Going into their Light Heavyweight fight this Sunday, Brandon Vera has been very vocal on his intent to return to his killer instinct, a strategy he says he previously lost in lieu of trying to play it safe and get the win. While he respects Jon Jones, Vera stresses that his experience will be the difference maker.

Jones believes otherwise:

“I think Brandon Vera, with all his trash talking, I think he’s really trying to convince himself that he still has it.”

“The Randy Couture fight, he’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going out there to hurt people now; I’m ready to knock people out, and I’m going to be the old Brandon Vera. I really think it’s something mental that’s going on with him and he’s trying to convince himself that he can win this fight. He’s really talking to himself.”

“His trash talk has no effect on me. But as far as him saying he’s so much more experienced than me, I have a much different style than anything he’s ever experienced, so I don’t really think his experience is going to be too big of a factor in there.”

Contrary to what Vera thinks, Jones finds himself fully prepared for their upcoming fight. He attributes his recent development to aligning himself with the Greg Jackson camp in New Mexico.

“My overall knowledge of the sport has increased leaps and bounds. Greg Jackson, he really forces me to work my jiu-jitsu, and that’s something that I was neglecting early in my career. My ground game is feeling more well-rounded. My wrestling, I’m really focusing on my takedown defense, my takedowns, my judo throws. I’m just realizing what it takes to be on top.”

“You’ve really got to close up all the gaps, and that’s what I’m starting to do. Going against high-level athletes is showing me where my gaps are, and they’re slowly closing. Even form, with my combination, my kicks, my punches, I’m turning the hip over more. I have more punching power. I’m just doing things more correctly, much tighter. My hands are up, and things are proper.”