Sports Illustrated Follows Randy Couture's UFC 102 Training Camp

by Luke Thomas on Aug 19, 2009 4:01 PM EDT in MMA News

Even in highlight footage, it's easy to tell where Couture's natural strengths and comfort zones are within the dimensions of the MMA game. He also appears to be slightly bigger than the lean frame he employed against Lesnar at UFC 91. Still, I'm looking to Couture to employ something of a similar gameplan to Mir: strike with Nogueira, make him miss using low and high combinations, speed and distancing. Unlike Mir, however, I suspect Couture will spend time in Nogueira's guard stuffing submissions, passing to half guard and working GNP. Fedor and Couture don't have similar ground and pound attacks (as an obvious example, Fedor never uses elbows while elbows are central to Couture's arsenal), but Stephen Quadros was correct when he said Emelianenko wrote the blueprint on how to defeat Nogueira from within his guard. I'm betting Couture observed and has integrated those lessons.

HT: Cage Potato

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Quentin Chong: Muay Thai instructor of Xtreme Couture (video)

by Nick Thomas on Aug 19, 2009 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

mooooooE Thai

randy and muay thai? i was a little supprised to see that? am i being a rube or is this something new

by bearcox13 on Aug 19, 2009 3:16 PM EDT reply actions

randy is the man.

did anyone see him on Sport Science? That segment with the lactic acid buildup was pretty incredible.

by Austin Martin on Aug 19, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

maybe he is getting himself ready in case he decides 2 fight a. silva?

by Barry27 on Aug 19, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

that fight sounds unbelievable on paper

But Randy is nowhere near fast enough to strike with silva. I rewatched his fight with Brock though, and it impressed me significantly more than when i was watching. he actually may’ve even taken that first round vs. Brock.

If anyone is going to beat Silva or Machida, its someone with Couture or Hendo’s skillsets

by Austin Martin on Aug 19, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Randy loves to get in peoples half guard and pound on them, and Nog loves to sweep and submit from half guard. I’m really excited about seeing the techniques they decide to use or avoid here.

by judonerd on Aug 19, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

I think Randy will start standing and test Nog, and if it’s going well he’ll just sprawl and keep it standing. If Nog starts scoring he can take Nog down.

by Michael Rome on Aug 19, 2009 4:33 PM EDT reply actions

ID beat randy………………..in a staring contest!!!!

Sometimes you wonder, do they understand the game of football? They have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch.
Roy Keane

by RealIrish on Aug 19, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Randy is the man and I’d give an arm and leg to train with him…..but that was some terrible lookin muay thai.

I can see gettin some elbow practice to work into his clinch game and getting a little more practice with the thai plum being useful. But those round kicks and push kicks were straight up awful, detrimental if he used them in a fight.

by Headkick on Aug 19, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I think he is a muay thai beginner. For a guy like Randy, learning it is more about defending it than using it.

by Michael Rome on Aug 19, 2009 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Brock got all these HW’s eating they Wheaties

"Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his ass. I told him a year ago. I pulled it out of him and I beat him over the head with it." Brock Lesnar

by pitbull187 on Aug 19, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Randy has a lot going for him in this one. Full training camp, no ring rust, and hometown. I’d have to say he’s got my money, but I think it’s going to decision.

by Dooda on Aug 19, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions