By Jan Carlo Anolin Filipino-American mixed martial artist Brandon Vera and Miesha Tate, former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current ONE Championship vice president, recently paid a visit to American navy and air force troops in the United State territory of Guam. Brandon Vera, ONE Championship heavyweight king, and Miesha Tate, former UFC women's bantamweight champion and current ONE Championship vice president, recently paid a visit to troops stationed at the Andersen Air Force Base in the United States territory of Guam. (Handout photo) Vera, the reigning ONE heavyweight champion, and Tate toured the air force and naval bases at Andersen and had meet-and-greet and meals with the servicemen and women with the help of the United Service Organizations (USO). “This trip has been spectacular. We love to do this stuff for the military,” Tate said. “It’s so cool to see their faces light up for a second after so much sacrifice that they do.” Tate lauded the soldiers, who have been far from their friends and families, after sharing a “mind-blowing” submarine experience. “To go in that tiny submarine and spend all that time they have to spend there, and the dedication they have to stay on point and defend our country,it’s just crazy.” (Handout photo) Vera, for his part, was shocked after witnessing firsthand the efforts of US in protecting its allies despite going back and forth to Guam and Philippines for four years now. Vera served the US Air Force from 1997 to 1999 where he first learned the sport of wrestling. During that span, the 42-year-old Vera trained at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before transitioning to MMA. “You hear these stories and you’re almost crying because it’s about passion, and family and about connecting with each other and staying connected and helping each other,” Vera said, who is set to defend his title against former Olympic wrestler Arjan Bhullar in ONE: Infinity 2 on May 29 in Manila.