- Jul 30, 2005
- 11,643
- 5
Bit aggressive there? Allow me to retort.
I've been watching UFC since the early days. Randy Couture is definitely not overrated. (Steven Gerrard is overrated. John Terry is overrated). Just ask the bookies. He is probably the most inspirational man in any sport today. And a great game-planner to boot. That 16-8 record is very misleading. Both the heavyweights he lost to (Barnett and Rodruiguez) had drug allegations following them like a bad smell. And Couture has improved since those days in any case.
The 2 losses to Liddell were when Liddell was absolutely at his peak (and the first loss involved a thumb to the eye). The second loss was when he was going through a messy divorce.
However, never mind his defeats: look at the victories
Vitor Belfort - The Phenom. World Class BJJ and whirlwind fists. Couture was supposed to be a formality for him - Couture pounded him out, costing the bookies a fortune. I watched the fight - the commentators were pretty much lost for words.
Pedro Rizzo (2 fights) - an absolutely devastating striker (ask Andre Arlovski whom he smashed to pieces with a simple one-two). People again thought that he'd destroy Randy. The first fight Randy edged a decision. They thought the rematch he'd win easily - but Rizzo lost again, by stoppage.
Ortiz (at LHW) - at the time he was a scary bastard and was taking the game to a new level with his brutal ground and pound, great strength, speed and decent striking. Couture (heavy underdog) schooled him - and Ortiz never regained his edge.
Liddell (LHW) - this was the first fight. Again a big underdog, Randy not only beat Chuck but outstruck him on the feet for most of the fight before stopping him on the ground
Sylvia (HW). He comes out of retirement to fight the standout best HW at the time. Massive underdog. Tim Sylvia knocked 7 shades of shit out of Rodriguez (who'd beaten Randy a few years before), Arlovski twice, and was on the longest winning streak in heavyweight history. Randy had just lost twice to Chuck and was coming out of retirement. The reult was a 5-round demolition job
Gonzaga (HW) - This guy was a world class BJJ practitioner who had just almost kicked the head right off Cro-Cop (the highlight reel of highlight reels) An absolute beast whom everyone thought might actually kill Couture (spotting a trend here?) Randy dished him the biggest beating of his career from which he's not really recovered.
Lesnar only has 3 MMA fights but was a decorated National wrestler - and is regarded as the strongest and fastest heavyweight. He moves like a middleweight. He had to cut 30 pounds to make the weight limit at heavyweight. His punching power and accuracy impressed many in his last 2 fights also - he has improved a hell of a lot in this area. The first fight he was on the verge of beating Mir (an ex-champion who never actually lost his belt in the ring. Mir said he was close to losing and felt Lesnar was an absolute animal. He did catch him with a very good knee-bar, no disgrace for Lesnar considering it was his first UFC fight - and possible the worst match-up for him bar Minotauro).
In his second fight he fought Herring. This guy is a fucking tough bastard. He fought Fedor (and survived an onslaught), Noguiera 3 times (and nearly finished him the 3rd time. He's beaten loads of contenders in Pride, and won a deserved decision against the dangerous striker Chiek Kongo. Notably, Kongo (ex K1) wasn't keen on going toe-toe with him having felt his punches. Herring is no joke. But Lesnar just beat the shit out of him for 3 rounds, and this time used his experience from his first loss to not get carried away and suffer a potential submission. The speed of his puches, a narrowly missed flying knee and takedowns was nothing short of freakish. He doesn't need submissions he just needs to know enough not to get caught in them.
Comparing him to Kimbo Slice is, I hope just a very bad joke.
The one we all wanted was Fedor Randy but that may never happen. But this is just as intriguing and the bookmakers are split down the middle. The most intriguing aspect is that Randy may not be able to use his trump cards (the clinch, takedowns, raw strength) against someone who is just as good a wrestler, and stronger and faster than him. The MMA forums (mmaweekly and sherdog for example, not to mention the various blogs and podcasts (e.g. Beatdown, Savage Dog Show, Ultimate Podcast) are viewing this as the biggest MMA fight in history). Guess that's not impressive enough for you though.
Finally, on the other cards - I'm also looking forward to Stephenson Florian.
Plus Gonzaga and TUF winner Sadollah (who has been conspicuously absent since his win) are definitely worth watching.
They can't fit more than one 5-rounder in due to PPV timing restrictions. I feel the 2 main fights they have are very very evenly matched. Seems there's no pleasing some people, however.
It wasn’t meant to come across as aggressive at all. So sorry if you got that impression!
I don’t see how you can say that Couture is NOT overrated and Gerrard and Terry are (in their respective sports of course!). Gerrard turned the CL final on its head and has been Liverpool’s best player for some years now. An inspirational captain who gets stuck in and Liverpool have been a driving force in the PL for years! Name a better all round English central midfielder – Lampard comes closest and choosing between them is hard.
Terry, again, been a rock for Chelsea and helped them to consecutive league titles and an FA Cup win. Like Gerrard, an inspirational captain who will fight tooth and nail for the cause! I don’t see how you can say both these players are overrated.
However, an MMA fighter with a 16-8 record is the best heavyweight around? He’s old and fought an old Tim Sylvia to win back the HW title belt. Now I’m not saying Couture isn’t a very good fighter, because he is. He’s just not the best around at the moment and been over-hyped by patriotic Americans. Josh Barnett, Rodrigo Noguiera, Frank Mir and upcoming HW’s like dos Santos would beat Couture.
I never said Heath Herring was no joke either... he’s a capable HW fighter but nowhere near the best! Fought Nog 3 times and LOST 3 times. Again, not a particularly clean record that stands out much. I wouldn’t say he was anywhere near being the top heavyweight fighters in the UFC, let alone the world.
Lesnar is a hype-train. He’s a big, beefy puncher. Perfect match-up with Couture who also likes to stand toe to toe and punch. Lesnar will win but only because the UFC has matched it up for this to happen. They know if they stick Lesnar against someone more technical he will lose as he’s not agile enough and regardless of what you say, too slow (and consequently Mr. White losing out on his cash cow!). He’s only had what, 3 MMA fights, so not exactly an experienced seasoned MMA pro. Hardly the sort of ingredients for one of the best UFC fights ever.... pretty disrespectful to some of the other fights in the past. I actually will be surprised if the fight goes beyond the first round. I think it’ll be TKO stoppage.
I’d much prefer to see Kimbo vs Lesnar for the ‘freak’ hyped up show.
This fight will be like some sort of bar brawl. Lesnar doing only what he knows and what he’s good at – swinging punches and trying to throw Couture about and Couture giving everything he’s got in his ageing body to defend being taken down and laid on. I prefer to see more technical fights which incorporate some degree of skill rather than holding, laying on and throwing the odd haymaker.
With regards to Fedor and Couture. Although both now getting on a bit, Fedor would destroy Couture. I personally think that Fedor is still currently the best heavyweight fighter in the world. The only reason I wanted Fedor to fight Couture is because it would take a win over someone like Couture who is worshipped by most American MMA followers for Fedor to get the recognition he deserves.
Fedor has proved himself against fighters much larger than him and also against fighters more agile and technical than him.