| Randy "The Natural" Couture is returning to | | | | return short, let's take a look at how this |
| the Octagon on March 3, 2007 to face | | | | fight breaks down. |
| heavyweight champion Tim "The Mainiac" Silvia | | | | |
| in a battle for the UFC heavyweight belt. | | | | Starting with the stand up abilities of both |
| There are two questions on everybody's mind | | | | fighters. It is tempting to look at this and |
| about this match up. First, does Randy have | | | | say that Tim Silvia's reach advantage and raw |
| a chance? More importantly, is Randy risking | | | | power will give him the edge in the stand up. |
| his health? | | | | True enough, but lets not forget that Randy |
| | | | has been in there with the likes of Chuck |
| I personally thought that Randy Couture got | | | | Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfor, all |
| out of the MMA fight game just in time. He | | | | good to great stand up fighters in their own |
| left with class after a second consecutive | | | | right. I put the stand up between Randy and |
| loss to Chuck Liddell in the UFC light | | | | Tim at dead even. |
| heavyweight division. People respect Randy | | | | |
| Couture, even more people like Randy Couture. | | | | Moving on, lets talk about take downs. There |
| Why on earth would he consider returning | | | | is no way that Tim Silvia is going to take |
| now? | | | | Randy Couture down, the only way Randy will |
| | | | end up on his back with Tim Silvia is if Tim |
| Randy says he's returning because he misses | | | | knocks him down with a punch, then jumps on |
| the fight game, because he believes that he | | | | him. On the other hand, Randy's strong |
| is a better fighter than when he last stepped | | | | wrestling background will certainly give him |
| into the Octagon on February 4th, 2006. I | | | | the advantage in take downs. |
| think that the real reason that Randy is | | | | |
| returning is that he is likely disgusted by | | | | What about submission wrestling, grappling, |
| the lackluster performance of the UFC | | | | or overall ground game? I have to give Randy |
| heavyweight division. I read that Randy is | | | | the advantage in this area as well, even |
| negotiating a multi fight contract with the | | | | though Tim Silvia did look good on the ground |
| UFC, this is a big mistake in my opinion. I | | | | against Jeff Monson, but Randy Couture is not |
| believe that Randy might have the tools | | | | Jeff Monson. |
| needed to defeat Tim Silvia, but there is no | | | | |
| way I want to see Randy fight Mirko Cro Cop. | | | | In the area of conditioning, there isn't a |
| | | | better conditioned athlete on the planet than |
| Randy, if you have any sense at all, get in | | | | Randy Couture, one look at Tim Silvia's |
| there, finish Tim Silvia and retire again. | | | | physique tells us that he doesn't spend the |
| You are an absolute phenom as an athlete and | | | | time in the gym that Randy does. Oh, I'm |
| an inspiration to those of us in our forties, | | | | sure he's at the gym, eating chicken wings |
| but everyone has their time and MMA isn't | | | | and watching other guys spar. Okay, the last |
| boxing. I've never seen you come into a | | | | line was just a joke, Tim certainly trains |
| fight in less than stellar condition and I've | | | | hard and he didn't gas against Jeff Monson. |
| never seen you in a fight that wasn't worth | | | | He also didn't finish Monson either when he |
| watching, that is the Randy Couture I want to | | | | should have been able to. I give Randy the |
| remember. I don't want to remember Randy | | | | edge in conditioning. |
| Couture being knocked cold by a Mirko Cro Cop | | | | |
| left high kick, then being taken out on a | | | | So there you have it, Tim Silvia is stronger, |
| stretcher. | | | | Randy is better. We'll see who comes out on |
| | | | top on March 3rd. My prediction, Randy |
| Enough of the pleas to have Randy cut this | | | | Couture by decision. |