I'm like, 'Whoo, I'm tired.'"

Vera closed his postfight interview by appealing to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and offering to take him on vacation somewhere. I wonder if Vera knows Rampage is currently in attendance at the Affliction PPV.