Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture - Official Discussion Thread

[Frank the Frowner]

I think it's safe to say that regardless of your personal feelings for him, you're going to have an opinion on Randy Couture, who is considered by many to be the true ambassador of the sport. The last year has had him on the sidelines, due to his desire to get out of his UFC contract. The problem with that was the fact that he had 2 more fights left on his contract, oh, and he also just so happened to be their Heavyweight Champion.

The reasoning behind it? He wanted to fight a dream match with Fedor Emilianenko, which wouldn't happen because negotiations with Fedor and the UFC fell through. Which is understandable, when Dana White talks about the outrageous demands his people were making. What isn't understandable is that he wanted to be paid more money, when he made over a million dollars for his wins over Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga. He was the #2 most highest paid fighter, with Liddell #1. He wanted to be #1.

The last year has been a legal battle between the UFC and Couture. That was until this story broke on MMAJunkie.com, which is a very reputable website for MMA news.

The long-rumored heavyweight superfight between UFC champion Randy Couture (16-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is currently being discussed for an as-yet-unspecified date in January or February of 2009.

Sources inside Couture's Xtreme Couture camp today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and both fighters.

The fight is far from a done deal. Many of the same issues that prevented Emelianenko from signing with the UFC during previous negotiations must still be ironed out. But it appears that the UFC and representatives for both Couture and Emelianenko are working toward bringing the two legends together for a long-awaited bout.

Additionally, the same sources are reporting that Couture is currently "actively training for a fight."

Couture has remained in shape throughout his self-imposed 12-month layoff, but his workouts are now reportedly being geared toward an apparent upcoming bout.

Adding to previous speculation that Couture's return may be on Nov. 15 at UFC 91 against Brock Lesnar, Xtreme Couture is also reportedly making travel arrangements to bring in several "larger heavyweights" as sparring partners for Couture.

Sources indicate the Emelianenko bout is contingent upon Couture defeating Lesnar in November.

MMA Rated first reported the possibility of Emelianenko as Couture's second opponent after Lesnar. That report also stated that the UFC hopes to make an announcement regarding a new contract with Couture as early as Tuesday.

So, how much of a chance do you think Brock would stand against Couture? Personally, I would give Brock a reasonable chance to win. It's not like Randy's been doing much in the last year or so. If he took out Couture, then he's the savior of the fledgling Heavyweight Division. I still think that losing to Mir might have been the best thing for his career. He even said himself that he's been working tirelessly on his submission skills since that fight. Both he and Randy are great wrestlers, and with a very sizeable advantage in size, I can see Randy having a hard time putting Brock away, and even tiring out. It's a possibility at his age. All Brock would have to do is utilize the same gameplan he had for Herring.

If Brock lost, it wouldn't damage him in the slightest. If Randy did beat him, then it would be the experienced veteran making a triumphant return against a rookie still learning his craft at the highest level while willingly taking on top competition.

And as far as a potential Randy vs. Fedor match goes... if that took place next year, New York would without a doubt be the best place for that fight to happen, especially where Dana is so close to pulling getting New York off. It would be the biggest UFC card in the history of the promotion. I'm dying to see it happen.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I've heard he's coming back to the UFC for three more fights. The first will be the Lesnar fight, Nogueira and a retirement fight with Liddell. But the end result will be that he'll have the Liddell fight then go and face Fedor.

The Lesnar fight is intresting. But I can't see it being a good one for Lesnar. What if he loses? Along with his potential, Coture's age and the lenght between fights I can't imagine how he'd be perceived after the fight.

They should also have a different fight to the Liddel one. I can see why they'd do it. But I'd much prefer it to stay as an unoffical two out of three.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

UFC has announced they will be holding a conference call this afternoon at 3:00 PM EST to make a major announcement. The announcement is expected to be that Randy Couture has come to terms on a contract and will make his UFC return to fight Brock Lesnar. If so, he will be facing off against the former WWE champ on November 15 in Portland, Oregon.

If everything goes through, this will likely be the biggest fight of Brock Lesnar’s career.

Well duh. He's faced former UFC somebody Frank Mir and former Pride, current UFC nobody Heath Herring. So yeah, slight understatement there. It'll certainly be a big money fight. But I can't help but think it would be better to hold it off for a couple of months so they can really promote the hell out of it.

 

[Frank the Frowner]

I thought that Brock vs. Randy was going to just be a non-title match. It would have been a chance for Randy to work off any ring rust, and see what kind of mileage would have been left in the tank. It also would have been a chance for Brock to test his skills against quite possibly the greatest heavyweight of all time and see how he would have fared.

There would have been a lot of risk for both guys, but nowhere near the amount of risk for a title match, which we have now.

Today, Dana White held a press conference to announce that Randy Couture had indeed agreed to terms with the UFC. The speculation of a fight vs. Brock Lesnar was confirmed. The fact that it's a title match, now this is awesome. It's going to not take place in Portland, Oregon either, but in Las Vegas.

It's going to be very interesting to see how things shake out. If this were a regular fight, I could see Brock controlling Couture to a 3 round decision. I'm not so sure about that now.

I'm psyched for Lesnar. It could be too much too soon for him, but you know he will rise to the challenge. However, guys like Febricio Werdum have to be pretty bullshit right now.

Here's the story.

After a very public split with the organization back in October, reigning UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has agreed to return to the UFC, and he'll meet Brock Lesnar in a UFC 91 championship bout with Brock Lesnar.

UFC President Dana White today confirmed the news in a media conference call.

White also confirmed that UFC 91 will take place Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas -- not at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore., as first expected.

As part of Couture's return to competition, which includes a new multi-fight deal with the UFC, White confirmed that their ongoing legal battle has been resolved. Couture resigned from the organization in October citing a lack of respect from UFC executives, issues over his pay, and the UFC's inability to sign then-free agent Fedor Emelianenko.

"I think some compromises were made on both sides," Couture said.

"All I give a [expletive] about is that he's back and fighting," White said.

White also confirmed that the winner of an upcoming fight between interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir will meet the Couture vs. Lesnar winner sometime in 2009 to unify the titles.

White didn't role out a potential Couture vs. Emelianenko fight -- one that Couture desparately wants -- but said the famed Russian fighter's contract situation could present problems. However, White admitted that he's "always wanted" Emelianenko in the UFC.

 

[imdamiz]

Wow thought for a minute WZ got rid of these threads for a minute from the backyard thing but glad to see we have our own section now....anyways onto the main topic before i get in trouble haha
Randy just signed a new three fight deal so hopefully if things work out right couture beats lesnar (91), beats the winner of nogs/mir (96)and then has his final match with fedor possibly at UFC 100 if I did the math right i think that works out just right......
Now I understand the financial and marketing reasons as to why lesnar is gettin a title shot but from a vantage point of a fabricio verdum this makes no sense at all what has lesnar done other then lay on heath herring? beat Min Soo Kim? oh yeah that def earns a title shot and for everyone out there who will say "randy has no shot lesnars quicker bigger, a better wrestler, better striker then randy, brock will just take him down and g'n'p" should not be allowed to talk here yes lesnars bigger and faster but a better striker? i think not, randy has some of the best dirty boxing in the game ever and he gameplans his strikes perfectly as we saw against tim sylvia and gabriel gonzaga and if brock takes randy down he's not gonna be able to lay on randy like he did against herring, randy will show him what someone with talent on the ground can do as I'm sure he learned from frank mir (who trains with randy occaisionally) so overall I'll say Couture with the 5 round unanimous decision, Nogueira over Mir via guitione, Nogs over couture via knockout, and fedor over randy with an arm-bar

 

[footman645]

I read rumors about this yesterday and thought they were only rumors. Then I read today that it was confirmed. Regardless of anyone's expected outcome, or reasons why it shouldn't have happened, nobody can deny that this is one of the biggest fights in UFC history. The fact that Lesnar is getting a title shot in just his fourth professional fight is amazing. Whether you think he deserves it or not, this is an incredible opportunity that has presented itself for him. By the same token, a win could do great things for Couture. After everything that's happened with him over the last year, coming back to beat the biggest name in the division right now will put him right back into place. You can't count Couture out under any circumstances, but he definitely needs to do something to fortify his presence in the UFC. Beating a guy like Lesnar could do that.
Ever since Lesnar destroyed Herring, I've been wondering who was his next step on the path to the title (I do believe he will be the champion at some point). Kongo seemed like the obvious choice, and I was excited about that. But, this fight blows Lesnar vs. Kongo out of the water. It's going to be a great fight, and a great night regardless of who wins.

 

[Uncle Phatso]

I'm not to sure about this. Lesnar has tallent, But good god, randy couture is a fucking legend in mma. If you don't know who he is and you whatch ufc or keep up with any mma, you offically live under a rock.

Randys record speaks for itself, Its good but not amazing. I'm not saying I could do better, but he's 45 for christ's sake. He should retire. His record is good, His last two losses were aganst the ice man I do believe. Who on any good day a loss is the best you can hope for.

I see brock possibly winning this by tko or it going the full length and brock winning by a few points. I don't see brock dominating randy for the whole match. But in the end I'm going to pick possibly brock.

 

[Dead Kennedy]

Randy Couture is a freaking dangerous man. Brock Lesnar is gonna get some sense knocked into him here. Lesnar's just not good enough of a fighter. Due to Couture's age, Lesnar might have an edge here, but judging on skills alone, Couture should be able to break down Lesnar in every conceivable way.

 

[Davi323]

I am gonna go with Randy Couture, but, its like 51-49% confidence. If undecided or draw had been a poll choice, I would have gone with that instead. Couture has a wealth of experience, but Lesnar has youth, and I believe more overall raw power. Further, while Couture doesn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore, Lesnar absolutely needs to win this match to be taken legitimately as a MMA fighter. Lesnar is going to be more focused on this match than Couture, I think. Otherwise, I would say Couture kicks his ass, and my confidence level would be around the high 80s. I do think Couture will probably prevail, but, I think Lesnar is going to give him everything he can handle.

 

[Uncle Phatso]

Randy Couture is a freaking dangerous man. Brock Lesnar is gonna get some sense knocked into him here. Lesnar's just not good enough of a fighter. Due to Couture's age, Lesnar might have an edge here, but judging on skills alone, Couture should be able to break down Lesnar in every conceivable way.

100% truth dude. Randy was a beast in his time, and still can show allmost anyone in the ring a hell of a time. But injury's age and probiblly knowing it will be one of his last fights will be a deciding factor here.

Lesnar with the exception of 1 fight faced puds. Jobbers in wwe terms. Randy has faced allmost every big name in mma today. Lost and won in alot of them. But allways put up a fight. To me lesnar has age and strength possibly over randy. But randy has the want to go out on a good note. And experence. I whatched lesnar panic like a bitch when he got in a sub. A eazy thing he could of got out of, but he went nuts. And thats to me what possibly might win randy the match.

 

[jmt225]

You know, I'm usually not one to ever doubt Randy Couture, but I just don't see how he has a chance in hell to win this fight. Like I said in the 'General MMA Discussion' thread when this fight was first rumored, they’re both by far the best wrestlers in MMA, but Lesnar is just too fucking big and that's why I see him completely dominating Couture. Again.. standing-up, Couture probably has the edge, but neither have shown to be submission specialist, so really.... wrestling and G&P is what the fight would come down to and I don’t believe Couture can hang with Lesnar when in that aspect. Lesnar weighing 40 pounds for than Couture is what really makes the difference, however, not actual skill. Skill wise, they're about the same, but size is going to be a HUGE factor in this fight and Lesnar obviously has the advantage there.

However, if Nog takes out Mir and then he and Lesnar were to have a fight to unify the titles if and when Lesnar defeats Couture, as sure as I am Lesnar would beat Couture, I'm just as positive Nog would beat Lesnar. BUT, if Couture were facing Nog in November instead of Lesnar, I would predict Couture finding a way to win that fight. Funny how that works.