Brandon Vera Wants More In 2019 – More Movies, More Belts

Following his winning return to action in November, ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera is ready to embark on a busy 2019.

The Filipino-American star defeated Italian heavyweight challenger Mauro “The Hammer” Cerilli in the first round by one-punch knockout at ONE: CONQUEST OF CHAMPIONS in Manila, Philippines.

And after a year spent working across a number of projects away from the cage, the martial arts star is planning a packed schedule.

One of Vera’s latest targets is to compete in Japan, and he has made no secret of his desire to be a major part of ONE’s second scheduled event in The Land Of The Rising Sun next year. ONE: GREATNESS UNLEASHED will take place in Tokyo on 11 October.

He even has a dream bout in mind – a ONE Light Heavyweight World Title challenge against reigning two-division World Champion “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang.

“I would love to fight in Japan in October next year, and challenge whoever has possession of the light heavyweight belt,” he says.

“Right now, it’s Aung La N Sang. He’s an amazing athlete, and that is why I want to face him.

“I want to be up against the best athletes in the world until my body doesn’t want to do it anymore.”

Aside from a run at a second World Title, Vera also plans to continue his success in the entertainment world.

“I’m planning to have a busy 2019 doing both entertainment and coming back to the cage,” the 41-year-old adds.

“I have three upcoming movies, two of which will be filmed here in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong.”

Vera starred in action thriller movie BuyBust earlier in 2018 before returning to the ONE Championship cage for the first time in two years to knock out Cerilli in just 64 seconds and cement his position at the top of the heavyweight division.

“The Truth” has more projects in the pipeline for 2019, but he vowed to his fans that he will return much faster than he did for the Cerilli bout.

“I have a lot of other entertainment projects lined up,” he explains.

“We’re going to finish those, and I’ll come back as soon as I can. I promise you, I will never be out for two years again.”

To date, Vera has superbly leveraged his position as a martial arts star to pursue additional interests away from the cage.

The Filipino-American has plans to be successful in a range of different fields, including mixed martial arts, movies, endorsements and even a future run for political office.

As well as chasing his own personal dreams, Vera says he hopes to inspire his fellow countrymen and women in the Philippines to do the same.

“I positioned myself to become the ‘Filipino Truth,’ wherein you can follow the path I will lay out for you so you can see where I want to go,” he said.

“I know I’m doing a lot, but I take it one day at a time – chin down, hands up, one foot in front of the other – moving carefully.”

Vera has already accomplished more in his career than most athletes could ever dream of. He is a movie star, a commercial success and, of course, a dominant World Champion in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

That would be more than enough to send an athlete into retirement feeling content with their accomplishments, but Vera is still pushing himself to higher heights. Indeed, his ultimate aim is the ultimate accolade for a martial artist.

“It’s my goal to become one of the best in the history of this sport,” he said.

“No one is going to stop me.”