Load up on the underdog.

Reese Andy likes his odds.

The former Wyoming All-American wrestler is an overwhelming long shot in his UFC debut tonight against Brandon Vera according to the experts, though that might be a product of merely being an unknown commodity on mixed martial arts' biggest stage.

He's ready to provide an education at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas

"Other wrestlers have told me that they have me online as a 95-percent underdog, and I'm thinking, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" Andy said. "I'd like to believe I can handle this guy in the ring, but he's got to make the weight and he's got to come off two losses.

"I've been the underdog in my career going into big competitions and big meets, and when I got into this sport people didn't know who I was or expect me to win, so it's more about proving people wrong."

It's also about proving to himself that he can handle the spotlight inside the Octagon.

Andy's pieced together a solid MMA career since earning All-America honors three times with the Cowboys in the mid-1990s, but no bout has come close to matching the importance of a co-main event for the most successful promotion in the industry.

He's never even been on a UFC card, and after spending more than a year outside the cage recovering from surgeries on his knee and elbow and waiting for an opportunity, there's just as much nervousness as there is motivation.

"Well, I'd probably say that I am more nervous because of the magnitude of UFC," Andy said. "More people are familiar with that one, and I haven't been in the ring in over a year, so there's a little bit of rust there. But to have those surgeries knocked out relatively close to each other was good.

"I've regrouped and been training hard, sparring hard, but it's a little bit tougher when you get to 35 years old."

Aside from betting slips, the decision tonight could also settle some personal matters for Andy -- like how much more punishment can that 35-year-old body take?

More important, it'll help determine whether a guy that's made a living on the mat can compete at the top level of a sport that takes wrestling and adds several more physical layers of violence on top of it.

"You know, Vera's tough," Andy said. "He's got some good solid wins, but he's coming down to 205 (pounds from heavyweight) because he feels like he's a smaller heavyweight. I look at it like, if I'm going to fight on that level, might as well fight the best guy to find out if it's for me or if I should keep going forward or not.

"I don't want to fight anybody that's trying to get their second fight. I want to fight guys that have the name and recognition."

In the process he's planning on establishing his own reputation.

And answering any of the experts' doubts -- maybe even some Andy might have.

"Having the surgeries both knocked our relatively close to each other, not taking some fights that were offered to me over the last three to six months, kind of waiting for something bigger and better, it's paid off," Andy said. "Would it have to be a win to keep going? That would probably solidify it the most.

"I don't think people judge competitions by anything else besides winning and losing."

Particularly the people cashing in tickets on a long-shot winner.

Contact sports reporter Austin Ward at (307) 266-0634 or austin.ward@trib.com.

INSIDE TRACKER

UFC Tracker

TODAY: Reese Andy vs. Brandon Vera, at The Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Andy (7-1); Vera (8-2).

TV: Spike

WARM WELCOME: Andy will make his UFC debut with a co-main event bout against Vera, who dropped down to 205 pounds to face the three-time All-American wrestler at Wyoming.

HE SAID IT: "I look at it like, if I'm going to fight on that level, might as well fight the best guy to find out if it's for me or if I should keep going forward or not." -- Andy.