UFC: Setting up Couture vs. Machida
Posted by James in MMA SportswriterJan 14th, 2010 | 19 responses
Here’s a thought…
Why doesn’t Dana White just come right out and say that he feels that Randy Couture has done enough for the sport of MMA (which he has) to automatically deserve a shot at the light-heavyweight championship title?
Why make him jump through a dozen hoops just to appease a rather “large” portion of the fans?
After all, it’s your monopoly Dana–just do whatever the heck you want!
Fight fans can complain until they are blue in the face—Randy Couture should not have to wait in line and the light-heavyweight division was officially put on notice of this fact, once it was announced that Randy was going to be moving down from the heavyweight division.
And if the other fighters (or MMA media) don’t like it…well that’s just too bad for them. They probably wouldn’t even have the opportunities that they have today if it weren’t for guys like Randy.
Respect.
Back in July 2009, Randy made his future career goals very clear by indicating a strong desire to move back down from heavyweight to light-heavyweight in order to give him a chance at the current light-heavyweight champion, Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
“He’s got a very unique style, very unorthodox, he stays true to his karate background and makes it work,” Couture said.
“I could certainly go back down to 205 if that was something [the UFC and its’ fans] wanted to see. I’d be interested in competing against him. He’s a tremendous competitor and somebody I’d like to fight.” –mmafighting.com
When Couture fought Vera in his “debut”, I immediately picked up on something that Joe Rogan had said during the fight introductions. He said that a win would certainly get Couture into title contention and if Vera were to win, he would “move up the ladder” in the light-heavyweight division.
What? No title shot for Vera??
Obviously not.
The pay-per-view money is clearly with Couture.
But Randy messed up. He won, but he didn’t do it convincingly enough to make the fans believe that he had “earned” it. This I do not understand. Trust me when I tell you fight fans…Randy has earned it.
So now here we are– Couture versus Coleman. A fight that should be truly awesome!
Let’s assume for a moment that Couture can beat Mark “The Hammer” Coleman in their upcoming fight at UFC 109. Then what?
Should that automatically mean a shot at the title for Randy?
Well…yes and no.
It all depends on what happens at UFC 113 when Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida faces off in the much anticipated rematch with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Either way, whether it’s for the title or not, Couture will definitely be fighting Machida this year and we should be praising our lucky stars that we live in a generation that will get to witness this extension of greatness.
How much time do we honestly believe that Couture has left before he absolutely concedes to the fact that he must hang up his gloves?
Not much.
So, while some are hell-bent on calling for Randy’s retirement (don’t get me started Spence, I’ve been taking massive, unhealthy amounts of steroids and I’m liable to burst into rage at any given moment), I personally believe that we should be embracing every moment that this man steps into the Octogon.
As our younger generation takes over this planet (whatever’s left of it), at least we will be able to say that we saw some of the greats…
…Wayne Gretzky…Michael Jordan…Brett Favre…Tiger Woods…
…and let’s not forget to add Randy Couture to that list.
Enjoy it while it lasts fight fans.
It is an honour and a privilege to watch this man in action—win or lose.
.
These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com
19 Responses to “UFC: Setting up Couture vs. Machida”
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WOW, nice.
Nice article James. Keep up the good work.
Could not disagree more…
I'm far too lazy to do the research to figure out how old one would be to really understand the sport of Basketball…..therefore I will randomly use the age of 13.
Now….if some kid was 13 years old when Michael Jordan made his comeback with the Washington Wizards, is he considered “privileged” to have watched a cigar-smoking, ego-maniac “has-been” lay the ball up on a fast break, then proceed to brick 20 foot jump-shots every night ?
Better yet, what type of enjoyment am I supposed to get by watching two geezers blow their wads within the first minute of the fight then proceed to hug and play grab-ass for the other two rounds ?
I eagerly anticipate your chemically-altered retort.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your comparison to Jordan is a bit off Mike. Better to compare Couture to Favre – they both have much to offer, even in the later stages of their careers.
And just because they aren't as “great” as they once were, that doesn't mean that they are worthless. Couture has as much of a chance of winning the championship belt as Favre has of winning the Super Bowl this year – VERY GOOD!
I actually think that the Couture/Coleman fight is going to be very exciting. We will see.
Thanks
I think Mike is right to compare Wizard's Jordan to current Couture. Couture is not the same fighter he once was. Don't get me wrong, the man still has a lot to offer, and I really want to see the Coleman fight too, but I don't think I hold Couture in the same light as other fans.
Couture, has made a huge impression in MMA, is an amazing ambassador for the sport, and a great story, with an amazing career. But I see guys like BJ, GSP, Silva, hell, even Hughes (strickly based on how long he held a division in check) as your Jordan's and Gretzky's. These fighters dominant their weight classes, and keep their titles fight after fight.
If Couture gets past Coleman, and wins one more fight convincingly, then yes, give the man a title shot.
Assuming that Couture is on the decline (which he probably is) I would still sooner watch him that 90% of the other fighters in MMA. For a guy who takes so much criticism, I highly doubt that any true fight fan would miss any of his remaining fights.
I'm just saying….enjoy it for what it is.
I think that if Couture wins, he gets a title shot. If he loses, he gets the loser of Machida/Rua.
For Couture, it's a win-win.
Hilarious, how can you argue with that?
I am so sick or Randy Couture!! While he is one of the all time greats, right now his fights are soooooo boring. Push guy in fence, throw a couple of blows, push him against the fence some more, throw a jab or two, zzzzzzzzz. Does anyone remember his last fight against Brendan Vera? It was boring as hell! While I understand that UFC can keep milking him because his fight draws fans, please put him with other chumps and not someone like Macheda who is at the top of his game.
LMAO!! Sick of Randy Couture? I can see how the hype gets to be a bit much but you can blame the likes of Goldberg and Rogan for that one. The UFC Hype-Machine!!!
Watch Couture in an interview. You will see a man who is humble, intelligent and sportsman-like. The true makings of a champion. How could anyone not like that?
He doesn't care what people think about his legacy. He doesn't fight for any other reason than to test himself against the best. That's what fighters do. How fitting that he will pass the torch to Machida. And Coleman to Rua. The times are a changin' my friend and why more people don't just try to enjoy it is beyond me.
Oh well…keep complaining… LOL
And judging a fighter based solely on his last performance is completely unfair. Next you'll tell me that he didn't put on a better performance than Kimbo LOL
Thanks anyway.
I never questioned the man's legacy or the fact that he is a great guy. I just dont think he is that good anymore. He does not deseve a title shot in my opinion. The man is a living legend and will go down as one of the all time greats but he is boring as hell to watch and he has not beaten anyone of note in the past 5 years!!!
Last 5 years?? Not sure what fights you were watching, but I watched Couture beat the following fighters:
Vitor Belfort
Mike Van Arsdale
Tim Sylvia (say what you want – that fight was EXCITING!!!)
Gabriel Gonzaga
Brandon Vera
I also saw Couture lose to the following fighters:
Big Nog
Brock Lesnar (Couture did light years better than Mir)
Chuck Liddell (twice)
Couture vs Coleman is going to be great because unlike Brandon Vera, Coleman comes to fight!
If you don’t believe me and if you think that Couture is so boring to watch, then please accept my challenge:
I DARE YOU NOT TO WATCH!!!
There aren't many title shots as it is. The UFC wants to make sure it will get their investment back by making a matchup like Machida vs. Couture. No one is going to pay 50 dollars to see Randy try to hold Machida against the fence for 25 minutes. Other than that UFC also wants to make sure that they can milk Randy for all he's worth because after a real defeat his career will be done. No one will want to watch him any more. If you ask me Randy should be ashamed that he is still trying to hold on to what he used to have.
He should retire with his head held high and keep good memories fresh in peoples minds. Not give us boring fights that is just tarnishing his reputation. He still wins but all he proved is that even a 46 year old guy can hold a guy and scrape out decision wins. He really hasn't proved much by continuing to fight.
To judge a fighter based of recent performances is more that fair. It is whats known as the fight game. This sport is all about “What have you done for me lately?” And when Dana White asks that question about Randy he does not like the answer.
You don't honestly think that people would pay to see Couture fight Machida???
I think that it would be one of the hugest fights ever (PPV sales). EVER!!! LOL
I just don't see what you are saying Jay. I don't think that Couture fights any differently now than he ever did before. The guys a wrestler who incorporates dirty boxing skills. If the Vera fight was boring, blame Vera – he's the one who refused to fight his own fight and the result was a loss.
When Couture vs Coleman blows the doors off of the arena, you will then see that I am correct. Couture still has gas in the tank and can entertain with the best of them.
Then again…maybe I'm wrong. All I'm saying is, he'll retire soon enough, why can't we find the joy in watching him at this stage in his career? Is he so aweful??
Saying that he should be ashamed of himself is a bit over the top and hardly fair to Couture. It's not like he drove his pick-up truck through the front doors of a Casino in a high speed police chase. The guy just wants to compete while he knows that he still can.
He doesn't give a crap about your “memories”. In the end, when he retires, he will be remembered as a guy who never gave up on himself or his dream and always tried his hardest, even when the odds were stacked against him and the fans (most, certainly not I) gave up on him.
I can't think of a better role model for today's young athletes.
I predict that the story will end with Couture winning the belt and proving all of his doubters wrong. That's what great, legendary athletes do. They all must overcome in order to be recognized for their true greatness.
Thanks for the comment Jay. I was a bit bored today, so I decided that I wanted to argue about Couture LOL I appreciate the opportunity to rant
Cheers my friend.
I don't mind watching Couture fight. I just totally disagree with putting him in a title shot without him actually beating a contender.
Brandon Vera, for that matter, hasn't beaten a contender in a long time either.
I would place Couture as having “Permanent Contender” status. The point of the article is that I don't think that he should have to work his way through 5 other guys just to get a shot at something that I feel he has automatically earned. I realize that I'm probably the minority in this thinking.
But I see what you are saying, so who would he have to beat in your mind to deserve a shot? I would think Rashad.
Who would you rank higher as a contender? Rampage or Couture? Or Forrest?? Wanderlei??
Nice article, James – I totally agree. And I would love to see Couture vs. Machida!
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