Your MMA News, My Views 8.24.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 08.24.2007
All of the news of the week, UFC 74 Predictions and the special commentary of the week, “Can Randy Couture Shock the World Again?”
INTRODUCTION~!
Welcome once again to another edition of Your MMA News, My Views! I have a fine slate of topics for you children to read today, and as always a special little piece of commentary for you, which have become quite popular it seems. I have had a busy week, the air conditioning broke, and I took my daughter Hana to her Kindergarten Open House to meet her teacher. It is quite sobering to realize that at 30 I have been married almost 8-years (I know how long, it will be 8-years as of December 11th), and have a 5-year-old that is about to start school. It is rather insane, but as it goes, I am adapting. Anyway, today will be a fun day, so sit back, relax and drop a line of feedback if you have time; I so love it.
Can Randy Couture Shock the World Again?
It started off as a return to the natural order of things. Coming off of the heels of UFC 67 it was announced that Randy "The Natural" Couture was coming out of retirement. On February 4th, 2006 Couture had his "last fight" in a losing effort to Chuck Liddell. Couture vs. Liddell III was a culmination and at the time set the UFC buy rate record at 400,000 buys, and the company was elated at that. In my opinion with the advent of the Ultimate fighter show and this feud, that is what started the UFC upswing. Couture, who had worked for small checks the majority of his career made a huge payday (and they got bigger due to him) and hung it up in a loss. Fighting is a lot like wrestling in a lot of ways, and one of those ways are retirement. In a lot of ways, no one ever really retires. Couture did some announcing for UFC, made appearances on the Ultimate Fighter follow up shows and stayed in shape (great shape for a man in his forties) as he trained for a submission match with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, a world champion in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. The match went to a draw and Couture was reportedly not at 100%. Now the only man in UFC history to win the Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight title is returning with a 4-fight, 2-year deal. He was to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia for the title in March in an effort to regain his title. If Couture can regain his title, I expect UFC to build the huge match of Couture vs. Mirko Crocop; which would be one of their few heavyweight marquee feuds. Or so it was at the time, and in the end that wasn't meant to be, well, part of it but we will get to that later.
When it was time for the title fight, I stated: Sylvia is 25-2 and coming off of five straight UFC wins. Couture is 14-8, with his last UFC fight being a loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57 at Light Heavyweight. Couture is not believed by most to have a chance, but I think that conditioning and experience will pay off for him here and that he will take the fight and the title. I really believed this. I thought that it all pointed to Couture winning in a "Rocky Ballboa" like way. The fight began and Couture rocked Sylvia and took him down and was in control. The rest of the round was Couture in control of the back from the bottom, but he made his presence felt and the crowd began to believe. Round two saw Couture take him down and dominate again and bloody Sylvia's nose and the crowd response grew. Round three was crazy as Couture stood up the entire time, bobbed and weaved and totally dominated and out boxed a tiring Sylvia. Couture saw both men tire and Couture go back to the ground. Couture scored with elbows and rights and was just out gaming Sylvia. Round five was electric with the crowd totally into it and wanting Couture to hang on for the win. He kept Sylvia down and when the round was over, a true great moment in sports was born.
I don't mean to over dramatize things, but that is what it was. I think 20-years from now when people ask me about my favorite sports moments, I will easily list this one with ease and have a smile on my face as Couture beat the odds, slayed the giant and proved me right. The raw emotion and overall meaning of this fight cannot be disputed and UFC has to be throwing continuous parties to celebrate this awesome fight. Couture as always was classy in his post match interview as he explained how the doubters fueled him to victory. Even better was Joe Rogan marking out like a small child as a favorite fighter of his did the impossible. What can be said other than this was a "moment," a moment to remember for the ages.
Now we move onto the other half of the equation. Mirko Crocop was all lined up to battle Randy Couture, all he had to do was get past a young fighter named Gabriel Gonzaga. They did battle, and apparently nobody told young Gabriel Gonzaga that he was supposed to lose because at UFC 70, he knocked Mirko the HELL OUT! Anyway, back in my final thought on UFC 67, I had this to say about Mirko: In the end though I have to say that Mirko didn't take him (Sanchez) seriously at all and toyed with him, which I hope he doesn't do again because no matter how devastating he is, it will eventually cost him down the line if and when he is in there with a more skilled fighter. Now I was not proclaiming Gabriel Gonzaga the next big thing in MMA, but he dominated the whole round by keeping Mirko on the ground, and then when they were stood up, a chance for Mirko to score with the judges, he got knocked the hell out with the kick he has been killing people with for years. Cruel irony there I suppose. But the fact is that Gonzaga went out there, took the stand up away from Mirko, dominated him the whole round on the ground and then, when stood up, knocked him the hell out. Again, maybe if they weren't stood up we go to round two, but we'll never know. Mirko didn't seem to have that killer look about him tonight, and in the end we had another upset in a UFC main event. Some think this will kill the PPV match with Couture, but I think they will do just as well with the stories of both men being played out. Gonzaga may provide a bigger challenge to Couture that Mirko did, and Randy put over Gonzaga and even said it in not so many words. I think it will be a great fight, and if Randy can get past Gonzaga and Arlovski, maybe Mirko can get some wins and we can still have the Randy vs. Mirko PPV title match we all wanted/expected. The bottom line is that this will NOT hurt the buy rate. Couture vs. MIRKO was a money fight, but, the people thought it was a money fight because they were told it is and that MIRKO was great. The people that love MIRKO the most are diehard fans, which is a small percentage of the UFC audience since it has boomed. Gonzaga kicking his head off may be huge for the buy as he destroyed the man that was supposed to be the big bad ass. It's a good story
And now we are here at UFC 74. Randy Couture is the reigning heavyweight champion and his first defense is against the man that destroyed Mirko, Gabriel Gonzaga. Gonzaga is younger and obviously hungry, but Randy is older, wiser and no one can doubt his conditioning. When I sit down and think about the fight, I realize that this is a hard one to pick for me. I mean, you have to ask, "Is Gabriel Gonzaga a one hit wonder or is he the real deal?" I would like to think that he is the read deal, but we see so many flashes in the pan it is hard to tell. I have a ton of faith in Randy, but he is training, opening up gyms, about to star in a movie and that could have him out of the game. Add into it that he isn't getting any younger and it could be a recipe for disaster. It seems like the odds are stacked against him, and it is that reason that I think he has the advantage. I have decided that I will stay loyal to Randy Couture until he proves me wrong, which very well maybe this weekend but I think he'll take the youngster to the limit and win the decision.
What do you think?
Remember to join 411 for our LIVE UFC 74 Coverage, starting at 10pm this Saturday Night!
ZUFFA (UFC/WEC/PRIDE) stories, scuttlebutt and rumors:
Your News: UFC issued a press release announcing former PRIDE champion and top ranked light-heavyweight Wanderlei Silva had been signed to a contract. Details of an opponent have not been announced, though it's been heavily speculated that should Liddell defeat Jardine he and Silva would face at the end of 2007.
"This is the pinnacle of my seven year career in this company," said White. "I'm so excited to have Wanderlei under contract. He grabbed my arm and looked me in the eyes like one of his pre-fight staredowns and he said ‘I'm gonna fight so good for you, you're gonna see the best fights ever from Wanderlei Silva.'"
"Many fighters have a dream of fighting for the UFC, and as a champion for six years in Japan, my dream has always been to have the UFC belt," said Silva. "Today, I'm one step closer to this goal."
My Views: Rock on. Now we just have to hope that Jardine doesn't get lucky with Liddell, because that would be rather disastrous. If Liddell wins, which he should, we're on for the anticipated Wanderlei vs. Chuck battle. While this is cool, I do worry about things. This will garner a lot of interest from the hardcore fans, and if properly promoted, will gain the interest of the newer MMA fan. But there is an element of danger here. If Chuck loses, that is two high profile losses in a relatively short time. And while this opens up the ranks, it does him no favors. Now on the other hand you have Wanderlei coming into the promotion, and you're going to push him like he's Jesus so that people feel he is important. If he comes in and gets owned by Chuck, people will think that he is an over-hyped fighter. It's a dangerous scenario, and I am glad I don't run this company.
Your News: Due to a knee injury suffered in training, Jens Pulver is out of his WEC debut bout scheduled for September 5th against Cub Swanson. Pulver stated:
"The biggest thing is that I'm disappointed, this is just an opportunity that will have to be sidelined a bit. But I thank the fans for all their support, I thank the WEC and hopefully they can get me back in there as soon as I'm ready. I also wish the Cub the best, and hopefully down the road I can fight him as soon as possible."
Pulver was finishing up his training camp in Iowa last week when he was injured during a grappling workout. Pulver explained:
"I was doing a guard pass and my foot got caught up in my partner's shorts, he was pitching his legs down, and I made one move and he rolled the other way. My whole body went one direction, but my knee down to my foot went the other, it shot straight out to the side, and I heard an explosion. Right then I knew, and I was lying on the floor going ‘no way this just happened.'"
My Views: Well this sucks big time. The September 5th show was supposed to be another big event for WEC as they are having another title bout and the debut of Pulver were the selling points. Pulver's move to WEC was to allow him to fight at 145, his more comfortable weight as well as to add some "name and star power" to the WEC. The fight with Cub Swanson was an interesting one to me and by no means was this going to be a walk for Jens. Unfortunately Jens tore the knee up badly; an Orthopedist confirmed a MCL tear in Pulver's left knee, with no broken bones. Pulver will undergo an MRI to determine if surgery is needed and if so he'll be out longer, but if it is a minor tear he can rehab and be back sooner. Timing is everything and for Jens and the WEC, the timing was bad here. There is no word on who will face Cub Swanson as of this writing.
Your News: If Fedor Emilianenko is considered the top Heavyweight free agent on the market, Brock Lesnar certainly must be a close second. A former NCAA champion, Lesnar is 1-0 in Mixed Martial Arts after submitting Min Soo Kim via strikes at the K-1 Dynamite event in Los Angeles this past June. His victorious debut opened a lot of eyes.
In an interview this week, Lesnar brought up a number of issues, including a recent discussion with UFC President Dana White, my thoughts in bold.
On free agency..."We're playing the games, but I'm tired of playing games," stated Lesnar. "It's time for somebody to make a move. I'm going to go down to the UFC and see what the hell is going on down there."
Yeah Brock! Don't take any crap, go on down there and find out what is what. I would rather see you in UFC than TNA to be honest with you.
On talking to Dana White..."We've spoken. I cannot deny or confirm anything. I'm just telling you this, I'm going to be there Saturday night and I'm looking for a win. I don't care who it is. If I had to fight somebody, I'd like to fight Randy. I'll fight Gonzaga. We'll see what happens."
Brock seems to think of himself as an elite heavyweight. Confidence is a good thing, and he certainly has the tools. Talk is a big part of fighting and he is doing it well.
On attending UFC 74..."I'm going to be attending the UFC this weekend, and I'm going to go down and watch and see in person, because I've watched these guys fight on TV. I'm going to go down there and see for myself and watch these heavyweights that I know I can beat."
Damn son, you got some balls on you. You KNOW you can beat everyone? Wow, he can talk the talk, that is for sure.
On future opponents and his potential to be champ..."I'm looking to fight somebody with credentials. I'm not just talking Silver Medals in Judo. I want a belt. I've fought a lot of tomato cans. I've already had it. You know? I want a fillet Mignon. Let's do it, and do it right. I want to fight somebody, somebody that's got credentials because I've got them too. There isn't a wrestler, there isn't a heavyweight out there my size that has done the things I've done...There isn't a guy like me walking around that can do the things that I do. These guys, they don't know. Let's put it this way, in college, or everywhere that I've gone, everybody has said that I'm one strong son-of-a-bitch, and that's what I am, and I'm able to back it up...I'm a fighter, and I believe that if somebody should be holding a belt in the UFC, it's Brock Lesnar."
Honestly it is hard to argue with him. He does have a lot of amateur credentials and is a very strong guy, of course that alone doesn't make a great fighter, he can get knocked out just like anyone else can. I really want to see him in UFC and with that caliber of opponents.
On former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia...Let's face it, Tim Sylvia was not a legitimate heavyweight champion...I enjoyed watching Randy beat the shit out of Tim Sylvia. I enjoyed that. I mean take a look at this guy, Tim Sylvia, the guy's feet; they're damn near webbed. He looks like the Swamp Thing. The guy is a vulture. He can't wrestle worth a crap. He's got a jab and a little right hand. There's no way. I'd double-leg his ass right through that cage so fast, and that would be the end of the fight. I'm tired. I'm tired of this. Brock Lesnar wants to fight somebody, somebody with credentials, and Tim Sylvia ain't the guy."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! For the fact that Brock BERRIED Tim Sylvia he gets my undying allegiance. Brock knows how to talk the talk and play the game. He is setting himself up as the guy to hate and the shit bagging of Sylvia is a way to start. If he talks enough sit and they build it right, him vs. Sylvia could do some fine business. I am loving MMA Brock. In the end he isn't ready yet, I feel anyway, and needs more fights. But I am loving the enthusiasm and attitude, it can be good for business.
MMA LINKZ~!
Tons of great stuff to read this week from the 411 MMA crew!
Your News: Whether a freak accident backstage or submitting hormone-free urine for a drug test, controversy seems to follow Heavyweight fighter Kevin Randleman. This past Thursday night has proven to be no exception. Randleman was arrested yesterday (8/16) on several charges including speeding, driving without a license, destruction of public property, intimidating a public officer, and driving under the influence. He was held overnight and was scheduled to face his hearing this morning in a Clark County courtroom. No word on the exact circumstances surrounding the arrest or the current status of his case.
My Views: Dear lord, let's look at the charges:
-Speeding
-Driving without a license
-Destruction of public property
-Intimidating a public officer
-Driving under the influence
Is this Kevin Randleman or Lindsay Lohan? After loses to Rampage and Sakuraba, Kevin Randleman seemed to revitalize his career with a KO victory over MIRKO. But his career went right back down as he lost to FEDRO, Ron Waterman, a rematch to MIRKO, and Nakamura in the next year. Add in submitting hormone-free urine for a drug test and the tale of Kevin Randleman is a sad one. This was a guy with a ton of potential that never seemed to keep it together and is now continuing to fall in matter of law. What could have been is a great question to ask in regards to Kevin Randleman.
Your News: Global Fighting Championship, slated to hold their first ever fight card event at the Mohegan Sun arena this past Friday, was forced to cancel their event with 6 fighters reported unable to compete due to restrictions from Mohegan Sun's athletic commission. Outside of the event, well known K-1 kick boxer and MMA fighter Bob "The Beast" Sapp informed 411mania that he is working with several other bodies to put together a card featuring several heavyweight and super heavyweight fighters. Since there has been trouble with putting super heavyweight fighters into American fight cards, this card would be taking place in Canada and would be headlined with a super fight between Sapp and fellow K-1 veteran Mark Hunt.
My Views: Multiple fighters, including headliner Mark Kerr, failed to pass their medical testing yesterday and at last minute, the promotion was unable to get replacements. First of all Mark Kerr was scheduled to face Sean O'Haire in the main event. It had been rumored Kerr was nearly 300 pounds going into the fight. His weight was 289.5 pounds, and after weigh-ins, he was not allowed to fight due to high blood pressure. That's shocking, people that use steroids and then come off tend to have blood pressure issues. Edwin Dewees, who had to cut significant weight because he came in heavy, after cutting, failed to pass his testing as well believed to be from high blood pressure as well. Dewees weighed 193 pounds for a fight contracted at 185, and was given two hours to make weight. He came less than a pound from making it, which I hate because I feel high weight cutting is a bad thing as I have discussed before.
As far as Bob Sapp working on a card in Canada, I suppose anything is possible, but much like pro wrestling I will believe it when I see it. So many times we see events promised to us and at the end of the day they are all hype and talk. If he can get financing and all of the stuff taken card of, and secure Mark Hunt, they I suppose they could pull it off. Then again, how much is the demand for MMA in Canada, especially for a card primarily made up of several heavyweight and super heavyweight fighters? I suppose that we'll have to wait and see.
UFC 74 PICKZ~!
Remember to join 411 for our LIVE UFC 74 Coverage, starting at 10pm this Saturday Night!
-Clay Guida vs. Marcus Aurelio Winner: Marcus Aurelio, Decision
-Frank Mir vs. Antoni Hardonk Winner: Frank Mir, Submission, Rd 2
-Babalu Sobral vs. David Heath Winner: Babalu Sobral, Submission, RD 1
-Kendall Grove vs. Patrick Cote Winner: Kendall Grove, Submission, Rd 2
-Kurt Pellegrino vs. Joe Stevenson Winner: Joe Stevenson, RD 2, TKO
-Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck Winner: Josh Koscheck, Decision
-Roger Huerta vs. Alberto Crane Winner: Roger Huerta, Decision
-HW Title: Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga Winner: Randy Couture, Decision
READER FEEDBACK~!
From Jamie on "Repressed Rampage" -
I have to wonder if the lack of exposure for Rampage could be due to a few things you did not mention.
1. Perhaps Rampage does not want the attention. Not all athletes want to be crossover stars, some just want to compete, train and otherwise stay out of the public eye.
2. He's a Pride guy. A homegrown star always makes your organization look better than someone who made their name elsewhere.
3. Patience - he hasn't even defended his title once. Sherk wasn't doing the publicity circuit either. Chuck and Randy get pushed in part because they are long term or repeat champs. If he loses to Henderson, he'll be a one and done champ. Plus Henderson is a guy who can be pushed even more as he has the Olympic pedigree, comes from Team Quest and will hold three belts in two weight classes. They could be waiting to pounce on a different bandwagon.
Well hello there young Jamie. Let's check these points of yours, that you have kindly and politely provided. For #1, he may not want the attention, but as a top star in a company, it comes with the territory, and well, if they ask or tell you to do something, you do it.
Onto point #2, there is NO PRIDE anymore. UFC owns PRIDE. This is the mentality that Vince McMahon had with WCW and even ECW at times when he owned the companies. While a homegrown star is nice, he owns Rampage and his past now, so I find that point lacking.
I like your reasoning for #3, but the fact is that Chuck was pushed hard and did a lot of appearances. Rampage comes in, knocks him the HELL out and is the new star on the block. You have to jump on that kind of thing. Henderson would make a good story, I agree, but your earlier logic states that he isn't a homegrown guy; he's a PRIDE guy. See, it doesn't matter. Thanks for the email!
From Jacob on "The Story of the Selfish Sherk" -
I have to say that I think that you're a jerk by what you wrote regarding Sean Sherk. Sean Sherk is a great man and is innocent until proven guilty, but apparently you know nothing about that being a wrestling writer. There are a 1000 reasons he could have tested positive for steroids, so why don't you shut up until someone who knows something lets us know for sure.
That's all well and fine, you're entitled to your own opinion. Sure Sherk works out hard and takes 76 supplements and such, which could elevate his levels, but to get them to double the allowable level? I HIGHLY doubt it. And it is that reason I feel he is being selfish because I doubt he'll get off, he'll still get the one-year suspension and the division is fucked for over one-year because of his appeal.
For more interesting information on wrestling and MMA, check out Bryan Alvarez and Figure Four Weekly Online!
And of you are interested...check out the WWE Saturday Night's Main Event Podcast~!
We are back for the latest Tremendous Tirades Podcast Adventure! We run down Saturday Night's Main Event, discuss the problems the show had, the following of the TNA Impact formula; which is a bad thing, and a discussion of why Saturday Night's Main Event just doesn't work in 2007. From there we move onto DEAR CHRISTI, where we discuss PACMAN, a TNA Women's division and the status of "THE SHIRT~!" Finally we look forward to Summerslam; have some TV discussion (BIG BROTHER~!) as well as some advice to the guys trying to boycott TNA. One hour of fun just for you!
It started off as a return to the natural order of things. Coming off of the heels of UFC 67 it was announced that Randy "The Natural" Couture was coming out of retirement. On February 4th, 2006 Couture had his "last fight" in a losing effort to Chuck Liddell. Couture vs. Liddell III was a culmination and at the time set the UFC buy rate record at 400,000 buys, and the company was elated at that. In my opinion with the advent of the Ultimate fighter show and this feud, that is what started the UFC upswing. Couture, who had worked for small checks the majority of his career made a huge payday (and they got bigger due to him) and hung it up in a loss. Fighting is a lot like wrestling in a lot of ways, and one of those ways are retirement. In a lot of ways, no one ever really retires. Couture did some announcing for UFC, made appearances on the Ultimate Fighter follow up shows and stayed in shape (great shape for a man in his forties) as he trained for a submission match with Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, a world champion in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. The match went to a draw and Couture was reportedly not at 100%. Now the only man in UFC history to win the Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight title is returning with a 4-fight, 2-year deal. He was to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia for the title in March in an effort to regain his title. If Couture can regain his title, I expect UFC to build the huge match of Couture vs. Mirko Crocop; which would be one of their few heavyweight marquee feuds. Or so it was at the time, and in the end that wasn't meant to be, well, part of it but we will get to that later. 
