Randy Couture: The Right Man For the Job at UFC 118
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in UFC History
Email
Print
UFC President Dana White took a big risk Saturday night. For years the war of words has raged between White and what feels at times like the entire boxing establishment. A fledgling boxing promoter, White never made it to the big time. Instead, he and his investors, the billionaire Fertitta family, made the Ultimate Fighting Championship a promotion capable of challenging, and eventually, surpassing the sport of his childhood. So when it comes to the UFC versus boxing, it's personal for White. Very personal.
That's why, when he finally pulled the trigger on his dream confrontation between boxing and mixed martial arts, White knew he had to get it right. Sure, James Toney was on the wrong side of 40. Yes, he was sixty pounds past his best fighting weight. But he was also one of his generation's best boxers. And with a good puncher there is always a chance.
White needed someone who could rise to the occasion. Someone who he knew would come in, fight smart, and make him look like a genius. He also needed a hero, a fighter that could provide balance to Toney's over the top bad guy persona. There was only one man for this job - "The Natural" Randy Couture.
For almost a decade Couture has been able to capture the moment, creating some of the most memorable fights in UFC history. Couture makes every fight seem special. And when the UFC needs a big moment, he delivers.
At UFC 33 the promotion made every mistake in the book. It was their first time back on pay per view nationwide and the show was one of the worst of all-time. The fights got progressively worse as the night went on and not only did the Tito Ortiz main event set new lows for activity and interest, it also went over time causing Zuffa to lose millions when cable companies cut the broadcast in the midst of the main event. Their next show needed to be special. And was it ever. With Couture and his greatest opponent, kickboxer Pedro Rizzo, leading the way, UFC 34 was one of the most spectacular events fans had ever seen. He righted the ship.
The Couture highlight reel doubles as an archive of the UFC's best moments. Couture has a knack for creating art; the Octagon is his tapestry. The huge double leg on Chuck Liddell at UFC 43. Spanking Ortiz at UFC 44. The amazing punch that floored the mammoth Tim Sylvia. His epic battle with fellow warrior Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Even in defeat, he does things the right way. He could have complained about a vicious eye poke that led to a Liddell knockout win. He took the high road. If the unthinkable had happened, if Toney had floored him with a punch, if the cage had filled with hooligans - Couture would have done the right thing.
What's next for Couture is anyone's guess. White suggested that the legend would return to light heavyweight. At an incredibly fit and sculpted 220 pounds, that seems like the right move. Trapped underneath the massive Brock Lesnar or trading punches with a swollen Shane Carwin is no way to ease into retirement. Finding the right fight will be troublesome for matchmaker Joe Silva. Couture deserves to fight an opponent worthy of his talents. He's earned that. And, one thing is certain. When the time comes to fight again, Couture will deliver, will find away to give us that instant of action that takes our breath away. Of course he will. He's Randy Couture.
60 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Rich Franklin
Someone in an earlier thread suggested him as the next opponent for Couture, and I wholly support this. It can main event a lesser card or co-main a huge card, and the winner can be justifiably thrown into the title contention mix at 205. Maybe the winner gets the loser of Rampage/Machida?
by Verklemptomaniac on Aug 30, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I like this too....
It would be interesting to see that match up.
www.facebook.com/djpullout
www.twitter.com/djpullout
www.myspace.com/djpullout
www.djpullout.com
AIM = djpullout
info@djpullout.com
Rich is too good
for his talent to be wasted on the LHW senior circuit.
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Aug 30, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Who else besides
Ortiz, Matyushenko, Liddell, and Couture are on this “Senior circuit”? Couture is being groomed for one last career swan song shot at the LHW belt and the others I’ve mentioned aren’t even in the LHW title atmosphere. Franklin got smoked at 195 by Belfort and KO’d the obviously aged Liddell. Facing Couture is a nice step up for him and a good fight.
by LikeTheWhiskey on Aug 30, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Franklin v Randy
Why the hell not? Rich deserves a high profile fight that isn’t at a catchweight and where he isn’t stepping in for someone.
Randy wins he gets a title shot, Rich wins and he’s one fight away from a title shot and maybe we get a Machida rematch.
I just want to make clear that I’m not advocating Randy getting a title shot after an imaginary win over Franklin. Just saying that I think the UFC would do something like that.
by TMadeBurner on Aug 30, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
It's amazing to me
that the same guy who wrote this thoughtful, articulate, well-rounded piece wrote the ultra-reactionary fanboyish “Bj Penn is overrated” piece only a day earlier. You sure keep ’em on their toes, Mr. Snowden.
Anyways, great read, and perfectly said.
Give me smallest finger on man's hand. I'll produce information. Computer unnecessary.
by hobbie on Aug 30, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Man, your articles are either controversial as hell or just complete softballs. Take the middle road sometimes man
by TyTy on Aug 30, 2010 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
For once I actually believe White's rhetoric
Toney can’t be taken seriously and this will not be a landmark moment in combat sports history.
I don’t think there’s any question Couture will stay at LHW unless some other “catchweight” spectacle comes up. Someone like Cro Cop maybe, but I doubt it. They’ll probably set him up with someone coming up like (at the time) Brandon Vera. Rich would be a good fight too.
I really hope they don’t give him a bad matchup with a young stud. I want to see him leave with his head held high.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
if toney would have caught him????
Would he be an over rated bum????
by the-gentle-way on Aug 30, 2010 11:33 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No. Randy is on his farewell tour. It may seem ridiculous, but I believe from this point on, if Randy loses, it won’t really tarnish his legacy.
And yeah, at his age getting into the cage burnishes his legacy.
"an excellent example of why most MMA "journalism" is a joke. Pseudonyms like "toxic" and shitty writing like that dopey article"--- Joe Rogan.
by toxic on Aug 30, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
If he’s really gunning for a title shot, he’s going to get destroyed pretty quickly. He barely got past Vera.
That said, I don’t really think he’s going for a title shot. It’s just something you have to say.
"an excellent example of why most MMA "journalism" is a joke. Pseudonyms like "toxic" and shitty writing like that dopey article"--- Joe Rogan.
I think Randy would have a decent shot at beating Rua
How quickly we forget that Shogun was a mere minute away from losing to Mark Coleman. I thoroughly believe that Randy would be Rua’s kryptonite, dirty boxing and top-controlling him to a title win. However, I think he’d get handled thoroughly by Machida, Bones, and ’Shad.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
Couture could fight
Jon Jones…Oh wait he’s suppose to fight Chuck right? I guess Chuck can leave with his head held high buried into the canvas.
I think Chuck actually has the right tools to fight Jones. Assuming he has the physical tools that is-the skillset is there.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Lets take away Chucks current physical limitations...
And look at his skillset when they were at their best. He defined the Sprawl-n-Brawl fighter. His defensive wrestling prowess was legendary against traditional wrestlers who shot single and double legs. In the clinch, which if I remember correctly he wasn’t in much, he faired well, but not as good against shooters. He also had dynamite hands, well timed, powerful, and fairly accurate. But I think he enjoyed longer reach than most of his opponents. His speed was also helpful evading both hand and leg strikes. The best of Liddel vs Jones raises two caution flags for me though:
1) I don’t think Liddell would do well against the Judo and unconventional trip/slams of Jones.
2) Jones has a longer reach, especially with his kicks. Jones is still a bit sloppy with his striking, which would give prime chuck opportunities to capitalize, but I think Jones could keep him at bay none the less.
Chuck/Jones is a good idea
I think Chuck also needs to be knocked out with a standing elbow before he retires.
Toronto FC - Where road games are forfeited and we STILL have no idea how to play from behind.
by SSreporters on Aug 30, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah
Let’s leave that to Chuck
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 30, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
It will certainly be considered a landmark moment
Although mma fans knew exactly what to expect, the clip of former boxing champion James Toney lying on his back stuck in an arm triangle and frantically waving his left arm will be played countless times so long as the sport exists.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
Was Randy Couture the right man for the job?
Facts point to yes.
by majuca8 on Aug 30, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions 3 recs
It begs repeating...
“Not bad for an old man.”
I think Dana took a calculated and minimal risk Saturday night. yes Couture was the perfect opponent. He is cerebral, the perfect style match up and old, lol.
Cerebral-Dana knew there was no chance Randy would try to stand with Toney and would have a great gameplan.
Style-You saw it Saturday
Old-If Toney had won, you have a built in excuse and by having a 47 year old, you eliminate boxing’s excuse of Toney’s age.
I wouldn't mind seeing
Randy beat up Forest.
All Forest wants to do these days is write books and duck competition.
I wouldn’t mind seeing this match up.
by devious1 on Aug 30, 2010 11:18 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Thanks for this John!
Randy Couture is without a doubt my all time favorite fighter, when you talk about him making every fight special, I could not agree more. You look at his record and very few of his fights, win or lose, aren’t significant fights. You need only look at how many times he’s been in there with a title on the line.
I think the UFC will push him for one last run at glory, and knowing Randy, he’ll defy the odds and give us all one last storybook moment before riding off into the sunset.
"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.
Support independent artists
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/
by Worldisart on Aug 30, 2010 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I’ll parrot the Franklin suggestion, it seems like the best option. Randy/Cro Cop sounds like a lot of fun too though.
http://www.instrength.com
I’d watch the shit out of Randy and Cro Cop… and I’d be willing to pay for that card as long as that fight wasn’t headlining.
by TMadeBurner on Aug 30, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Please keep the words "Title Fight" away from Randy Couture
No offense to Randy, who truly is an all-time great. But at this point, while he can still give us some good fights, he should not be getting a title shot at all, barring a huge run of dominance out of nowhere.
Let him face Franklin or Cro Cop. Fun matches both, while not being too dangerous for him. But he’s NOT the Couture of old, and there’s plenty of guys who should be above him in the line for a title s hot at either division (Cain, JDS, and even Carwin at Heavyweight – Evans, Machida, Jon Jones, Bader/Little-Nog at LHW.)
he should get the winner
of Bader/Lil’ Nog. that would be a good fight IMO
by alexmullen4180 on Aug 30, 2010 11:35 AM EDT reply actions
Jon Jones already is.....
ANd hes hoping for Nog.
www.facebook.com/djpullout
www.twitter.com/djpullout
www.myspace.com/djpullout
www.djpullout.com
AIM = djpullout
info@djpullout.com
I was down on Randy Couture after the Brandon Vera fight, but that just seems like a blip in the radar. It’s obvious that the UFC wants to put him in one more Title run, and with careful matchmaking, he could just be one or two fights away from a Title shot. Rich Franklin vs Randy Couture makes a lot of sense to me.
But if Randy loses his next fight
he’ll obviously be overrated. He’ll have a terrible record in the UFC and in title fights, so he’d definitely be overrated right?
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
He couldn’t even finish Tim Sylvia, even Ray Mercer could do that.
by TMadeBurner on Aug 30, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Not really. Randy has a 9-6 record in title fights. And he’s had a habit of stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park when it matters most.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
i really hope you aren’t referring to the Toney fight. But i’d agree, the Sylvia, Gonzaga, Liddell, and Ortiz fights were fantastic.
But if he loses, and I see a “facts point to yes” article, I may have to blockquote what you just wrote.
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Aug 30, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Has anyone mentioned
The fact that Couture claimed to hear a verbal tap from Toney? I thought what happened was:
-Couture went ‘he says he quits’.
-Dean ignored it.
-Couture (or maybe Dean) went ‘No verbal taps’ as Randy recommenced pounding.
Doesn’t make a difference to the outcome, just thought it was interesting.
Isn't the last fight on his contract coming up?
He signed a six fight contract beginning with the Lesnar fight and has fought five times since. His next fight would be the last one. I think that will be his farewell match before getting into retirement. I can’t see him making a championship run and he’s already up there. I think he’s one and done after this.
Re-signed a 6 fight deal after the Nog fight at UFC 102
Has 3 fights left on his current contract.
http://www.instrength.com
Considering how much Randy Couture has meant, and does still mean, to the UFC, I say let the old man go out on his sword. He’s an exception, not the rule. Give him Franklin or Griffin, and then a title fight, with the understanding that he retires with a loss to Shogun or Rashad.
This isn’t just any fighter, this is Randy Couture, and this man deserves special treatment for all he’s done fo rth eUFC.
www.mmatorch.com
by Rich Hansen on Aug 30, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I have to agree, Forrest seems like the obvious choice: a compelling, teacher vs student, 3 round back and forth war, as neither man has the punching power to hurt the other (and thats saying something, as both Forrest and Randy’s chins have gradually faded away over time). Plus, UFC wins either way, theres really no downside to a win by either man. If not Forrest, then a huge thumbs up to the Cro Cop idea at HW, that would be one on the edge of your seat: Randy stifling Mirko against the cage for 3 rounds, knowing that Cro Cop could hot a big shot to Randy’s soft chin at any time.
Randy v Rampage
don’t care if Rampage wins or loses (he’ll lose) i honestly believe Randy can beat Rampage. Rampage can the retire and become the next big MMA crossover into holly…… HaHaHAHA, ok i’ll stop now
Did Dana White ghost-write this article?
Can we stop saying things like “sure James Toney was out of shape, but he’s one of the generation’s greatest boxers”? Yes. James Toney was a very good boxer (probable Hall-of-Famer)… 7-10 years ago… at lower weights. At heavyweight he was a decent fighter… years ago. In his last fight he was sluggish and fat at 220 pounds. That was one year ago. Today he’s 20 pounds heavier than he was a year ago, and even more sluggish and lazy.
On top of all that, James Toney was thrown into a fighting style where he had only 9 months of preparation. How much of that training was wrestling, BJJ, etc? How seriously did Toney take any of that training? It’s fair to speculate whether he spent more time training for the fight or more time at the buffet.
So spare me with the “Dana White took a big risk”. He put a big, old fat lard in the ring – one that was more than happy to collect the easiest, quickest payday of his life – against a seasoned MMA hall-of-famer, and trumped it up as a victory of MMA vs. boxing. Leaving aside the fact that the MMA v. boxing war is insanely ridiculous in the first place, it’s even more ridiculous to do any of the following:
- trumpet Couture for this victory (other than saying its great that he keeps in fighting shape at 47)
- trumpet MMA for this “victory over boxing”
- make excuses for/prop up the credentials of James Toney.
It’s amazing that I could describe Toney as an old and fat former boxing star and be accused of “propping” up his credentials!
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I know, isn't it amazing how you did that?
Funny, I don’t ever remember reading the words “old and fat former boxing star”.
Right after calling this a “dream confrontation”, you say “Yes, he was sixty pounds past his best fighting weight. But he was also one of his generation’s best boxers.”
Leaving it at “sixty pounds past his best fighting weight” without adding the “but”, or even just calling him a fat hog, would have been more on point for purposes of this article, but it wouldn’t have fit your angle. I get it. I just think that the entire article is a fluff piece for Couture and for the MMA side of the MMA-boxing debate.
I respect your position. I just want to note that I described it as White’s dream fight. I don’t think it was on the radar of most fans until it was booked.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
I guess I would just say that, in my opinion, your article really makes it sound like you agree with White. So I’d ask… do you?
No. I do think Couture and Fedor Emelianenko was a dream fight, but politics got in the way of that ever taking place. It’s too bad, because they are different sides of the same coin.
Boxing versus MMA isn’t particularly compelling. Boxing is a distinct sport and any match between a boxer and a cage fighter will be determined by the rules in place. I don’t think it really proves a point, especially when the boxer in question is James Toney. This is what I wrote earlier this month:
I have to wonder what the end game here is? Is it so important that the ancient Randy Couture defend the sport of MMA against the equally ancient James Toney? What does that prove to anyone? It’s been evident since day one that boxers would have a pretty rough go at it inside the Octagon. No one believes that Toney has much of a shot-and, sadly, no one really cares.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Replace “politics” with “M-1”
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 30, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
He could have complained about a vicious eye poke that led to a Liddell knockout win. He took the high road
You mean the vicious eye poke that Big John saw and gave Couture time to recover from?, yeah he really took the high road there.
Honestly it’s no wonder I can’t take you or your articles seriously, when you’re still going on about this Chuck eye pokes everyone bullshit myth it’s pathetic and you really need to get over it.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
Are you actually trying to pretend the thumb in the eye didn’t change the dynamics of that fight? That’s insane.
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 30, 2010 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
there were no dynamics to change the fight had just started, Randy got a chance to recover and then he got knocked the fuck out. The fact that you keep tossing around this bullshit myth about Chuck just goest to show how full of it you are. But that comes as no surprise since you picked BJ to beat Frankie then when he losses all of a sudden he’s an overated fraud.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
