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November 14, 2008

What Couture vs. Lesnar isn't

I think one thing people have to understand about this weekend’s showdown between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar is that it’s not WWE vs. MMA. I’ve heard this a lot (more from casual fans, granted) in the past 10 days and I don’t think there could be a bigger misrepresentation of what this fight is about.

Lesnar’s pro wrestling background is why he’s popular. It’s why he’s getting a title fight in his third fight with only one credible win in his career. It’s why this will be a record-breaking night when it comes to pay-per-view buys. But I’ve heard too many people try to discredit MMA by saying “what does it say about your sport when a fake wrestler can walk right in and take out a legend?”

Lesnar has a legitimate background and was a national champion wrestler. He’s a phenom, legitimately, as his size, aggressiveness and athleticism make him a truly dangerous heavyweight prospect. But, this is something Lesnar is taking seriously. He’s not Kimbo Slice; he’s not a spectacle, he's a legit fighter. There’s not another professional wrestler that could’ve made this type of a leap this soon. Lesnar is a physical specimen, he’s not a clown. He didn’t make a name for himself by lighting himself on fire or by wearing clown makeup and hitting people with furniture. Most importantly, he respects MMA and is trying to do things the right way. He’s never come off as overly arrogant and doesn’t talk a lot of trash. He knows he has a lot to learn and he tries to keep his head down while he learns it.

If Lesnar wins, that will say something about Lesnar and his future as a mixed martial artists. If Couture wins, it will say something about how much he has left in the tank and it will help solidify his status as a legend in the sport. It’s a huge fight with huge consequences, but don’t make the mistake of reading more into this than there really is.

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 12:26 AM | | Comments (28)
        

Comments

randy cotoure well kill brock lesner!

This fight doesn't speak very well for MMA. I have no idea how Couture is even still around. He is so old. And to give Lesnar a shot at anything at this point is a disgrace. It's not like he's proven that he deserves it. So what if he beat down a weak-chinned korean with a 3-6 record and managed to roll around on the ground with a fat man for 3 rounds for a decision. Mir was his only real competition, and Lesnar lost. The sport deserves better. MMA should be about grit and determination, not this.

if you watched the mir fight if not for his inexperience in submission defense Lesnar wins that fight. Frank mir is one of the best heavyweight submission experts in the world so its not a shame to say he caught you, Yea lesnar may not have worked his way up the ranks but hes a known name and him competing only works to further publicize and grow the sport

The two previous comments were posted by 2 complete bone heads. I'll eat my words if Lesner loses, and Mir took advantage of Lesner's inexperience in a 1 second window, Mir is a great fighter but got lucky. There is no "fat" in the UFC, just in between your ears sir.

WOW U GUYS R DUMB BROIC

Hate to see this...is Don King the promoter. Brock should do what he does best...imitate what the real MMA fighter do. Randy will win in 1 roud

First I want to say that the UFC heavy weight division is WEAK! Randy Couture and Frank Mir are great fighters but still nothing compared to the tons of lighter guys like A.Silva and GSP. Regarding the Lesnar-Couture fight, I believe that Lesnar will most likely win. Lesnar can and will take Randy to the ground and a wrestling match between the two will most likely end with Brock the victor. Randy has 2 chances at a win. 1st is a good/lucky punch that KO's lesnar before he gets bull charged to the ground (so he basically has 10 seconds to knock him out) 2nd is grabbing an arm-bar when Brock is pummeling him in the face. This is possibly because Brock has shown he has no finishing skills. But even so, a 270lb freak wrestler with retard strenght vs a good 200lb wrestler is not a competition.

Lesnar vs. Couture? Hmm. This fight is pure publicity. Not to discredit a MMA legend who has withstood the tests of time and has remained truley competitive in a sport that few men could last but a couple of years in, but Couture is all but finished in MMA. This fight would be something like a severance package for him as he departs. Fight Lesnar, make him a champ and a star, and you get all this money at the end of a marvelous career. Go out against a monster rather than go out fighting a joker who just beat you b/c he was younger and had more gas. This is Dana White trying to legitimize Lesnar and give something back to Couture. It will be interesting none the less. If Couture wins however, he will be able to retire on a high note and Brock will need to go get some real martial art training. Wrestling does not cut it in MMA.

cmon guys. Randy is the number 1 fighter in the world. I don't care what anyone says about Fedor. I like Fedor, but Randy always finds a way to win. If he can fins that chink in Lesnar's armour he will win.

Go to 91.ufc.com

There you will learn weather lesnar is taking this seriously!!!

MMA fan- Wrestling alone won't cut it in MMA but I think Lesnar already has enough tools in his aresnal to compete as a heavyweight.

I think he's quicker and stronger than most heavyweights and his wrestling is very good.

Take a highly ranked-heavyweight like Tim Sylvia...Lesnar, in my opinion, would have no trouble handling him. I also feel he would be competitive against another highly-ranked Andrei Arlovski, who really hasn't impressed in his last few fights.

first i wanna say i hate you hesingswithfrogs, that is terrible to say. brock is a straight up monster. and he HAS improved tons inbetween fights. even from moo to mir, and mir to herring. and herring is a good fighter too, and he was torn apart. couture is great but was never and will never be as strong or as fast as lesnar. we will see what happens but i believe we will see lesnars first KO

If your saying mir took advantage of lesnars inexserpience. What will randy do to him. One of the most exserpienced guy in the game. Randy fought in ufc 13 for frig sakes. Watch for randy to wear him down slowly. Punches standing up. He will take lesnar to the fence and ue dirty boxing and slowly but surly cut the big man down. I think lesnar comes out bloody and beaten. Randy will not try to wrestle lesnar. Lesnar id too big and strong for that. Randy will use his many other tools to whoop him. Watch for randy to pull out the full arsenal in his tool box.

The UFC is in the business of putting on big fights, and even the people who don't agree with it will watch this one. Mission accomplished. While I don't agree with giving Lesnar a title shot, I will be on the edge of my seat to see what happens.

I just wish this was the Coture/Emelianenko fight many MMA fans want to see....

Why can't the ufc sign Fedor? He is obviously the most talented HW in the world.

dam... most of the people who wrote on here are complete fools... First off Randy is the man... dont think so look at his mma record,yea he is geting up there with age but he is still an amazing fighter. Now for Brock all you idiot sayin this is not wrestling blah blah blah, Brock is a real NCAA championship wrestler who is A FREAKING BEAST who i think eats small water buffalo, he is improving but he still has alot to learn .... Question is can Randy with stand Brock enough to break him down ...? I got Randy on this one

i disagree about wrestling not cutting it mma .. depends on the fighter and how they use their skills. dan the beast was no chump... but wrestling along definatley wont cut it.. but all this crap where everyone does ju jitsu is getting lame.. they should go back to they way it was like around ufc 1.

i want to see lesnar vs slice....hell yeah!!

Just keep in mind that Lesnar's confidents may blind him against someone sneaky. His two wins may have been lucky wins due to his sheer size and MMA hasn't had one move that fast before. But TODAY, now he has already been STUDIED. His early surprize wins may be his last.

Guess what? Brock won! Let's review to see which of you were talking out your butts and who knew what they were talking about. Sorry Randy, time to stay retired.

Seriously?
I mean, sure, Couture's great and all, but he's too old now.
Lesnar will, probably, beat him in the later rounds because he's still inexperienced.

I agree with Shawn; this is just a stunt to make Couture look good, and Lesnar a star.


Btw, why the hell is everyone typing with countless typos?
Sheesh.

Well Lesnar won, by TKO after a pretty intense wrestling match. hope this silenced all those Couture followers, as much as a like Randy, theirs just no way he was able to win, every punch, every jab rattled Randy's Whole Body, theres not much you can do when you fight an NCAA heavyweight champ with a 103-7 mat wrestling background.

I like couture he's a great legend but I think he's too old to after lesnar that meatheads too big and quick at least mir had youth on his side I thinl lesnars going to whoop couture and hopefully somebody comes in at a later date and whoops on lesnar.

My head knew this meat head would win...my heart and money went with the natural....
Unfortunately, we will never see Lesnar get his ass kicked by Fedor...OH I WISH FOR THAT

I just finished watching the fight and it was obviously fixed. There is no way that Lesnar could legitimately beat Couture. Near the end of the fight, Randy went down without even being hit. If you don't think so, watch it carefully for yourself.

What happened is Dana White offered Randy a huge amount of money to come in and lose against Lesnar, and Randy took it because he wants to retire.

Chuck H
A fixed fight? NO Couture got knocked out. Sour grapes sir. Lesnar is one of the best all around athelets in the world. Now one of the best MMA fighters in the world. Couture under estimated Lesnar and got his butt kicked. Plus Couture owes the UFC one more fight so your retirement comment is out the window.

Chuck H
A fixed fight? NO Couture got knocked out. Sour grapes sir. Lesnar is one of the best all around athelets in the world. Now one of the best MMA fighters in the world. Couture under estimated Lesnar and got his butt kicked. Plus Couture owes the UFC one more fight so your retirement comment is out the window.

Randy was winning the fight until he got inadvertantly hit in the back of the head. Don't know who would have won otherwise, but Randy was pushing around a guy a lot younger and a lot heavier than him and making it look relatively easy considering Lesnar has throwed everyone else around like they were lightweights. One punch doen'st mean Randy's too old or washed up.

Completely fixed. Lesnar had Herrings back for basically 3 rounds and couldn't finish him, and I'm supposed to believe that he knocked out Couture (who has 181 wins) with a punch that grazed the back of is head? Come on.

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About the blogger
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please e-mail him.

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