Randy Couture vs. Rich Franklin

Randy wins this and then I will definetely be all for Randy taking on the top of the LHW division

I hate when 2 of my favorite fighters fight. I hope Randy takes on Spider instead.

Randy vs the Spider is needless violence against seniors.

Ace, KO round 1.

this is kinda like those two good guys fighting that you dont really want either to lose its just not relevant enough to me.

It's a good matchup, but sucks one guy will have to lose. I think Rich will pick Randy apart. Randy only wins via Vera fight like decision.

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

It's a good matchup, but sucks one guy will have to lose. I think Rich will pick Randy apart. Randy only wins via Vera fight like decision.

I dont think Rich will let him get that close. I think Rich will keep this fight at a distance and finesse Randy into making mistakes, just picking him apart bit by bit.

Rich will either score an early 2nd round KO or will win a UD.

Rich by stoppage via strikes. Randy can't hang on the feet anymore with any near the top 10 and I think Franklin will have a greater sense of urgency than Vera did when he was content to be held against the cage for 90% of that fight

Randy just came down from Heavy, Rich just came up from 185. Randy will have a big time strength adv, he's used to guys with alot more power, Not sure what the reach situation is, but it's nothing like the Vera fight in which Randy was at a big time disadvantage, thus I don't see the Rich will pick him apart angle.

I've got Randy, he'll get this fight into a phone booth, even if he has to eat a couple shots to get it inside, and then once in the clinch, it's all Randy.

I very much like the matchup.

Ya except Randy gets rocked and wobbled anytime anything solid connects. Rich is way to fast for Randy. If Coleman could back Randy up with a shot, Rich wil Nate Quarry him into retirement. Randy's head movement is way too slow for Franklin nowdays.

Considering only Coleman hasn't dropped Randy since his return to the Octagon in 2008, and he still managed to back Randy 10 feet across the cage with a shot, and Franklin is the most powerful and most experienced striker and puncher of anyone Randy has faced(save of course Lesnar's giant frame) I don't see how, even if Randy does keep this against the fence for 12 minutes how he will survive at striking distance.

Randy's chin at 47 get's a vote of no confidence.

Franklin is more likely to pepper Couture with shots rather than stop him.

If Rich had been able to stop a Wandi on the decline I might be worried for Randy.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Franklin is more likely to pepper Couture with shots rather than stop him.

If Rich had been able to stop a Wandi on the decline I might be worried for Randy.

Wandy has been three times since 07 but by a CC highkick, Hendo and Page. Not many who don't go out from those blows.

Randy's chin is not Wandys, and Randy's chin has been a question mark for a while. Liddell throwin off his backfoot running backwards has been dropping Randy on the regular since 40. I know Liddell hits hard but those weren't amazingly powerful shots.

Randy get's dropped in every fight he is in. Nog has nearly no knockdowns in his whole career. Vera nearly finished him too.

Randy has a nasty habit of taking shots as he tries to close the gap he doesn't see, and also to the side of his head as he tries in vein to bob and weave out of the way.

Franklin stops him.

Didn't Vera hurt him with a body shot ?

I am going to root for Randy, even though I like Franklin a lot. If Rich keeps the fight at a distance, he will more than likely win, but if Randy gets a hold of him? He is gonna get fuck beat down! Randy TKO 3rd

tolivendiewithLA wrote:

It's a good matchup, but sucks one guy will have to lose. I think Rich will pick Randy apart. Randy only wins via Vera fight like decision.

+1, this is exactly how I see this fight going down.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

Franklin is more likely to pepper Couture with shots rather than stop him.

If Rich had been able to stop a Wandi on the decline I might be worried for Randy.

Wandy has been three times since 07 but by a CC highkick, Hendo and Page. Not many who don't go out from those blows.

Randy's chin is not Wandys, and Randy's chin has been a question mark for a while. Liddell throwin off his backfoot running backwards has been dropping Randy on the regular since 40. I know Liddell hits hard but those weren't amazingly powerful shots.

Randy get's dropped in every fight he is in. Nog has nearly no knockdowns in his whole career. Vera nearly finished him too.

Randy has a nasty habit of taking shots as he tries to close the gap he doesn't see, and also to the side of his head as he tries in vein to bob and weave out of the way.

Franklin stops him.

Rich doesn't hit as hard as Brock and Randy took that shot without hitting the mat. His legs were buckled a little but most people's would've getting tagged by Brock.

I don't disagree with a Franklin stoppage, though. It's gonna be that or Randy will hold him against the cage just like he did to Vera.

Dispite what the article says I don't think Randy signs on for that fight. If Randy just sits around for a month or two I think he will back door his way into a title shot. I think thats his goal here.

ohiovol62 wrote:

Dispite what the article says I don't think Randy signs on for that fight. If Randy just sits around for a month or two I think he will back door his way into a title shot. I think thats his goal here.

I hope this fight doesn't happen, I want both guys to do well. A win here does almost nothing for Ace.

Yeah, Vera damaged Randy's side in round three. He also tagged Randy once or twice on the feet and looked wobbled from it.

As I mentioned in the other thread (I missed this one) this is an awesome fight between 2 greats (err one really good and a great). Stylistically we have 2 well rounded fighters but truthfully it will come down to can Randy hold Franklin against the cage and pound out a victory because standing Franklin takes this. He's faster, more versatile, and has stood and traded with the best. I also wonder how much kicking Franklin will be able to do. It is one of his best weapons, but against a wrestler he may pay for it. I give Franklin the edge, but in no way would be surprised if The Natural won this.

Randy surviving this fight at all would be a shocking upset, ala him surviving a Vera fight where he would lose 10 of 10 rematches.

the Vera fight is not a great reference point because Vera is much longer and has more power then Rich.

and despite the fact that Randy had nothing from distance, and was wobbled a couple times, he was able to keep the fight in the clinch for 80% of the time.

Vera rarely stops anyone with standing strikes and never has at LHW. Vera is a greco wrestler and feels ok in the clinch. Franklin will rock Randy like a Hurricane.

Like I've said, either Rich picks Randy apart, or Randy wins a Vera fight like decision.

LA- You dont think Rich will win a decision if it goes that far?

I still question his KO power a little bit, but I dont question his ability to keep his distance from Randy. I could just as easily see a UD for Rich as I could for Randy.