4 Reasons Why Mauro Cerilli Can Defeat Brandon Vera

Italian powerhouse Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli (12-2) is just days away from his promotional debut with ONE Championship, and the stakes could not be higher.

He enters the world’s largest martial arts organization as an instant contender for Brandon “The Truth” Vera’s (15-7) ONE Heavyweight World Title on Friday, 23 November.

It will be a career-defining night for Cerilli at The Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. He will step up to face the toughest opponent of his career, but he has the skills to upset the division’s most dominant force.

Here are four reasons why Cerilli is such an exciting challenger for the crown at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS.

Dropping “The Hammer”

Of the 12 victories the Italian has so far in his career, seven have come by way of strikes. Whether he is standing or on the ground, the 35-year-old can finish opponents with his powerful fists. It is no wonder he earned his moniker of “The Hammer.”

In his current streak of five victories, he has knocked out four of his opponents, which shows he is still improving on his ability to dispense damage.

Last time out, Cerilli picked up his fastest KO to date, as he needed just 15 seconds to dispatch Karl Moore with a salvo of knees and punches.

Momentum, confidence, and his undeniable power result in a combination of forces that Vera will have to respect.

Forged From Italian Iron

Some heavyweights fit comfortably into the heavyweight class. With a little bit of work, they could drop down to chase success in the light heavyweight class. Cerilli, however, cannot. He is a colossal athlete. 

At 190 centimeters tall and 110 kilograms, “The Hammer” matches Vera for size.

His strength was forged in his days working as a blacksmith, and he has translated that to a successful martial arts career since 2012.

He will be difficult to outmuscle, and the weight behind his strikes means every blow will land with force.

Performing Under Pressure

Although this event at The Mall of Asia Arena is like nothing the challenger has experienced before, he is no stranger to high-pressure situations, and he has shown he can succeed when the heat is on.

Before inking a deal with ONE, Cerilli was the Cage Warriors Heavyweight Champion.

Cage Warriors is one of Europe’s most respected martial arts organizations, known for producing world-class athletes. Cerilli’s experience in its cage could prove to be vital when he steps under the lights for the main event in Manila.

He won the belt with a stunning first-round stoppage of Nills Van Noord, before returning to defend his crown against the United Kingdom’s Karl Moore.

The Gloria Fight Center representative had to travel to London, England to face his challenger, who attacked from the opening bell, but he kept his cool and maintained a firm grip on the belt with a 15-second stoppage.

Spirit Of A Warrior

Anybody who faces “The Truth” will have to make use of the intangible attributes that make up a true martial artist – heart, durability, and warrior spirit.

Cerilli has these ingrained within him, and has shown them both in his competitive career, and in life. He has an indomitable will — something that will be necessary to topple the champion — and he is hungry to prove himself.

In a 2014 contest against Alfredo Achilli, “The Hammer” survived a difficult first round, but roared back and needed just 46 seconds in round two to come back and register a victory with ground strikes.

Whether it is overcoming adversity in the cage, life’s obstacles, or a career-threatening injury, Cerilli has not given up yet. Do not expect that to change at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS.