UFC 105

It's amazing how in my mind I've gone from a Couture fanboy to a near Couture hater?

Please tell me what is this ultimate game-planning ability of Couture? In all of his fights since he turned 40 he strikes to set up the clinch game and/or takedown. It worked against Tim and Gonzaga, who never hit him with a punch in the face standing, got beat up in the boxing game, and thus were never willing to really press the action there. This set up the dirtyboxing-takedown-control aspect of the fight. He tried the same thing but failed against Liddell, Lesnar and Nog.

Running at Chuck Liddell throwing wild punches = good game plan? Not accounting for Lesnar's 35 foot wingspan = good game plan? Being fooled by Nog camp deliberate misinformation about his weakened chin and trying to carbon copy Mir's fight that only happened thanks to blown knees and flesh consuming bacteria = good game plan?

Randy tremendously over values is speed and boxing ability. He hasn't the hand speed or chin for this anymore.

I love me some Randy, but this gameplan stuff is a myth. He better have something up his sleeve if he plans on beating a fellow greco guy with good hands, faster speed, long reach, and a great clinch game. Not only would this be a bad match up for Couture at any point in his career, in his career twilight this is dangerous for his health.

Please kids, let us also not forget that the UFC roster is a bit thinner than usual with injuries and illness. I do think they shoulda made this a fight night card, but they didn't. It is going to take them a while to get all their chickens laying eggs again and by the time they have done that and SF has garnered an audience, people will tired of watching the same ten fighters always fighting and want the real big boys, who everybody knows would whip the F fighters without breaking a sweat. SF has 2 fighters who might be able to beat the champions in the UFC. But for the most part even the UFC middle of the pack guys would beat the shit out of their champions.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

It's amazing how in my mind I've gone from a Couture fanboy to a near Couture hater?

Please tell me what is this ultimate game-planning ability of Couture? In all of his fights since he turned 40 he strikes to set up the clinch game and/or takedown. It worked against Tim and Gonzaga, who never hit him with a punch in the face standing, got beat up in the boxing game, and thus were never willing to really press the action there. This set up the dirtyboxing-takedown-control aspect of the fight. He tried the same thing but failed against Liddell, Lesnar and Nog.

Running at Chuck Liddell throwing wild punches = good game plan? Not accounting for Lesnar's 35 foot wingspan = good game plan? Being fooled by Nog camp deliberate misinformation about his weakened chin and trying to carbon copy Mir's fight that only happened thanks to blown knees and flesh consuming bacteria = good game plan?

Randy tremendously over values is speed and boxing ability. He hasn't the hand speed or chin for this anymore.

I love me some Randy, but this gameplan stuff is a myth. He better have something up his sleeve if he plans on beating a fellow greco guy with good hands, faster speed, long reach, and a great clinch game. Not only would this be a bad match up for Couture at any point in his career, in his career twilight this is dangerous for his health.

OK, so you basically pointed out Randy's weaknesses which are no secret to anyone. The amazing thing about him is how well he uses his strengths.

Again, losing to Lesnar and Nog isn't that big of a deal, they have the advantage over him in many categories at this point. He still gave Lesnar his biggest challenge yet (Mir kneebar aside) and he took Nog to a decision.

Your Vera nuthugging is ridiculous when one considers how much of a disappointment Vera has been since he KO'd Mir at UFC 65. Beating Mike Patt with leg kicks really isn't that impressive when you consider his opponent. Beating Soszynski was a nice win but it went to decision so it's not like Vera came in a finished anyone.

I don't know, I think it'll be a good fight but I would be surprised if Vera controls Randy. It'll probably be the other way around.

I didn't know that losing to Tim Sylvia one fight removed from his title in a close decision was life-ending, or losing via horridly early stoppage to perennial title contender whereever he goes Werdum was career shattering, nor did I know dropping an ultra competative fight with then top ten Keith Jardine was the mark of a horrendous fighter.

Vera hasn't been the world beater he was earlier, but he also fought guys significantly larger than himself outside of Jardine, who he went toe to toe with for three rounds.

What the fuck inspires this Vera hatred or the "he's a disapointment" mantra?

He wasn't out classed in any of those fights by any means. They were all against top ten fighters, two against larger HWs no less. Perspective my friends, perspective.