Light heavyweight Brandon Vera has a huge showdown with Keith Jardine this weekend at UFC 89 (free on Spike TV). I was finally able to catch up with him as the time difference in the U.K. had caused several problems with our respective schedules.

“It’s a super important fight, and me and Keith know this fight can move us leaps and bounds ahead of the other guy, while sending the other guy back to the dark ages.,” Vera said.

We didn’t have much time to talk as he was leaving the news conference as a bus was waiting for him and he didn’t want to be “that guy,” but he did say the key to fighting Jardine was to push the pace.

“Jardine doesn’t like to be pressed, he likes to set the pace with his style and I have to make sure he can’t do that,” Vera said.

Before leaving to get on the bus, he claimed the fans over there are "super cool" and that he’s enjoying the experience. Should be a good fight and definitely will be interesting.

***

View photos of the UFC 89 fighters.