Couture-Vera in UFC 105 will air on Spike TV

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Fight fans who enjoy boxing and mixed martial arts will have their remotes busy Saturday night when Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto participate in a pay-per-view boxing card, and Ultimate Fighting Championship former champion Randy Couture tries to avoid a third consecutive defeat when he fights Brandon Vera in UFC 105 in England.

Spike TV will broadcast Couture-Vera on a tape-delayed basis at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Couture, who has suffered losses at the hands of heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and former interim champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, is moving back down to the light-heavyweight division to face the younger Vera.

Couture said he has fully recovered from the Nogueira loss in late August and wants to contend for the division’s title again. He signed a six-fight deal with the UFC earlier this year.

Vera, who has defeated former interim heavyweight champ Frank Mir, said he expects a stiff challenge from Couture.

‘The biggest thing I have to worry about is him being a great tactician,’ Vera said on a recent conference call. ‘He’s always been able to pick his opponents apart in any area.’

--Lance Pugmire