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MMA: Brandon Vera would rather lose his life than fail on PH soil

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/11/20/20181120-brandon-vera-2.jpg"/><figcaption>Brandon Vera will defend his crown Friday. ONE Championship</figcaption></figure></div>Two years after being away from the cage, ONE heavyweight champion Brandon Vera couldn’t help being nervous about fighting again.This, however, doesn’t mean he’s already lost his passion for fighting.“I’ve been gone (for 2 years), doon galing ang kaba,” said “The Truth” on Tuesday, three days before he defends his crown against the hard hatting Italian Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli.Vera, who has now established his roots in the Philippines, hasn’t lost a fight since joining ONE Championship in 2014. He wants to keep it that way on Friday night.&quot;I would much rather die than lose in the Philippines, hindi ko kaya ‘yun. As much as I delivered, I’m giving even more. And I wanted it more now,” he said.<h3>Owing his Pinoy fans</h3><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/11/20/20181120-brandon-vera-1.jpg"/><figcaption>Mauro Cerilli and Brandon Vera face off in from the of the press. ONE Championship</figcaption></figure></div>While staying outside the cage, the 41-year-old has busied himself establishing a career as an actor and working out his Filipino citizenship. He immersed himself into being Pinoy by living in the Philippines.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/16/18/mma-despite-buybust-brandon-vera-says-hes-ready-for-next-bout">MMA: Despite &#x27;BuyBust,&#x27; Brandon Vera says he&#x27;s ready for next bout</a></li></ul>Vera said living in the Philippines has made him appreciate being a champion.“Before I moved to the Philippines, being a champion is just a cool thought, cool idea. Something that I worked toward something I wanted. I didn&#x27;t understand all this until I moved to the Philippines,” he said.“But showing up here, moving to the Philippines, dealing with traffic, dealing with location sets, dealing with contracts, dealing with the grind, now naiintidihan ko na talaga . . . whenever I see your smiles every day, naisip ko I owe. Madami akong utang sa inyo, I owe you more than a smile.”That feeling is more than enough motivate for Vera to keep training.“(Now) I work out every day of the week, every single day. I’m training once-twice a day, from a 48-hour shoot, diretso ako sa gym, then I go back to the set again,” he said.“So am I ready after 2 years of being away from that ring? Hell yeah.”(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

ONE heavyweight champion Brandon Vera stakes his title when he takes on Mauro Cerilli at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

ONE heavyweight champion Brandon Vera stakes his title when he takes on Mauro Cerilli at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

MMA: Brandon Vera would rather lose his life than fail on PH soil

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MMA: Brandon Vera would rather lose his life than fail on PH soil

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 20, 2018 09:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Brandon Vera

ONE Championship

Mauro Cerilli

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