We're just two days away from what many are calling the biggest fight in the history of MMA: Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar at UFC 91.
To get you ready for the big event, we'll be chatting about Couture-Lesnar and, if you so desire, all of Saturday night's other fights:
Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson
Gabriel Gonzaga vs.Josh Hendricks
Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory
Jorge Gurgel vs. Aaron Riley
Jeremy Stephens vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Mark Bocek vs. Alvin Robinson
Matt Brown vs. Ryan Thomas
We'll also have a UFC 91 live blog on Saturday night. We'll be starting today's chat at noon Eastern.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Monson: Lesnar is going to win the fight against Couture.
Fighters.com spoke with “Snowman” Jeff Monson (24-8) as he prepares for a week of fights in December when he will have the opportunity to redeem his 2002 loss to “Suave” Ricco Rodriguez (30-8) and then venture to Switzerland just days later to compete in the World Grappling Championship.
Fighters.com: Jeff, the last time we spoke was just before your win over “Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr (14-9) at Vengeance Fighting Championship in Concord, north of Charlotte, 27 September. You have a fight coming up at Mixed Fight Alliance in Miami 13 December against Ricco Rodriguez. It’s a rematch of a fight you originally lost at UFC 35 in 2002. What are your thoughts on facing Rodriguez again?
Jeff Monson: Well, I like Ricco. He’s a good fighter and a big name; but, I’d like to get back at him for losing to him the first time. [laughing] Hopefully it’ll be a different result this time around. But I don’t really have revenge in mind or anything. It’s been seven years or whatever. But, I think I definitely put a lot more into my fighting than I think he does, so, you know, I should to go out and get the win.
Fighters.com: You’re on a two-fight win streak in recent months with the Kerr victory and a win over “Titan” Jimmy Ambriz (12-8) at Beatdown in New Town, northwest of Bismark, 11 October. Where do you think a victory over Rodriguez will put your career?
Jeff Monson: Well, I need to win a few more in a row. So, I want to take them, you know, like the old cliché, “one fight at a time.” I’m taking this particular fight very seriously. Ricco’s a big name. And he kicked my ass before. It was probably one of the worse beatdowns I ever experienced in a fight from start to finish. [laughing] So, I know he’s capable of doing well.
Ricco has fought a lot of big names. He’s beat about everybody and, even the fights he’s lost were to top fighters, you know, so Ricco’s tough. I just think I need to win every fight right now. My career cannot take another loss at this point. Saying that, I am taking this fight very serious. I know I need to win a few in a row to get a shot at a title somewhere or get back to the top again.
Fighters.com: Will a win in December take you back to Sengoku in Japan? The last loss on your record was to Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight ”Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (19-5) at Sengoku in Tokyo 18 May.
Jeff Monson: Yeah, well, I’m fighting in Sengoku in March regardless. Win or lose the fight with Ricco Rodriguez.
Fighters.com: There’s been some drama on the business side of things in the world of mixed martial arts recently. What are your thoughts on the demise of EliteXC?
[Note: EliteXC maintains that it's parent company, ProElite, has not filed for bankruptcy.]
Jeff Monson: I think Elite’s going under is good for mixed martial arts. I don’t think they were ever good for the sport in the first place. They were out there selling sex and violence and promoting fighters that did not belong there. I mean, Kimbo? I don’t want to say he was a victim in the matter. He participated along with the entire situation. And, Kimbo is a legitimate fighter, but he’s not a legitimate name to base an entire organization around. So, when he lost, the whole show went under.
Elite’s television commercials and marketing were not good for MMA either. They were trying to promote things like WWE or something. Which is fine in its own right, because people know what they are watching when they watch WWE. But its not fine when you have people legitimately training and fighting in an MMA event. You know, they had some really good fighters on the cards. Gina Carano and Robbie Lawler and so on. And all of these fighters got lost in the hoopla and the way Elite was promoting its shows. Even a lot of the fighters on the actual cards questioned what EliteXC was doing.
Fighters.com: There’s a big buzz this week over UFC 91. And, of course, there is a divide amongst fans over the heavyweight title fight. One side of the spectrum says Brock Lesnar (2-1) doesn’t deserve the fight this weekend; and, another side says Lesnar is the future of the sport. As a veteran of the UFC yourself, what are your thoughts on Brock Lesnar getting a title shot so soon in his career and who do you think will win the bout between him and fourth-ranked UFC Champion ”Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)?
Jeff Monson: Well, Lesnar does not deserve the shot yet. Let’s see, he won his first MMA fight, then he lost his first fight in the UFC, and then won his second fight. So, he’s one and one in the UFC. I mean, he lost by submission within a couple of minutes and then won a decision. And now he’s fighting for a UFC title. It’s all based on potential, I guess. He’s a physically immense guy and really strong and powerful. He’s training in a good camp too. So no, he doesn’t deserve the shot. But, saying that, I do think Lesnar is going to win the fight against Couture.
This is just one of those fights that’s a match-up nightmare for Couture. Randy normally wins against the fence. He clinches against the fence. He grounds-and-pounds his opponents against the fence, wears them out, and then takes their hearts away. Then, he gets them on the ground and finishes the fight. It’s pretty much standard; and, Randy is so damned good at it that an opponent can know he’s going to do these things and Randy will still get away with it.
Randy is one of the smartest fighters out there. Every time I have picked Randy, he always ends up winning. But, I don’t think he’s going to win this time against Lesnar.
You know, if Randy does win the fight, it’s because he is in great shape. I am sure he’ll be in top shape. And he could win maybe by outlasting Lesnar, making him tired, and getting on top of him. You know, nobody’s seen Lesner on his back. So, who knows what can happen there. I think if Randy gets him down, he can possibly make some things happen.
Randy’s not a big striker though. He’s okay. But Lesnar’s shown that he can punch. Randy’s not a submission guy like Frank Mir either. You know Frank was getting his ass kicked but was still able to pull off a submission on Lesnar and survive.
On paper, it simply looks like a really tough fight for Randy. I don’t know how Randy wins other than gassing out Lesnar, outlasting him, and then taking it to him when he’s got him tired. But, if Lesnar is in shape, it’s a match-up nightmare for Randy.
Fighters.com: Well of course Randy has been criticized in the past for coming up short against larger heavyweights, but he did very well against ninth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3). And Gabriel Gonzaga is a large heavyweight that was just coming off of a devastating win over “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-7-2) when they faced one another.
Jeff Monson: Yeah sure, but I mean, Gonzaga is a different fighter. Gonzaga’s not a wrestler. He’s a big, strong guy, but he’s not a wrestler. I have seen Gonzaga at Abu Dhabi; and, he pulled guard on everyone. Lesnar as a wrestler, right now at his age, is probably a notch higher than Randy or at least the same level. And Lesnar’s going to be at least thirty or forty pounds heavier going into the fight. So, Randy’s not going to put him up against the fence for any length of time or ground-and -pound him there. So, that’s what I am talking about when I mention the match-up problems for Randy.
The things that Randy does well to win fights, he’s not going to be able to do in this fight. So, Randy has to figure out a different way to win; and, the different ways to win this fight are not Randy’s fortes. You know, knocking Lesnar out or getting a submission, things like that. So, that’s what we are looking at here. On paper, how can Randy win?
But, like I said earlier, if Randy does pull out a win, I think it’s because he outlasts Lesnar. You know, maybe Lesnar gets tired; and, Randy gets on top and sinks a choke from the top. Or maybe Randy punches him out from the top; and, the referee stops the fight or something.
Randy is the smartest guy out there, but he’s got to know on paper that he’s not going to be able to put Lesnar up against the fence and do what he normally does. It will be interesting to see what Randy comes out with. Certainly, if anyone can do it, Randy can. He’s done it time-and-time again. But, it’s going to be a tough one.
Fighters.com: Since we are talking about future UFC title fights, I have an interesting question for you. Early in your career you lost a decision to current UFC and Fighters.com Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4). There’s a reasonably historic light heavyweight title fight coming up that features two previous winners of The Ultimate Fighter reality show when Forrest defends the title against fourth-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (12-0-1). Who do you think will win this fight?
Jeff Monson: I think Forrest will win. Rashad has looked absolutely fantastic lately; but, if Forrest fights and trains the way he has for his previous fights the past year or so, I say Forrest will win. If Forrest has not let winning the title change his approach to training and fighting, then I think he keeps the title. And I don’t know how really. Probably a decision.
Fighters.com: Some analysts are saying that Forrest might win a war of attrition by wearing Rashad down and landing a submission in the late rounds.
Jeff Monson: Yeah, maybe. I mean, they are both tough-minded guys. It will be a very interesting to watch. I think Forrest wins in a pretty close fight. I mean, I think the odds on that one are going to be really tight. But I think Forrest wins because he trains so damned hard. [laughing]
Fighters.com: A good friend and teammate of yours and current WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Thomas Brown (15-4) just shocked “California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-2). What are your thoughts on this fight and how things happened?
Jeff Monson: I thought Mike was going to win a decision. But, what I mean by winning a decision is that I thought Mike was going to win most of the rounds. Mike has just improved so much. He’s beat a lot of good fighters. I think he’s just flown under the radar for a long time.
Mike has obviously been working on his boxing. He just doesn’t get a lot of credit. Most people, except for his teammates at American Top Team, don’t know how good Mike really is. Now everybody knows. He’s a nice guy and a good teammate. I couldn’t be happier for him.
Mike’s the kind of guy to have as a teammate that you’re happy to see win the title. I mean, I am always happy to see a teammate win but Mike’s got a special place with me. You know, he tore his bicep over a year ago. So, he’s coming off a complete bicep tear where he was in a cast for a while. And now he’s completely repaired and won a bunch of fights in a row to earn the shot at Urijah Faber. And he won it.
When Mike tore his bicep, he never gave up. He didn’t quit. He was working out a few days later, working his legs and stuff. He was immediately trying to find out what he could do to get better. He always maintains a positive attitude. He always has a positive attitude towards everyone on the team.
Mike helps everyone out as well. He drills with people extra and so on. Mike is the epitome of a great teammate. I think everyone on the team is really happy for him to win the title. He deserves it. He’s worked really hard. And he’s just a great guy.
Fighters.com: Before we part, I have a question about the World Grappling Championship in Switzerland. Honestly I was surprised to discover that you are competing in a grappling tournament just days after your fight against Ricco Rodriguez in December. Can you explain the tournament a bit and how you earned a spot?
Jeff Monson: Yeah, it’s exactly what happened last year. [laughing] I lost a fight to “Rock” Pedro Rizzo by technical knockout. [laughing] I had nineteen stitches on my left eye and then went to Turkey the following weekend to compete in the World Grappling Championship. Hopefully this year I’ll come in a little better shape than last year. [laughing]
The United States team is set. We’ve already had the national tournament. The winners and the guys who came in second are part of the U.S. team that go over to Switzerland. There’s fifty other countries involved: Russia, Turkey, Japan, England, Switzerland, Ireland, and so on. The place winners from these countries’ national tournaments make up their teams as well. It’s like an Olympic games for grappling, so to speak. It’s set up just like the Olympics, similar to how wrestling is done.
Myself and Brandon Ruiz are representing the U.S. in the heavyweight division. Brandon took second place in the nationals. So, the top two guys are going over to the tournament. Brandon and I can possibly meet in the finals. I mean, if we meet it will only be in the finals because we’ll start at opposite ends of the brackets. So yeah, the top two guys in the U.S. are going over to Switzerland to compete.
Fighters.com: Jeff, thanks for the enthusiastic interview. Best of luck in your upcoming fights.
Fighters.com: Jeff, the last time we spoke was just before your win over “Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr (14-9) at Vengeance Fighting Championship in Concord, north of Charlotte, 27 September. You have a fight coming up at Mixed Fight Alliance in Miami 13 December against Ricco Rodriguez. It’s a rematch of a fight you originally lost at UFC 35 in 2002. What are your thoughts on facing Rodriguez again?
Jeff Monson: Well, I like Ricco. He’s a good fighter and a big name; but, I’d like to get back at him for losing to him the first time. [laughing] Hopefully it’ll be a different result this time around. But I don’t really have revenge in mind or anything. It’s been seven years or whatever. But, I think I definitely put a lot more into my fighting than I think he does, so, you know, I should to go out and get the win.
Fighters.com: You’re on a two-fight win streak in recent months with the Kerr victory and a win over “Titan” Jimmy Ambriz (12-8) at Beatdown in New Town, northwest of Bismark, 11 October. Where do you think a victory over Rodriguez will put your career?
Jeff Monson: Well, I need to win a few more in a row. So, I want to take them, you know, like the old cliché, “one fight at a time.” I’m taking this particular fight very seriously. Ricco’s a big name. And he kicked my ass before. It was probably one of the worse beatdowns I ever experienced in a fight from start to finish. [laughing] So, I know he’s capable of doing well.
Ricco has fought a lot of big names. He’s beat about everybody and, even the fights he’s lost were to top fighters, you know, so Ricco’s tough. I just think I need to win every fight right now. My career cannot take another loss at this point. Saying that, I am taking this fight very serious. I know I need to win a few in a row to get a shot at a title somewhere or get back to the top again.
Fighters.com: Will a win in December take you back to Sengoku in Japan? The last loss on your record was to Fighters.com’s seventh-ranked heavyweight ”Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (19-5) at Sengoku in Tokyo 18 May.
Jeff Monson: Yeah, well, I’m fighting in Sengoku in March regardless. Win or lose the fight with Ricco Rodriguez.
Fighters.com: There’s been some drama on the business side of things in the world of mixed martial arts recently. What are your thoughts on the demise of EliteXC?
[Note: EliteXC maintains that it's parent company, ProElite, has not filed for bankruptcy.]
Jeff Monson: I think Elite’s going under is good for mixed martial arts. I don’t think they were ever good for the sport in the first place. They were out there selling sex and violence and promoting fighters that did not belong there. I mean, Kimbo? I don’t want to say he was a victim in the matter. He participated along with the entire situation. And, Kimbo is a legitimate fighter, but he’s not a legitimate name to base an entire organization around. So, when he lost, the whole show went under.
Elite’s television commercials and marketing were not good for MMA either. They were trying to promote things like WWE or something. Which is fine in its own right, because people know what they are watching when they watch WWE. But its not fine when you have people legitimately training and fighting in an MMA event. You know, they had some really good fighters on the cards. Gina Carano and Robbie Lawler and so on. And all of these fighters got lost in the hoopla and the way Elite was promoting its shows. Even a lot of the fighters on the actual cards questioned what EliteXC was doing.
Fighters.com: There’s a big buzz this week over UFC 91. And, of course, there is a divide amongst fans over the heavyweight title fight. One side of the spectrum says Brock Lesnar (2-1) doesn’t deserve the fight this weekend; and, another side says Lesnar is the future of the sport. As a veteran of the UFC yourself, what are your thoughts on Brock Lesnar getting a title shot so soon in his career and who do you think will win the bout between him and fourth-ranked UFC Champion ”Natural” Randy Couture (16-8)?
Jeff Monson: Well, Lesnar does not deserve the shot yet. Let’s see, he won his first MMA fight, then he lost his first fight in the UFC, and then won his second fight. So, he’s one and one in the UFC. I mean, he lost by submission within a couple of minutes and then won a decision. And now he’s fighting for a UFC title. It’s all based on potential, I guess. He’s a physically immense guy and really strong and powerful. He’s training in a good camp too. So no, he doesn’t deserve the shot. But, saying that, I do think Lesnar is going to win the fight against Couture.
This is just one of those fights that’s a match-up nightmare for Couture. Randy normally wins against the fence. He clinches against the fence. He grounds-and-pounds his opponents against the fence, wears them out, and then takes their hearts away. Then, he gets them on the ground and finishes the fight. It’s pretty much standard; and, Randy is so damned good at it that an opponent can know he’s going to do these things and Randy will still get away with it.
Randy is one of the smartest fighters out there. Every time I have picked Randy, he always ends up winning. But, I don’t think he’s going to win this time against Lesnar.
You know, if Randy does win the fight, it’s because he is in great shape. I am sure he’ll be in top shape. And he could win maybe by outlasting Lesnar, making him tired, and getting on top of him. You know, nobody’s seen Lesner on his back. So, who knows what can happen there. I think if Randy gets him down, he can possibly make some things happen.
Randy’s not a big striker though. He’s okay. But Lesnar’s shown that he can punch. Randy’s not a submission guy like Frank Mir either. You know Frank was getting his ass kicked but was still able to pull off a submission on Lesnar and survive.
On paper, it simply looks like a really tough fight for Randy. I don’t know how Randy wins other than gassing out Lesnar, outlasting him, and then taking it to him when he’s got him tired. But, if Lesnar is in shape, it’s a match-up nightmare for Randy.
Fighters.com: Well of course Randy has been criticized in the past for coming up short against larger heavyweights, but he did very well against ninth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3). And Gabriel Gonzaga is a large heavyweight that was just coming off of a devastating win over “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-7-2) when they faced one another.
Jeff Monson: Yeah sure, but I mean, Gonzaga is a different fighter. Gonzaga’s not a wrestler. He’s a big, strong guy, but he’s not a wrestler. I have seen Gonzaga at Abu Dhabi; and, he pulled guard on everyone. Lesnar as a wrestler, right now at his age, is probably a notch higher than Randy or at least the same level. And Lesnar’s going to be at least thirty or forty pounds heavier going into the fight. So, Randy’s not going to put him up against the fence for any length of time or ground-and -pound him there. So, that’s what I am talking about when I mention the match-up problems for Randy.
The things that Randy does well to win fights, he’s not going to be able to do in this fight. So, Randy has to figure out a different way to win; and, the different ways to win this fight are not Randy’s fortes. You know, knocking Lesnar out or getting a submission, things like that. So, that’s what we are looking at here. On paper, how can Randy win?
But, like I said earlier, if Randy does pull out a win, I think it’s because he outlasts Lesnar. You know, maybe Lesnar gets tired; and, Randy gets on top and sinks a choke from the top. Or maybe Randy punches him out from the top; and, the referee stops the fight or something.
Randy is the smartest guy out there, but he’s got to know on paper that he’s not going to be able to put Lesnar up against the fence and do what he normally does. It will be interesting to see what Randy comes out with. Certainly, if anyone can do it, Randy can. He’s done it time-and-time again. But, it’s going to be a tough one.
Fighters.com: Since we are talking about future UFC title fights, I have an interesting question for you. Early in your career you lost a decision to current UFC and Fighters.com Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4). There’s a reasonably historic light heavyweight title fight coming up that features two previous winners of The Ultimate Fighter reality show when Forrest defends the title against fourth-ranked “Sugar” Rashad Evans (12-0-1). Who do you think will win this fight?
Jeff Monson: I think Forrest will win. Rashad has looked absolutely fantastic lately; but, if Forrest fights and trains the way he has for his previous fights the past year or so, I say Forrest will win. If Forrest has not let winning the title change his approach to training and fighting, then I think he keeps the title. And I don’t know how really. Probably a decision.
Fighters.com: Some analysts are saying that Forrest might win a war of attrition by wearing Rashad down and landing a submission in the late rounds.
Jeff Monson: Yeah, maybe. I mean, they are both tough-minded guys. It will be a very interesting to watch. I think Forrest wins in a pretty close fight. I mean, I think the odds on that one are going to be really tight. But I think Forrest wins because he trains so damned hard. [laughing]
Fighters.com: A good friend and teammate of yours and current WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Thomas Brown (15-4) just shocked “California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-2). What are your thoughts on this fight and how things happened?
Jeff Monson: I thought Mike was going to win a decision. But, what I mean by winning a decision is that I thought Mike was going to win most of the rounds. Mike has just improved so much. He’s beat a lot of good fighters. I think he’s just flown under the radar for a long time.
Mike has obviously been working on his boxing. He just doesn’t get a lot of credit. Most people, except for his teammates at American Top Team, don’t know how good Mike really is. Now everybody knows. He’s a nice guy and a good teammate. I couldn’t be happier for him.
Mike’s the kind of guy to have as a teammate that you’re happy to see win the title. I mean, I am always happy to see a teammate win but Mike’s got a special place with me. You know, he tore his bicep over a year ago. So, he’s coming off a complete bicep tear where he was in a cast for a while. And now he’s completely repaired and won a bunch of fights in a row to earn the shot at Urijah Faber. And he won it.
When Mike tore his bicep, he never gave up. He didn’t quit. He was working out a few days later, working his legs and stuff. He was immediately trying to find out what he could do to get better. He always maintains a positive attitude. He always has a positive attitude towards everyone on the team.
Mike helps everyone out as well. He drills with people extra and so on. Mike is the epitome of a great teammate. I think everyone on the team is really happy for him to win the title. He deserves it. He’s worked really hard. And he’s just a great guy.
Fighters.com: Before we part, I have a question about the World Grappling Championship in Switzerland. Honestly I was surprised to discover that you are competing in a grappling tournament just days after your fight against Ricco Rodriguez in December. Can you explain the tournament a bit and how you earned a spot?
Jeff Monson: Yeah, it’s exactly what happened last year. [laughing] I lost a fight to “Rock” Pedro Rizzo by technical knockout. [laughing] I had nineteen stitches on my left eye and then went to Turkey the following weekend to compete in the World Grappling Championship. Hopefully this year I’ll come in a little better shape than last year. [laughing]
The United States team is set. We’ve already had the national tournament. The winners and the guys who came in second are part of the U.S. team that go over to Switzerland. There’s fifty other countries involved: Russia, Turkey, Japan, England, Switzerland, Ireland, and so on. The place winners from these countries’ national tournaments make up their teams as well. It’s like an Olympic games for grappling, so to speak. It’s set up just like the Olympics, similar to how wrestling is done.
Myself and Brandon Ruiz are representing the U.S. in the heavyweight division. Brandon took second place in the nationals. So, the top two guys are going over to the tournament. Brandon and I can possibly meet in the finals. I mean, if we meet it will only be in the finals because we’ll start at opposite ends of the brackets. So yeah, the top two guys in the U.S. are going over to Switzerland to compete.
Fighters.com: Jeff, thanks for the enthusiastic interview. Best of luck in your upcoming fights.
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP: Couture, Lesnar set for 'big' fight
Saturday night's Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture at the MGM Grand is being billed as the biggest fight in the history of the young organization.
Big is the operative word.
Lesnar must cut down to the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds before Friday's weigh-ins, but by the time the two enter the cage he probably will outweigh the 225-pound champion by at least 50 pounds.
"His size provides some interesting problems for me that I have to try to solve," Couture said. "That made it an intriguing matchup for me."
Despite a 15-month layoff from competition mostly because of a lawsuit he filed against the UFC in an attempt to get out of his contract, Couture remains the heavyweight champion.
With the legal issues settled, Saturday's fight is the first bout of what essentially amounts to a four-man tournament to determine the undisputed titleholder.
On Dec. 27, interim champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will fight former champion Frank Mir, and the winners of the two bouts will meet sometime in 2009.
In order to get to that point, the 45-year-old Couture first must beat the 31-year-old Lesnar, who is getting a shot at the belt despite a 1-1 UFC record.
Though Lesnar is best known for his time as a star attraction for World Wrestling Entertainment, he was an accomplished wrestler at the University of Minnesota, where he won an NCAA title in 2000 and placed second in 1999. But he made his mixed martial arts debut just last year.
Couture's head trainer, Shawn Tompkins, thinks his fighter's experience will carry him to victory. "He's big. He's athletic. He's young. He's powerful," Tompkins said of Lesnar. "But he's not Randy Couture, and he never will be."
Tompkins brought four large wrestlers into camp for Couture to train against on a daily basis. "We were able to see the mistakes he made against them and correct (those)," Tompkins said.
As for strategy, Couture plans to test Lesnar's ability to handle adversity. "We haven't seen him on his back, and I certainly have the ability to do that to him," Couture said.
Lesnar, a native of Webster, S.D., thinks his size will be an advantage but knows Couture will be ready.
"I certainly wouldn't like going against a guy 50 pounds bigger than me, but Randy is a smart fighter," Lesnar said. "The guy's been training to fight me for 10 weeks. He's proved himself over and over.
"You can't underestimate Randy Couture."
After training the champion for about two years, Tompkins came to a similar conclusion.
"One thing about Randy is you never bet against him," Tompkins said.
Big is the operative word.
Lesnar must cut down to the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds before Friday's weigh-ins, but by the time the two enter the cage he probably will outweigh the 225-pound champion by at least 50 pounds.
"His size provides some interesting problems for me that I have to try to solve," Couture said. "That made it an intriguing matchup for me."
Despite a 15-month layoff from competition mostly because of a lawsuit he filed against the UFC in an attempt to get out of his contract, Couture remains the heavyweight champion.
With the legal issues settled, Saturday's fight is the first bout of what essentially amounts to a four-man tournament to determine the undisputed titleholder.
On Dec. 27, interim champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will fight former champion Frank Mir, and the winners of the two bouts will meet sometime in 2009.
In order to get to that point, the 45-year-old Couture first must beat the 31-year-old Lesnar, who is getting a shot at the belt despite a 1-1 UFC record.
Though Lesnar is best known for his time as a star attraction for World Wrestling Entertainment, he was an accomplished wrestler at the University of Minnesota, where he won an NCAA title in 2000 and placed second in 1999. But he made his mixed martial arts debut just last year.
Couture's head trainer, Shawn Tompkins, thinks his fighter's experience will carry him to victory. "He's big. He's athletic. He's young. He's powerful," Tompkins said of Lesnar. "But he's not Randy Couture, and he never will be."
Tompkins brought four large wrestlers into camp for Couture to train against on a daily basis. "We were able to see the mistakes he made against them and correct (those)," Tompkins said.
As for strategy, Couture plans to test Lesnar's ability to handle adversity. "We haven't seen him on his back, and I certainly have the ability to do that to him," Couture said.
Lesnar, a native of Webster, S.D., thinks his size will be an advantage but knows Couture will be ready.
"I certainly wouldn't like going against a guy 50 pounds bigger than me, but Randy is a smart fighter," Lesnar said. "The guy's been training to fight me for 10 weeks. He's proved himself over and over.
"You can't underestimate Randy Couture."
After training the champion for about two years, Tompkins came to a similar conclusion.
"One thing about Randy is you never bet against him," Tompkins said.
Couture vs Lesnar: Will the First Round "Tests of Takedowns" Determine the Winner?
Years ago, a pro wrestling magazine published an article previewing an expected series of matches in the late-80s between strongmen Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff. The writer speculated that early in the bouts, the two grapplers would interlock their fingers and engage in “tests of strength.” While relatively insignificant contests in and of themselves, the thinking went that they would be predictive of the results of the matches. Both men relied on their muscles. Whoever had the stronger muscles early would ultimately prevail.
Of course, the two wrestlers’ physical strength did not actually determine the outcome of their bouts. But flash-forward 20 years to MMA, pro wrestling’s kissing-cousin, where two of a different sort of wrestlers are about to square-off. Randy Couture was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and three-time Olympic team alternate; Brock Lesnar, a Division I National Champion. For the two combatants, it will not be a test of strength, but a test of takedown ability. The question is: will the winner of the early takedown battles be the winner of the fight?
To answer this query, one needs to look at instances in both men’s MMA careers where they faced competitors with credible wrestling backgrounds. Lesnar’s stint in MMA has been so brief that he has engaged no fellow wrestlers. Couture, on the other hand, has fought several men who fit the bill. In their first match, former Division I wrestler Chuck Liddell could not keep Couture off of him. Couture took Liddell down early and frequently, with relative ease. While he smacked around a befuddled Liddell standing, he did the most damage (and finished the fight) with ground and pound. Versus junior college All-American-turned-Division I wrestler Tito Ortiz, Couture dominated the wrestling for the entire contest. It was the same story against Division I National Champion Mike Van Arsdale, who Couture outwrestled early until securing a third round choke.
The one exception to this trend was Couture’s bout with Ricco Rodriguez. Rodriguez was an accomplished wrestler in the state of New York in high school. Couture slammed and battered him for two-and-a-half rounds before Rodriguez came back and repeatedly took down and elbowed Couture en route to a fifth round stoppage. Still, this example has to be considered an outlier. In his comeback, Rodriguez displayed as much heart and grit as almost anyone in MMA history. Most fighters would not have been capable of rebounding to score a victory after sustaining such an assault.
What about the fights where Couture lost the early takedown struggles? In his rematch and rubber match with Liddell, it meant imminent defeat: Liddell dismissed Couture in one round in the former and two rounds in the latter. However, against two-time Division I National Champion Kevin Randleman, Couture found himself losing the takedown battle in the first two rounds. But in the third, he wrestled Randleman down and finished him.
What does this all tell us about Saturday’s fight? If Couture outwrestles Lesnar early, the odds swing decisively in his favor. Against other fighters with wrestling backgrounds whom he took down quickly, Couture has been victorious in every outing but one, and in that one versus Rodriguez, his opponent not only possessed a level of jiu-jitsu skill Lesnar does not (Rodriguez was a world class submission grappler), but also staged one of the great comebacks in UFC history. While Lesnar is doubtlessly mentally tough, he has never before been on his back in a fight with strikes raining down upon him. He may have trained for such situations, but experiencing something for the first time in a live fight is a lot different than encountering it in the gym.
What if Lesnar outwrestles Couture early? With his long arms and punching power (as evidenced by his dropping Frank Mir and somersaulting Heath Herring with his fists), he might be able to employ a sprawl and brawl strategy like the one Liddell followed. But temperamentally, it appears that if Lesnar can dictate where the fight happens, he prefers taking his opponent down. It made sense for him to avoid Heath Herring’s dangerous flying knees and kicks that had felled wrestlers like Tom Erickson and Mark Kerr previously, but Frank Mir and Min Soo Kim (Lesnar’s first foe, an Olympic judo silver medalist) only had chances of winning if Lesnar took them down and allowed them the opportunity to work for submissions. Yet he brought them to the ground anyway. One expects that if he can, he will do the same to Couture.
In such a scenario, maybe Lesnar can overwhelm Couture with strikes from a top position; while Couture survived on his back against Randleman, Randleman’s passive ground attack is very different from Lesnar’s. However, while Couture can be knocked out with singular, concussive blows, he has demonstrated resiliency in the face of a prolonged beating: Pedro Rizzo rocked and dropped him in their dramatic first bout without Couture mentally quitting. Perhaps the strength required to grapple with a bigger man will gas out Couture, as it may have done to him against Rodriguez. But in his matches last year with the significantly larger Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga, Couture’s endurance did not seem to be a factor. Maybe the year off at his age (45) will sap him of some of his stamina, though it seems like a bigger question mark is how well Lesnar reacts to being taken into deep waters. He has only been fifteen minutes once, with zero minutes logged against this caliber of opponent. Even if he wins the early portions of the bout, can Lesnar sustain his offense late?
Judging Couture by his past fights, we know he can absorb damage and keep fighting into the championship rounds of a bout. Judging Lesnar by his past fights, we have no idea how much punishment he can take, nor if he can fight tough for twenty-five minutes against a top heavyweight.
If Couture wins the initial takedown battles, it is his fight to lose. If Lesnar wins them, it is still anyone’s game. Advantage Couture.
Of course, the two wrestlers’ physical strength did not actually determine the outcome of their bouts. But flash-forward 20 years to MMA, pro wrestling’s kissing-cousin, where two of a different sort of wrestlers are about to square-off. Randy Couture was a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and three-time Olympic team alternate; Brock Lesnar, a Division I National Champion. For the two combatants, it will not be a test of strength, but a test of takedown ability. The question is: will the winner of the early takedown battles be the winner of the fight?
To answer this query, one needs to look at instances in both men’s MMA careers where they faced competitors with credible wrestling backgrounds. Lesnar’s stint in MMA has been so brief that he has engaged no fellow wrestlers. Couture, on the other hand, has fought several men who fit the bill. In their first match, former Division I wrestler Chuck Liddell could not keep Couture off of him. Couture took Liddell down early and frequently, with relative ease. While he smacked around a befuddled Liddell standing, he did the most damage (and finished the fight) with ground and pound. Versus junior college All-American-turned-Division I wrestler Tito Ortiz, Couture dominated the wrestling for the entire contest. It was the same story against Division I National Champion Mike Van Arsdale, who Couture outwrestled early until securing a third round choke.
The one exception to this trend was Couture’s bout with Ricco Rodriguez. Rodriguez was an accomplished wrestler in the state of New York in high school. Couture slammed and battered him for two-and-a-half rounds before Rodriguez came back and repeatedly took down and elbowed Couture en route to a fifth round stoppage. Still, this example has to be considered an outlier. In his comeback, Rodriguez displayed as much heart and grit as almost anyone in MMA history. Most fighters would not have been capable of rebounding to score a victory after sustaining such an assault.
What about the fights where Couture lost the early takedown struggles? In his rematch and rubber match with Liddell, it meant imminent defeat: Liddell dismissed Couture in one round in the former and two rounds in the latter. However, against two-time Division I National Champion Kevin Randleman, Couture found himself losing the takedown battle in the first two rounds. But in the third, he wrestled Randleman down and finished him.
What does this all tell us about Saturday’s fight? If Couture outwrestles Lesnar early, the odds swing decisively in his favor. Against other fighters with wrestling backgrounds whom he took down quickly, Couture has been victorious in every outing but one, and in that one versus Rodriguez, his opponent not only possessed a level of jiu-jitsu skill Lesnar does not (Rodriguez was a world class submission grappler), but also staged one of the great comebacks in UFC history. While Lesnar is doubtlessly mentally tough, he has never before been on his back in a fight with strikes raining down upon him. He may have trained for such situations, but experiencing something for the first time in a live fight is a lot different than encountering it in the gym.
What if Lesnar outwrestles Couture early? With his long arms and punching power (as evidenced by his dropping Frank Mir and somersaulting Heath Herring with his fists), he might be able to employ a sprawl and brawl strategy like the one Liddell followed. But temperamentally, it appears that if Lesnar can dictate where the fight happens, he prefers taking his opponent down. It made sense for him to avoid Heath Herring’s dangerous flying knees and kicks that had felled wrestlers like Tom Erickson and Mark Kerr previously, but Frank Mir and Min Soo Kim (Lesnar’s first foe, an Olympic judo silver medalist) only had chances of winning if Lesnar took them down and allowed them the opportunity to work for submissions. Yet he brought them to the ground anyway. One expects that if he can, he will do the same to Couture.
In such a scenario, maybe Lesnar can overwhelm Couture with strikes from a top position; while Couture survived on his back against Randleman, Randleman’s passive ground attack is very different from Lesnar’s. However, while Couture can be knocked out with singular, concussive blows, he has demonstrated resiliency in the face of a prolonged beating: Pedro Rizzo rocked and dropped him in their dramatic first bout without Couture mentally quitting. Perhaps the strength required to grapple with a bigger man will gas out Couture, as it may have done to him against Rodriguez. But in his matches last year with the significantly larger Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga, Couture’s endurance did not seem to be a factor. Maybe the year off at his age (45) will sap him of some of his stamina, though it seems like a bigger question mark is how well Lesnar reacts to being taken into deep waters. He has only been fifteen minutes once, with zero minutes logged against this caliber of opponent. Even if he wins the early portions of the bout, can Lesnar sustain his offense late?
Judging Couture by his past fights, we know he can absorb damage and keep fighting into the championship rounds of a bout. Judging Lesnar by his past fights, we have no idea how much punishment he can take, nor if he can fight tough for twenty-five minutes against a top heavyweight.
If Couture wins the initial takedown battles, it is his fight to lose. If Lesnar wins them, it is still anyone’s game. Advantage Couture.
WWE News: Brock Lesnar is trying to escape the stigma of being a former WWE wrestler at UFC 91
Throughout the past two weeks of covering the build-up to UFC 91 - one of the most important sporting events of the year - we've highlighted Brock Lesnar's background and what he's saying now about his previous career in WWE.
It started with Lesnar walking off the set of an ESPN interview when asked about steroids. He also said he didn't want to join WWE out of college anyways, but he took the money when it was offered to him.
Now, Lesnar is trying to escape the stigma of being one of those amateur wrestlers who "turned pro" and joined WWE for choreographed competition. Lesnar's goal at UFC 91 is to prove he's still a great amateur athlete and that he shouldn't be remembered for being a WWE wrestler.
"I think anybody who was smart or understood me already realized that," Lesnar said in Dan Wetzel's column on Yahoo Sports. "I was an amateur athlete. Anybody who knows anything about athletics understood what I could do. And the other people just don't have a clue. You can't blame them for being ignorant."
Lesnar's opponent at UFC 91, Randy Couture, says Lesnar could be considered a sell-out for taking the money in WWE. Lesnar says, "I left the sports entertainment industry for my own reasons," but Couture says he still carries the stigma with him even as he tries to prove himself as a real athlete on Saturday night.
"In some ways, amateur wrestlers look at that as selling out," said Couture. "I think because it is predetermined and choreographed, none of those things sit well with real wrestling, amateur wrestling."
It started with Lesnar walking off the set of an ESPN interview when asked about steroids. He also said he didn't want to join WWE out of college anyways, but he took the money when it was offered to him.
Now, Lesnar is trying to escape the stigma of being one of those amateur wrestlers who "turned pro" and joined WWE for choreographed competition. Lesnar's goal at UFC 91 is to prove he's still a great amateur athlete and that he shouldn't be remembered for being a WWE wrestler.
"I think anybody who was smart or understood me already realized that," Lesnar said in Dan Wetzel's column on Yahoo Sports. "I was an amateur athlete. Anybody who knows anything about athletics understood what I could do. And the other people just don't have a clue. You can't blame them for being ignorant."
Lesnar's opponent at UFC 91, Randy Couture, says Lesnar could be considered a sell-out for taking the money in WWE. Lesnar says, "I left the sports entertainment industry for my own reasons," but Couture says he still carries the stigma with him even as he tries to prove himself as a real athlete on Saturday night.
"In some ways, amateur wrestlers look at that as selling out," said Couture. "I think because it is predetermined and choreographed, none of those things sit well with real wrestling, amateur wrestling."
The Triangle Choke 11.13.08: Couture vs. Lesnar
A look into the greatest champion the sport has ever seen, Randy Couture. Who wins and why?
Check out this edition of The Triangle Choke to find out.
The Triangle Choke:
Couture vs. Lesnar
He's like Andy Griffith, if Andy Griffith could ground-and-pound the crap out of you- Actor Kevin James describing Randy Couture
As one of the biggest events in UFC history approaches, the hype accelerates, and for me at least, it is time for reflection. Even though this card offers several exciting bouts and the freak of nature Lesnar, my concentration is on Randy "The Natural" Couture.
I recently read Randy's autobiography "Becoming The Natural" in preparation for his titanic battle against Lesnar. In it you see the real Randy Couture; a flawed individual like all of us. He doesn't hide his mistakes in his book; he admits them and tries to pick up the pieces and move on. We see a side of Randy in the octagon, in interviews, in his previous role as an announcer and we gravitate to this heroic, "Captain America" like figure. The truth is far from that. Randy has been married three times, his father left him at a young age, he had multiple extramarital affairs, and to top things off, late in his career he finds out the person he thought was his father may not be. All of this would be enough to wreck most people. I'm sure Randy would openly admit many of these issues were his own fault. All of these circumstances seemed to sharpen his desire and narrow his focus. In a sense his situation reminds me of Kobe Bryant. Regardless of what the truth was with Kobe's legal battles in Colorado, he would fly from the court proceedings to a game and perform admirably. Kobe knew people doubted him, were against him and it seemed to raise his game to another level. I believe this is true with great athletes, not those who are necessary athletically superior but those whose e desire is to compete and win. I doubt that Randy wrote the book solely for financial rewards; maybe he needed to unload a sizable burden. Either way, it took tremendous courage to be that open and honest for anyone to read.
Sometimes as a fan or even a casual observer one can rewrite history even if in their own mind. I decided to study Couture all over again, in part to be prepared to cover this event and write this column but also to better understand how this legend was created.
I started by watching his win at UFC 15 against "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort. Belfort was primed for domination as Couture was a heavy underdog. Randy proceeds to control the fight and wins by TKO. A shocked crowd looks on. I, of course thought Belfort would win.
After disappointing losses to Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez in the heavyweight division, Couture drops weight and fights for the Light Heavyweight Title against Chuck Liddell. Couture was a huge underdog. He used leverage and angles to avoid Liddell's heavy strikes and pounded Chuck on the ground forcing a stoppage. Simply an incredible performance by a determined, aging fighter. I, of course picked Liddell to win.
I pulled out season one of The Ultimate Fighter. I wanted to watch Randy in action as a coach. He treated every fighter on both teams with the utmost respect. He was there to help them and instill confidence in them. As Kevin James stated, Couture is sort of like Andy Griffith, friendly to everyone, like he grew up in Mayberry. Opponent or comrade, Randy treats everyone the same.
After two losses to Chuck Liddell and turmoil in his personal life, Randy Couture retired. At this point in his career he is an all time legend, a Hall of Famer, his legacy secured.
Randy settles in to the role of a commentator and an ambassador for UFC and MMA as a whole. If the story ends here all is well, nothing left to prove.
A few friends and I started hearing rumors of UFC coming to Columbus, Ohio. We viewed it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to view UFC live. Columbus is around two hours from where we live. We were pumped!!!! They drove to Ticketmaster and immediately ordered the tickets. In all honesty, I wasn't excited about spending over $200 for a ticket. Then I would rationalize using the once in a lifetime opportunity theory. At this point we are very excited with local heroes being on the card, Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill. Then the news broke that Randy Couture, after a year layoff, was coming out of retirement to fight for the Heavyweight Title against Tim Sylvia.
Wow!!! A chance to see one of the greatest in person, now the expenditure seemed even more like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
We made the two-hour hike full of anticipation. We arrived several hours early to soak up the atmosphere and get our bearings. We got into the arena, settled in our seats and listened to an enthusiastic crowd roaring in approval. We yelled and cheered for Hamill, Hughes, and Franklin. As the main event approached, I truly don't think any of us believed Couture could win. My cousin said he would but to this day I believe that was out of sentiment only.
To understand what I felt from that moment on it may help to understand me as a sports fan. I'm truly what the word fan was derived from, a fanatic. I take losses personally and watch every single game of my favorite teams. I have over two thousand VHS tapes of football; basketball and baseball games including the Final Four back to 1988. Crazy? Probably. I have been to big games in all three major sports. I've watched the greatest of the greats including Michael Jordan in Madison Square Garden in the 1993 playoffs, an electric atmosphere to say the least.
With that being said, I have never experienced anything like what I did on that cold snowy night in Columbus, Ohio. When Couture made the walk to the octagon I couldn't hear anyone around me. The roar crescendo to one of the greatest voices in all of sports made his famous announcement, "This man is the former etc". Bruce Buffer's voice only served to raise the decibel level even more.
Immediately, Couture lands a thunderous blow to Sylvia knocking him to the ground. The crowd goes wild. For me at least, it didn't seem real until the 5th and final round when Randy dominated. Nothing could be heard except the chorus of Randy! Randy! Randy! I can only equate it to watching Rocky, except this was real. Of all the events I've watched in person, that night topped them all. When Rogan spoke with Couture, calling him his hero as he has many times before, goose bumps were all over me and to be quite honest, I was somewhat choked up.
As we made the two-hour drive home in the snow, we were like young kids, discussing what we had just witnessed. We had the announcement declaring Couture the champion recorded on one of our phones; we played it over and over.
I will steal a thought from Mike Greenberg when he describes a hall of famer. Some are hall of famers and others deserve their own wing in the hall of fame. Couture, he deserves his own building.
Much later, I was fortunate enough to meet Randy in person at a book signing. Just as he appears on television, he was kind and soft-spoken to everyone. He continues to handle himself with class, respect and dignity that earn him the moniker of "Captain America".
My Prediction:
Stylistically, Couture and Lesnar are almost identical with Randy having a much more polished game. It is difficult to over look the facts:
• Couture hasn't fought since August 2007
• Brock is 14 years younger
• Couture will be outweighed by as much as 35-40 lbs.
• Brock is more athletic
With all these factors in play, my prejudice aside, I believe Lesnar will win this fight. I'm sure as all the times before, Couture is relishing the underdog role and getting one more chance to prove everyone wrong. Despite my prediction, deep inside, I can hear Joe Rogan standing in the middle of the octagon, in front of a packed house and millions watching around the world, stating "That guy is my hero". It is going to be a great one.
The main card has several exciting bouts even with Sadollah being scratched from the card with a leg infection.
My predictions are:
- Florian vs. Stevenson- Florian by submission. He continues to evolve into one of the best in the business
- Gonzaga vs. Hendricks- Gonzaga is a very talented heavyweight. It is my opinion he has yet to reach his potential. He can be a champion and will dominate this fight.
- Maia vs. Quarry- A very intriguing matchup. Tough bout to call but I think Maia's submission game will be too much for Quarry
- Hazelett vs. McCrory- Hazelett will prove to be too much
MMA fans, stay out of life's triangle chokes!
Check out this edition of The Triangle Choke to find out.
The Triangle Choke:
Couture vs. Lesnar
He's like Andy Griffith, if Andy Griffith could ground-and-pound the crap out of you- Actor Kevin James describing Randy Couture
As one of the biggest events in UFC history approaches, the hype accelerates, and for me at least, it is time for reflection. Even though this card offers several exciting bouts and the freak of nature Lesnar, my concentration is on Randy "The Natural" Couture.
I recently read Randy's autobiography "Becoming The Natural" in preparation for his titanic battle against Lesnar. In it you see the real Randy Couture; a flawed individual like all of us. He doesn't hide his mistakes in his book; he admits them and tries to pick up the pieces and move on. We see a side of Randy in the octagon, in interviews, in his previous role as an announcer and we gravitate to this heroic, "Captain America" like figure. The truth is far from that. Randy has been married three times, his father left him at a young age, he had multiple extramarital affairs, and to top things off, late in his career he finds out the person he thought was his father may not be. All of this would be enough to wreck most people. I'm sure Randy would openly admit many of these issues were his own fault. All of these circumstances seemed to sharpen his desire and narrow his focus. In a sense his situation reminds me of Kobe Bryant. Regardless of what the truth was with Kobe's legal battles in Colorado, he would fly from the court proceedings to a game and perform admirably. Kobe knew people doubted him, were against him and it seemed to raise his game to another level. I believe this is true with great athletes, not those who are necessary athletically superior but those whose e desire is to compete and win. I doubt that Randy wrote the book solely for financial rewards; maybe he needed to unload a sizable burden. Either way, it took tremendous courage to be that open and honest for anyone to read.
Sometimes as a fan or even a casual observer one can rewrite history even if in their own mind. I decided to study Couture all over again, in part to be prepared to cover this event and write this column but also to better understand how this legend was created.
I started by watching his win at UFC 15 against "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort. Belfort was primed for domination as Couture was a heavy underdog. Randy proceeds to control the fight and wins by TKO. A shocked crowd looks on. I, of course thought Belfort would win.
After disappointing losses to Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez in the heavyweight division, Couture drops weight and fights for the Light Heavyweight Title against Chuck Liddell. Couture was a huge underdog. He used leverage and angles to avoid Liddell's heavy strikes and pounded Chuck on the ground forcing a stoppage. Simply an incredible performance by a determined, aging fighter. I, of course picked Liddell to win.
I pulled out season one of The Ultimate Fighter. I wanted to watch Randy in action as a coach. He treated every fighter on both teams with the utmost respect. He was there to help them and instill confidence in them. As Kevin James stated, Couture is sort of like Andy Griffith, friendly to everyone, like he grew up in Mayberry. Opponent or comrade, Randy treats everyone the same.
After two losses to Chuck Liddell and turmoil in his personal life, Randy Couture retired. At this point in his career he is an all time legend, a Hall of Famer, his legacy secured.
Randy settles in to the role of a commentator and an ambassador for UFC and MMA as a whole. If the story ends here all is well, nothing left to prove.
A few friends and I started hearing rumors of UFC coming to Columbus, Ohio. We viewed it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to view UFC live. Columbus is around two hours from where we live. We were pumped!!!! They drove to Ticketmaster and immediately ordered the tickets. In all honesty, I wasn't excited about spending over $200 for a ticket. Then I would rationalize using the once in a lifetime opportunity theory. At this point we are very excited with local heroes being on the card, Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill. Then the news broke that Randy Couture, after a year layoff, was coming out of retirement to fight for the Heavyweight Title against Tim Sylvia.
Wow!!! A chance to see one of the greatest in person, now the expenditure seemed even more like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
We made the two-hour hike full of anticipation. We arrived several hours early to soak up the atmosphere and get our bearings. We got into the arena, settled in our seats and listened to an enthusiastic crowd roaring in approval. We yelled and cheered for Hamill, Hughes, and Franklin. As the main event approached, I truly don't think any of us believed Couture could win. My cousin said he would but to this day I believe that was out of sentiment only.
To understand what I felt from that moment on it may help to understand me as a sports fan. I'm truly what the word fan was derived from, a fanatic. I take losses personally and watch every single game of my favorite teams. I have over two thousand VHS tapes of football; basketball and baseball games including the Final Four back to 1988. Crazy? Probably. I have been to big games in all three major sports. I've watched the greatest of the greats including Michael Jordan in Madison Square Garden in the 1993 playoffs, an electric atmosphere to say the least.
With that being said, I have never experienced anything like what I did on that cold snowy night in Columbus, Ohio. When Couture made the walk to the octagon I couldn't hear anyone around me. The roar crescendo to one of the greatest voices in all of sports made his famous announcement, "This man is the former etc". Bruce Buffer's voice only served to raise the decibel level even more.
Immediately, Couture lands a thunderous blow to Sylvia knocking him to the ground. The crowd goes wild. For me at least, it didn't seem real until the 5th and final round when Randy dominated. Nothing could be heard except the chorus of Randy! Randy! Randy! I can only equate it to watching Rocky, except this was real. Of all the events I've watched in person, that night topped them all. When Rogan spoke with Couture, calling him his hero as he has many times before, goose bumps were all over me and to be quite honest, I was somewhat choked up.
As we made the two-hour drive home in the snow, we were like young kids, discussing what we had just witnessed. We had the announcement declaring Couture the champion recorded on one of our phones; we played it over and over.
I will steal a thought from Mike Greenberg when he describes a hall of famer. Some are hall of famers and others deserve their own wing in the hall of fame. Couture, he deserves his own building.
Much later, I was fortunate enough to meet Randy in person at a book signing. Just as he appears on television, he was kind and soft-spoken to everyone. He continues to handle himself with class, respect and dignity that earn him the moniker of "Captain America".
My Prediction:
Stylistically, Couture and Lesnar are almost identical with Randy having a much more polished game. It is difficult to over look the facts:
• Couture hasn't fought since August 2007
• Brock is 14 years younger
• Couture will be outweighed by as much as 35-40 lbs.
• Brock is more athletic
With all these factors in play, my prejudice aside, I believe Lesnar will win this fight. I'm sure as all the times before, Couture is relishing the underdog role and getting one more chance to prove everyone wrong. Despite my prediction, deep inside, I can hear Joe Rogan standing in the middle of the octagon, in front of a packed house and millions watching around the world, stating "That guy is my hero". It is going to be a great one.
The main card has several exciting bouts even with Sadollah being scratched from the card with a leg infection.
My predictions are:
- Florian vs. Stevenson- Florian by submission. He continues to evolve into one of the best in the business
- Gonzaga vs. Hendricks- Gonzaga is a very talented heavyweight. It is my opinion he has yet to reach his potential. He can be a champion and will dominate this fight.
- Maia vs. Quarry- A very intriguing matchup. Tough bout to call but I think Maia's submission game will be too much for Quarry
- Hazelett vs. McCrory- Hazelett will prove to be too much
MMA fans, stay out of life's triangle chokes!
Cardio Freak MMA News Report 11.13.08: With Age Comes Experience
Cardio Freak is back with a preview of UFC 91. Who will win the big bout between Lesnar vs. Couture? Will the fight live up to the hype? Does anyone care about the undercard? Plus a very late review of WEC 36, a look at the release of Werdum, and new fights in Japan. All that plus the latest news in MMA. It's younger than Randy Couture, it's Cardio Freak on 411.
UFC 91: "This deserves to be named after the main event since the main event is Couture vs. Lesnar" Preview
Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar.
Did you ever think you would be saying that one year ago? Randy Couture had just resigned from the company as the Heavyweight champion while Brock Lesnar had yet to compete in the Octagon. A lot can change in one year. Randy Couture is now back as not only Captain America and one of the most beloved fighters ever but as the savior of the Heavyweight division. Brock Lesnar is 1-1 in the UFC but has dominated 16:20 of 16:30 minutes of action.
Everyone knows the storylines heading into this fight. Couture is older but experienced, Lesnar is younger but inexperienced. Couture is slower but smarter, Lesnar is faster and stronger. Couture hasn't fought in over a year, Lesnar has fought twice this year. The only storyline missing is Lesnar coming to the Octagon using a walker as a way to mock Couture. That may top Lesnar's mariachi dancing in the midst of his feud with Eddie Guerrero.
While most figure the fight will take place on the ground, every fight has to start on the feet. Unless you take Rich Franklin's advice and start out on your knees. In both of his UFC fights, Lesnar has knocked down his opponents but he's done so, not with technique, but with more of a surprise that he threw a punch. Couture isn't known for his power but he knocked down Tim Sylvia and staggered Gabriel Gonzaga in his past two fights. Lesnar's striking is still very green. He hits with power but there's no real technique there. He looks flat on his feet and really only throws a right down the middle that throws off opponents more than anything. Couture's striking is almost the exact opposite. He uses a lot of head movement, is light on his feet, and puts together combinations. People think Couture has a weak chin because of his losses to Liddell but those some people fail to realize that those are his only two KO losses. It's not like he gets dropped in most of his fights or just isn't good on the feet. He got caught twice by Chuck friggin' Liddell. Lesnar's chin hasn't been tested but just looking at him, he looks like he can take a punch. If the fight stays on the feet, I don't think either many will score a knockout but I do think Couture will school Lesnar with superior technique and movement.
Everyone knows the wrestling credentials of both men. Lesnar is explosive and powerful with his double leg takedowns, Couture is smart and technical with his Greco roman style. Couture's style consists of getting inside, clinching, bullying people against the cage and in the clinch, and then getting a trip takedown. You know it's coming and yet it has worked brilliantly in fights against Liddell, Ortiz, Sylvia, Gonzaga, ect…. As Rogan and Goldberg love to state over and over again, "Randy Couture loves to bully people in the clinch and take their heart." And while it sounds cliché, it's true. A man the size and age of Couture shouldn't be able to bully people the way he does and when he does, his opponents grow frustrated. Lesnar seems like the type of person who would grow frustrated if Couture is able to bully him like he's done so many times in the past. He's got to try and control that frustration though and shake it off between rounds. If he can do that then he'll stay in the fight. If his heart is taken by Couture, the fight will be taken from his as well.
Lesnar's advantages lie in his power, size, and strength. Lesnar had a great quote at the UFC 91 Conference Call where he said, "speed + mass = destruction" and if any math equation sums up Brock Lesnar, that would be the one. He's proven that he hits hard, we know that he can takedown anyone, and on the ground his control combined with his power is amazing. Lesnar is a guy that shouldn't be bullied around. It almost seems unimaginable that someone like Brock Lesnar wouldn't be the bully.
The goal of each fighter will be to put their opponent on their back. Couture hasn't spent a lot of his fighting career on his back but when he's been grounded, he hasn't fared too well. As a former pro wrestler, on his back is the last place Lesnar wanted to be. It's not a stretch to say this but whoever is on their back the longest, will lose this fight. While both men are versed in submissions, neither man would be considered an expert off their back.
This is being hyped as the biggest fight in UFC history. While it doesn't feel as big as Liddell vs. Ortiz 2, it's still a huge fight. A lot of people wonder if the fight will live up to the potential. The Super Bowl is hyped as the biggest football game of the year and sometimes it's over at halftime. That's what's so great about MMA. The fight is never over. And more goes into a fight than a score. Great fights are made thanks to emotion, storylines, fighters, and the crowd. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia wasn't that great of a fight. It was a 25-minute ass kicking where, outside of the first 30 seconds, neither man was close to finishing. Yet everyone remembers the fight because of the emotion, storyline, fighters, and crowd. This fight is the young, hungry, and beast of a man named Brock Lesnar against the old, experienced, beloved Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight title. Barring some fluke ending (ex. Cote vs. Silva) this fight will live up to the hype. Whether it's a 30 second knockout, a tentative fight with a great ending, or a 25-minute fight that most may consider boring. It will live up to the hype.
If anyone believes 100% that one fighter will win, they're lying. No one knows who's going to win this fight for 100% certainty. So many things could happen in this fight and I'm not sure anything would shock me. I guess the most shocking ending would be a submission (not via strikes) victory for either fighter but then again, this is a Randy Couture fight and nothing in his fights surprise me.
If I've learned one thing from my years of watching MMA, it's to never bet against Randy Couture. He's only lost one fight when he was the betting underdog and as of this writing, he's a +105 underdog to Lesnar's -145 and I should note that the line has changed three times since Monday, with Couture becoming a bigger underdog each time. By the time the event starts, Couture will likely be a much bigger underdog and if you're planning on putting money on Couture, wait until the last second. I'm picking Randy Couture to win this fight because I can't bet against him. I've been driving the Brock bandwagon since day one but I can't pick against Couture. Randy Couture, Unanimous Decision.
In the co-main event, Joe Silva decides to go with some wacky match making as Kenny Florian takes on Joe Stevenson. I say this is wacky match making because this should have been Florian vs. Tyson Griffin, where the winner gets a shot at BJ Penn. Instead, Sean Sherk defeated Griffin and if Stevenson defeats Florian, well, is anyone paying for a BJ Penn rematch? I think Penn vs. Sherk 2 is a fine fight but I don't know how many other people are buying it.
Anyway, in the biggest co-main event that no one is paying for, Kenny Florian tries to a secure a Lightweight title shot. Here's what you need to know about Florian: he wins. He's lost two fights in the UFC, both of them against guys who could fight at Welterweight. He improves every fight and he finds a way to win. His striking is very technical, his wrestling is mediocre but it's good enough to get by, and his grappling his top notch. On the opposite side of the cage is Joe Stevenson, who is a solid fighter with well-rounded skills. Plus he has a finishing move, that I have dubbed the "Daddy Choke" because when he locks it in, Joe Stevenson becomes your daddy.
Stevenson has more power on the feet but Florian is the better overall striker and he's better in the clinch. Stevenson is bigger and stronger so he might be able to bully Florian and put him on his back for 15-minutes and avoid submissions. Joe Stevenson was just awarded his black belt in jiu-jitsu but I still think Florian is better on the ground. Stevenson has the Daddy Choke and any opponent of his has to look out for that because he goes for the choke in any and all circumstances.
We've got to officially call this a "Tila Tequila Fight" because if Florian wins, he'll get a title shot and I always believe that it should go both ways. I'd love to see Stevenson win just to teach Joe Silva another booking lesson but I don't think that's going to happen. Kenny Florian just finds ways to win and I think he'll find a way to win this fight.
In a fight that I'm really looking forward to, Demian Maia takes on Nate Quarry. While this almost looks like punishment for Quarry, I think UFC is throwing Quarry a bone after the fight he had against Kalib Starnes at UFC 83. Maia is an exciting fighter and a win pushes Quarry to the top of the ladder while a loss doesn't do too much damage him. Maia is one of the guys who I think has the skills to beat Anderson Silva. His striking is improving, his wrestling is good enough to survive, and his jiu-jitsu is second to none. Quarry is decent fighter but I've never really been impressed with him. He's a powerful striking but it's not really technical and everything else about him is just average. If he can keep the fight on the feet then he can win the fight either with a KO or decision but I think Maia finds a way to get the fight to the ground (possibly pulling guard) and tapping out Quarry.
Gabriel Gonzaga takes on UFC newcomer Josh Hendricks in a fight designed to keep Gonzaga on the right track back to a title shot. Josh Hendricks is a guy that hits hard and has a good top game. That's really all I know about him. As for Gonzaga, I know that he's a well-rounded fighter who loses his heart if he doesn't win in the first round. I think Gonzaga is still a threat at Heavyweight despite the losses to Couture and Werdum. Unless Gonzaga shows up 20 pounds heavier and takes Hendricks lightly, he should win. That means put money down on Hendricks.
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory has been added to the main card due to Amir Saddollah pulling out of his fight against Nick Catone with a leg infection. Best of luck to Amir in his recovery. I'm excited that Dustin Hazelett is on the main card though as he's another fighter whose bandwagon I've been driving for some time now. He's a well-rounded fighter with exciting skills and has the potential to be a champion one day. McCrory is another well-rounded fighter and this should make for an exciting fight. Both guys can bring it on the feet and on the ground. I think Hazelett is the better fighter and I have no intentions of jumping off the bandwagon now. Hazelett will win this fight by submission.
It's a mediocre undercard but it's a huge main event. Sometimes the undercard can influence whether or not you buy an event but this is an event that you're either buying or you're not. Maia vs. Quarry isn't going to stop you from purchasing this PPV because if you don't think "I've got to see that" the moment you hear "Lesnar vs. Couture", chances are you weren't that enthused about the event. It's going to be a historic night this Saturday and I can't wait.
As usual, check out the Roundtable for my official picks on the fights.
UFC 91: "This deserves to be named after the main event since the main event is Couture vs. Lesnar" Preview
Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar.
Did you ever think you would be saying that one year ago? Randy Couture had just resigned from the company as the Heavyweight champion while Brock Lesnar had yet to compete in the Octagon. A lot can change in one year. Randy Couture is now back as not only Captain America and one of the most beloved fighters ever but as the savior of the Heavyweight division. Brock Lesnar is 1-1 in the UFC but has dominated 16:20 of 16:30 minutes of action.
Everyone knows the storylines heading into this fight. Couture is older but experienced, Lesnar is younger but inexperienced. Couture is slower but smarter, Lesnar is faster and stronger. Couture hasn't fought in over a year, Lesnar has fought twice this year. The only storyline missing is Lesnar coming to the Octagon using a walker as a way to mock Couture. That may top Lesnar's mariachi dancing in the midst of his feud with Eddie Guerrero.
While most figure the fight will take place on the ground, every fight has to start on the feet. Unless you take Rich Franklin's advice and start out on your knees. In both of his UFC fights, Lesnar has knocked down his opponents but he's done so, not with technique, but with more of a surprise that he threw a punch. Couture isn't known for his power but he knocked down Tim Sylvia and staggered Gabriel Gonzaga in his past two fights. Lesnar's striking is still very green. He hits with power but there's no real technique there. He looks flat on his feet and really only throws a right down the middle that throws off opponents more than anything. Couture's striking is almost the exact opposite. He uses a lot of head movement, is light on his feet, and puts together combinations. People think Couture has a weak chin because of his losses to Liddell but those some people fail to realize that those are his only two KO losses. It's not like he gets dropped in most of his fights or just isn't good on the feet. He got caught twice by Chuck friggin' Liddell. Lesnar's chin hasn't been tested but just looking at him, he looks like he can take a punch. If the fight stays on the feet, I don't think either many will score a knockout but I do think Couture will school Lesnar with superior technique and movement.
Everyone knows the wrestling credentials of both men. Lesnar is explosive and powerful with his double leg takedowns, Couture is smart and technical with his Greco roman style. Couture's style consists of getting inside, clinching, bullying people against the cage and in the clinch, and then getting a trip takedown. You know it's coming and yet it has worked brilliantly in fights against Liddell, Ortiz, Sylvia, Gonzaga, ect…. As Rogan and Goldberg love to state over and over again, "Randy Couture loves to bully people in the clinch and take their heart." And while it sounds cliché, it's true. A man the size and age of Couture shouldn't be able to bully people the way he does and when he does, his opponents grow frustrated. Lesnar seems like the type of person who would grow frustrated if Couture is able to bully him like he's done so many times in the past. He's got to try and control that frustration though and shake it off between rounds. If he can do that then he'll stay in the fight. If his heart is taken by Couture, the fight will be taken from his as well.
Lesnar's advantages lie in his power, size, and strength. Lesnar had a great quote at the UFC 91 Conference Call where he said, "speed + mass = destruction" and if any math equation sums up Brock Lesnar, that would be the one. He's proven that he hits hard, we know that he can takedown anyone, and on the ground his control combined with his power is amazing. Lesnar is a guy that shouldn't be bullied around. It almost seems unimaginable that someone like Brock Lesnar wouldn't be the bully.
The goal of each fighter will be to put their opponent on their back. Couture hasn't spent a lot of his fighting career on his back but when he's been grounded, he hasn't fared too well. As a former pro wrestler, on his back is the last place Lesnar wanted to be. It's not a stretch to say this but whoever is on their back the longest, will lose this fight. While both men are versed in submissions, neither man would be considered an expert off their back.
This is being hyped as the biggest fight in UFC history. While it doesn't feel as big as Liddell vs. Ortiz 2, it's still a huge fight. A lot of people wonder if the fight will live up to the potential. The Super Bowl is hyped as the biggest football game of the year and sometimes it's over at halftime. That's what's so great about MMA. The fight is never over. And more goes into a fight than a score. Great fights are made thanks to emotion, storylines, fighters, and the crowd. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia wasn't that great of a fight. It was a 25-minute ass kicking where, outside of the first 30 seconds, neither man was close to finishing. Yet everyone remembers the fight because of the emotion, storyline, fighters, and crowd. This fight is the young, hungry, and beast of a man named Brock Lesnar against the old, experienced, beloved Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight title. Barring some fluke ending (ex. Cote vs. Silva) this fight will live up to the hype. Whether it's a 30 second knockout, a tentative fight with a great ending, or a 25-minute fight that most may consider boring. It will live up to the hype.
If anyone believes 100% that one fighter will win, they're lying. No one knows who's going to win this fight for 100% certainty. So many things could happen in this fight and I'm not sure anything would shock me. I guess the most shocking ending would be a submission (not via strikes) victory for either fighter but then again, this is a Randy Couture fight and nothing in his fights surprise me.
If I've learned one thing from my years of watching MMA, it's to never bet against Randy Couture. He's only lost one fight when he was the betting underdog and as of this writing, he's a +105 underdog to Lesnar's -145 and I should note that the line has changed three times since Monday, with Couture becoming a bigger underdog each time. By the time the event starts, Couture will likely be a much bigger underdog and if you're planning on putting money on Couture, wait until the last second. I'm picking Randy Couture to win this fight because I can't bet against him. I've been driving the Brock bandwagon since day one but I can't pick against Couture. Randy Couture, Unanimous Decision.
In the co-main event, Joe Silva decides to go with some wacky match making as Kenny Florian takes on Joe Stevenson. I say this is wacky match making because this should have been Florian vs. Tyson Griffin, where the winner gets a shot at BJ Penn. Instead, Sean Sherk defeated Griffin and if Stevenson defeats Florian, well, is anyone paying for a BJ Penn rematch? I think Penn vs. Sherk 2 is a fine fight but I don't know how many other people are buying it.
Anyway, in the biggest co-main event that no one is paying for, Kenny Florian tries to a secure a Lightweight title shot. Here's what you need to know about Florian: he wins. He's lost two fights in the UFC, both of them against guys who could fight at Welterweight. He improves every fight and he finds a way to win. His striking is very technical, his wrestling is mediocre but it's good enough to get by, and his grappling his top notch. On the opposite side of the cage is Joe Stevenson, who is a solid fighter with well-rounded skills. Plus he has a finishing move, that I have dubbed the "Daddy Choke" because when he locks it in, Joe Stevenson becomes your daddy.
Stevenson has more power on the feet but Florian is the better overall striker and he's better in the clinch. Stevenson is bigger and stronger so he might be able to bully Florian and put him on his back for 15-minutes and avoid submissions. Joe Stevenson was just awarded his black belt in jiu-jitsu but I still think Florian is better on the ground. Stevenson has the Daddy Choke and any opponent of his has to look out for that because he goes for the choke in any and all circumstances.
We've got to officially call this a "Tila Tequila Fight" because if Florian wins, he'll get a title shot and I always believe that it should go both ways. I'd love to see Stevenson win just to teach Joe Silva another booking lesson but I don't think that's going to happen. Kenny Florian just finds ways to win and I think he'll find a way to win this fight.
In a fight that I'm really looking forward to, Demian Maia takes on Nate Quarry. While this almost looks like punishment for Quarry, I think UFC is throwing Quarry a bone after the fight he had against Kalib Starnes at UFC 83. Maia is an exciting fighter and a win pushes Quarry to the top of the ladder while a loss doesn't do too much damage him. Maia is one of the guys who I think has the skills to beat Anderson Silva. His striking is improving, his wrestling is good enough to survive, and his jiu-jitsu is second to none. Quarry is decent fighter but I've never really been impressed with him. He's a powerful striking but it's not really technical and everything else about him is just average. If he can keep the fight on the feet then he can win the fight either with a KO or decision but I think Maia finds a way to get the fight to the ground (possibly pulling guard) and tapping out Quarry.
Gabriel Gonzaga takes on UFC newcomer Josh Hendricks in a fight designed to keep Gonzaga on the right track back to a title shot. Josh Hendricks is a guy that hits hard and has a good top game. That's really all I know about him. As for Gonzaga, I know that he's a well-rounded fighter who loses his heart if he doesn't win in the first round. I think Gonzaga is still a threat at Heavyweight despite the losses to Couture and Werdum. Unless Gonzaga shows up 20 pounds heavier and takes Hendricks lightly, he should win. That means put money down on Hendricks.
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory has been added to the main card due to Amir Saddollah pulling out of his fight against Nick Catone with a leg infection. Best of luck to Amir in his recovery. I'm excited that Dustin Hazelett is on the main card though as he's another fighter whose bandwagon I've been driving for some time now. He's a well-rounded fighter with exciting skills and has the potential to be a champion one day. McCrory is another well-rounded fighter and this should make for an exciting fight. Both guys can bring it on the feet and on the ground. I think Hazelett is the better fighter and I have no intentions of jumping off the bandwagon now. Hazelett will win this fight by submission.
It's a mediocre undercard but it's a huge main event. Sometimes the undercard can influence whether or not you buy an event but this is an event that you're either buying or you're not. Maia vs. Quarry isn't going to stop you from purchasing this PPV because if you don't think "I've got to see that" the moment you hear "Lesnar vs. Couture", chances are you weren't that enthused about the event. It's going to be a historic night this Saturday and I can't wait.
As usual, check out the Roundtable for my official picks on the fights.
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