Fedor/Couture: Super Fight or Mis-Match?
It had been just about two years since Fedor Emelianenko fought a legitimate opponent. That is, until he destroyed former UFC HW champ Tim Sylvia in 36 seconds this past Saturday night. During the post fight interview, Fedor was asked who he would like to face next…and of course he named Randy Couture.
Couture is a legend in this sport…the first man to become a champion in two different weight classes. At 44 years of age he came out of retirement to defeat the same Tim Sylvia via unanimous decision. Couture has always seemed to defy the odds in terms of age and ability, but that will not be the case against Fedor.
I don’t even think Couture has earned the right to face Fedor…most people have Couture ranked #3 at HW…and I have a problem with that. Considering that Couture beat Sylvia by decision and stopped a Gabriel Gonzaga who proved to be over hyped after his win over Cro Cop. I don’t see how Couture can be ranked at #3 when he only has one win against a top 10 HW since his first retirement. Whereas, he was stopped in 2 of his last three fights at LHW prior to those fights.
Let’s take a look at this match up realistically:
Stand up, Quickness, Power, and Submissions all favor Fedor by light years. The only aspect in which Couture has an edge is wrestling…and if the fight hits the ground…well then those submissions come into play. I understand that Couture is the master of game planning and strategy…but let’s face it…it will have been over a year since Couture fought last(if the fight happens).
I’m not a fan of MMA math…but this fight isn’t a super fight…it’s more of a mis-match. I understand that Fedor/Couture is a fight that most people want to see…but it will not be competitive. Actually, this fight would not have been competitive 5 years ago. The next opponent that Fedor should face is Josh Barnett. Barnett is a perennial top 5 HW and the lone top HW that Fedor has yet to face…the time has come.
July 22, 2008 at 9:20 am
I don’t think you’re giving Couture much credit. His striking was overmatched against Sylvia, and his striking and submissions were overmatched against Gonzaga. We both know how that turned out. I’m not saying Couture will beat Emelianenko, but he will be more of a challenge than Sylvia.
July 22, 2008 at 10:21 am
Eric..thanks for the comment…while he was overmatched in terms of striking ability…he had the advantage in quickness and clinch work. You are right…he will pose more of a challenge than Sylvia..simply because Couture has the takedown element. Fedor didn’t have to worry about being taken down by Sylvia. However, it still will not be competitive IMO.
July 22, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I also believe couture deserves more credit. I’ve heard these same comments before. You talk of records as if fedor has faced top shelf competition recently. Yes, he beat tim. But randy is a very different kind of fight. And it’s not easy to tell how this fight would go. Fedor looked fast aganst tim and choi but had a little trouble with hunt. Fedor seems to follow the same plan every time. Throw 3 punches, takedown, submit. Thats a good plan for big slow guys. But fedor may be out of his element with couture. I’m not saying fedor would loose for sure. But he’d definetly have a fight on his hands.
July 22, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Dereck, thanks alot for the reply…as I’ve stated already Couture IS a different matchup for Fedor when compared to Sylvia. But there is nothing in Couture’s arsenal that will give Fedor problems. There is no way Couture would be able to control Fedor on the ground the same way he did Sylvia for 5 rounds.
July 22, 2008 at 3:31 pm
So well said, man! Finally someone has the b%lls to point out the obvious! How can a fighter’s record be all but disregarded when determining opponents and his standing or “ranking”? Randy lost respect from me when he refused to fight Big Nog b/c he lost to Fedor twice. Why should Fedor fight him when he’s lost to Chuck Lidell twice at LHW? There is no way that Randy should be ranked ahead of Barnett, considering Barnett beat him and his success in recent years. The only “super” thing about this fight would be the hype. No way Randy makes it out of round 2.
July 22, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Drew, thanks for commenting…
July 22, 2008 at 4:05 pm
correct me if im wrong but didnt barnett get kicked out of the ufc for using steroids and randy is 10x the fighter he was then.as for chuck if chuck hits any hw/lhw on the chin its goodnight and we dont know if cutting 20/25 pounds all the time was catching up with randy.im not saying hed beat fedor but i think hes the only hw in the world at the moment who would give fedor a decent fight.
July 22, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Barnett did get caught using steroids after beating Couture…however, that’s the only time he’s test positive. Granted, he could have used them when fighting for Pride(they didn’t test)…but then again, his competitors probably used also…making the playing field level. Regardless, Barnett has more wins over top HW’s than Couture…Nogueira, A. Emelianenko, Mark Hunt..all were top ten HW’s when he fought them.
July 22, 2008 at 4:59 pm
yeah and barnett has been beaten 3 times by crocop who was destroyed by gonzaga and beaten comprehensively by kongo.and its well known that fedor stated in an interview that his toughest opponent ever was none other than crocop.
July 22, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Actually, 2 times by Cro Cop…the third was via eye poke..I know Fedor said that…but .provided that prior to Sylvia…Cro Cop was the last REAL legitimate HW that Fedor faced…I don’t find that hard to believe…lol
Scott, how do you like the blog? I’m trying to get some feedback from the readers.
July 22, 2008 at 5:14 pm
yeah it was great.well informed if a little biased.i appreciate how youve got back to me straight away.i will definitely be looking it up again!!all valid points aside though i just want to see this fight.
July 22, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Did you not see the Fedor vs. Lindland fight? Fedor’s only defense against the greco clinch was to cheat and hold the ropes. That was against a guy who moved up two weight classes. Fedor got a sweet sub but Randy is going to give him way more problems than Big Tim. And don’t count out the game plan. Look no further than Forest vs Rampage. Excelent game plans win fights. Randy is king of game plans.
July 22, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Yep, I saw that…again as I said earlier…as soon as the fight hits the ground..submissions come into play…and you saw what happened to lindland…lol…thanks for commenting btw.
July 23, 2008 at 2:19 am
Randy is not even a great heavyweight or light heavy weight. Fedor will absolutely destroy randy. Anderson sylvia in no way has the power or speed or mental ability to stay with Fedor. No one wants to admit it but Fedor is super natural in is ability. It is like watching Mj play basketball with the kids on the play ground…no contest.
July 23, 2008 at 8:00 am
I would agree that Couture is better as a LHW…he does have some impressive wins…Liddell, Ortiz/Belfort(when they were legitimate). However, as you said…he has nothing for Fedor….OR Nogueira…OR Barnett IMO….thanks for commenting Harr.
July 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Captain American quicker than E-Fed? The poster who claimed that is an idiot.
E-Fed is the quickest heavyweight on earth.
July 23, 2008 at 4:56 pm
LOL…Sri, thanks for the reply.
July 24, 2008 at 10:39 am
There is very difference between Fedor and Randy – as long as randy doesn’t try and slug it out with Fedor I think he stands an excellent chance. I actually think the battle in the clinch will be key to the whole fight – sure Fedor’s sambo/judo takedowns are world class but so is Randy’s Greco/Roman clinch. Fedor hit very hard, has very quick hands and suburb submissions – Randy has some of the best g&p out there and is capable of holding the strongest fighter down for a whole round.
The biggest issue IMO is the fact that they will probably fight in a ring rather than a cage – Randy is a master at pinning an opponent against the cage and then winning a take down – he is also very good at standing up using the cage – Fedor on the other hand doesn’t need the cage to secure a take down (sambo/judo) and therefore has a major advantage. But he also doesn’t have the experience of being pinned/pressed against the cage which randy would undoubtedly take advantage of.
I would love to see them agree to a two fight deal – one fight in a ring and the other in a cage – I still think that fedor wins both fights – Fedor is stronger younger and probably faster, but the fight in the cage will be a lot closer and competitive than you might think… my 2cents.
July 24, 2008 at 11:22 am
Aiken Drum, thanks for the reply and please come back. I have no doubt that the cage would work to Couture’s advantage. However, as we both know this fight(if it happens) will take place in a ring. Unless by miracle it takes place under the UFC banner. So with that said, all of those intangibles that Randy possess’s in the cage can pretty much be thrown out of the window. This fight will be more competitive than Sylvia/Fedor for sure. Because Fedor simply couldn’t throw hands like that because of the takedown aspect. However, as you mentioned…Fedor wins wherever the fight takes place.