Brandon Vera has predicted a return to his explosive best ahead of his fight with up-and-comer Jon Jones on March 21

The two will meet in the main event of the UFC's debut on Versus and Vera revealed he has lost none of that early career cockiness that saw him predict title wins in both the heavyweight and light-heavyweight divisions.

"Oh, I'm still going to dance," he said, "I'm still going to dance. Don't worry, I'm still cocky (laughs). I'm still that guy. Some of you going to love me, some of you going to hate me. Either way, it's still me. I'm not going to put on a front for anybody. That's me, that's me."

Since then, it hasn't been plain sailing for the 32-year-old. Defeats to Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum prompted a premature drop to 205-lbs. and another loss to Keith Jardine further derailed his title hopes.

However, Vera has overseen a return to form, despite a controversial defeat to Randy Couture in his last outing, where he had "The Natural" hurt on more than one occasion. He is hoping that power will prove to much to handle for the livewire Jones.

"Jon Jones hasn't been hit yet," he said. "It's really easy to be the hammer, but it's hard to be the nail. We'll find out what he's made of when I hit him."

Vera believes that an improvement in his ground game has brought the best out of his stand up, returning him to the Vera who notched up four wins in his first four UFC fights.

"I fight on my feet," Vera continued. "If you end up taking me down, then I just submit you. That's the train of thought we're bringing to this camp man.

"I think that's going to bring my stand-up back to where it was before, where I'm really trying to knock people out. Where I just don't give a damn if you take me down. If you take me down, that's cool. I'm cool with it."

"The Truth" admits that he has been impressed with Jones so far, but believes that he could prove to be a step too far ahead for the young "Bones."

"Mr. Jones has done with the people he's been given... phew... yeah, he's been blowing through people," said Vera. "He's the man. He's for sure dangerous, but he hasn't fought anybody like me yet. My job is to go in there and show everybody that Jon Jones isn't ready to fight somebody like Brandon Vera yet."

Whoever wins, Vera is ready to make sure that the main event for the UFC's first appearance on Versus is an all out war.

"I'm going worst-case scenario," said Vera. "We're just going to get in the best shape, and be ready to go through a dog-fight for three rounds. I'm done playing games."