SuaveStar Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 From wrestlezone.com UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Brock Lesnar vs Randy Couture has been officially signed and will take place on November 15, 2008 live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The UFC Championship will be on the line in this 5 round fight. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drqshadow Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 It's actually a very interesting fight. By all accounts, Randy should just destroy him. He's got the edge in everything but size and pure wrestling ability, and even that's somewhat debatable - Randy was a three time Olympic alternate as an amateur. The one real thing I can see Brock has going for him is that fifty pound weight advantage. If there's one thing Couture has struggled with historically, (besides Chuck Liddell) it's significantly larger men who know how to handle themselves on the ground. He was smashed by Josh Barnett near the end of his previous run at HW ('02), and while it really isn't fair to compare Brock to Josh at this stage in his career, they really do have a lot in common. If Randy can keep Brock at a distance and avoid being pinned on his back for any length of time, he should be able to handle it. But if he slips just once in five rounds, he could be in serious trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuaveStar Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 It's actually a very interesting fight. By all accounts, Randy should just destroy him. He's got the edge in everything but size and pure wrestling ability, and even that's somewhat debatable - Randy was a three time Olympic alternate as an amateur. The one real thing I can see Brock has going for him is that fifty pound weight advantage. If there's one thing Couture has struggled with historically, (besides Chuck Liddell) it's significantly larger men who know how to handle themselves on the ground. He was smashed by Josh Barnett near the end of his previous run at HW ('02), and while it really isn't fair to compare Brock to Josh at this stage in his career, they really do have a lot in common. If Randy can keep Brock at a distance and avoid being pinned on his back for any length of time, he should be able to handle it. But if he slips just once in five rounds, he could be in serious trouble. I've got to be honest, Lesnar will get killed in their. UFC signed him for a short term contract which is why their pushing this match. Lesnar is not a good fighter, from what I saw of his last two fights, he is a good hitter, but next to nothing else that could help him. Lesnars power and weight will only get him so far, but once Couture has him scouted, Lesnar is finished. it will be a good fight to see though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 As much as I love Brock, he just isn't ready for this opportunity. He's strong and fast, impossibly large and a phenomenal wrestler, but he's still too new to the world of MMA. Frank Mir exploited Brock's inexperience in his first UFC fight, and outside of one punch, Brock's second fight wasn't all that impressive. On the other hand, Randy's beaten men who were larger and stronger than himself. He has the experience. He knows how to mix his wrestling skills with other MMA tools. Despite what I've said above, I've yet to pick a winner. Though I want to see Lesnar / Mir II in 2009 for the unified title, I'm not sure that will happen. Ask me again in November. I'll make my choice by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Put me in the group of guys upset we'll never see Randy vs Fedor. MMA isn't doing itself any favors when a guy with a quick loss and a decision win is suddenly challenging for the title. Brock is going to get killed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drqshadow Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Actually, it's sounding like that match is closer than it's ever been. Both UFC and Fedor's management have softened their stances recently, and I've read that the current (optimistic) plan is to do Randy / Brock, Randy / Nog and then Randy / Fedor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Well, for that to happen, Affliction would have to die first. Granted, that's not a stretch by any means. The Observer says that UFC still won't do either of the two things that make sense, which is sign Fedor for the one fight deal or just co-promote it with another company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 It makes NO sense for them to co-promote it and I still wouldn't rule out a one fight deal somewhere down the line. As per Brock, I like how this site is a exact opposite of the consensus on the Oratory which seems to agree that Brock is taking it but giving Randy a chance. I think it will be a lot closer than people think but I have to give Randy a slight edge. Nothing about this fight would surprise me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Co-promotion would help the sport more than it would UFC directly. Promotions are dropping like flies and MMA is at a stage where the audience isn't growing at a rate as large as the number of companies vying for it. Elite XC did great ratings but they've still got one foot in the grave at any given moment. As much as they'd like to be the next coming of boxing, MMA is much closer to pro wrestling than anything else, and, just like with wrestling, they need competition to thrive. Obviously in the short term, UFC giving the rub to Affliction or whoever isn't the ideal business situation for them, but it's far from the dumbest move they could make, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 I'm right there with you, Blane: in regards to the fight, nothing would surprise me. Brock, with youth, size and strength on his side, might out-wrestle Randy. Or Randy might catch Brock's untested jaw with a solid punch. Brock might lay on Randy for five, boring rounds. Or Randy might hook in a submission. It really could go so many ways, and that's why I'm excited for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Randy's never knocked anyone out. A TKO is possible, but unlikely. I'm predicting Randy by unanimous decision. It'll be almost an exact copy of the Tim Sylvia fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blane Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Randy hasn't shown raw power but he has GREAT dirty boxing and with Brock not having been testing so much like that I could see a knockout by Randy. And giving Affliction makes NO sense for the UFC. It'd be like WWE co-promoting with TNA. You don't help the competition. The UFC is making money hand over first and has no reason to try and help the little guys up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drqshadow Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 UFC is convinced that Affliction won't be around in six months. And, judging by the payroll of that first event, they might be right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 5, 2008 Report Share Posted September 5, 2008 Yeah, I'm not saying that's their best option at all, and if/when Affliction dies, they won't have to, but it's one of the options. Obviously, one they're not taking, regardless of the reasons. Comparing them to TNA is kinda silly since they're in completely different positions relative to their competition, though the reasons WWE doesn't co-promote with them has nothing to do with money (they'd both make out like bandits). It's an ego issue with them, just as it is with UFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnino14 Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Brock is the new champion. The fight lived up the hype in my opinion. The undercard was pretty decent as well. I enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 It would have been better if more of the fights on the main card went past the first round, but overall it was a great show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Well, Brock is set for life now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molly Posted November 17, 2008 Report Share Posted November 17, 2008 Couldn't be happier for that big, dumb bastard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.