| Sometimes in life we need to take a step | | | | pushing Tim Sylvia around the ring and if Tim |
| back, ignore our hearts and go with our | | | | gets on top of Randy, it's going to be tough |
| heads. UFC 68 on March 3rd, in Columbus Ohio | | | | work to get him off. |
| is one of those times. The main event on the | | | | |
| UFC 68 card is Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia vs | | | | 3) Strength - Tim Sylvia is an animal, a |
| Randy "The Natural" Couture. Tim Sylvia | | | | mountain of a man and he's incredibly strong. |
| stands 6'8" and weighs in around 265 pounds | | | | This is the strength that comes both |
| and is 30 years old. Randy Couture is 6'1", | | | | naturally and from his intense training |
| 205 pounds (probably 10 or 15 heavier for | | | | program at the Miletich camp, run by UFC |
| this fight and is 43 years old. Almost | | | | great Pat Miletich. While Randy is strong |
| everyone I know wants Randy to defeat Tim | | | | for his size, and very talented, Tim Sylvia |
| Sylvia, but they are thinking with their | | | | should be able to out muscle Randy Couture in |
| hearts, not their heads. | | | | most situations. |
| | | | |
| I am also guilty of wanting a couture | | | | 2) Height - Tim Sylvia is too big for Randy. |
| victory. Sure, Randy, do it for us old guys. | | | | Jeff Monson is a good wrestler and an |
| Show those big young lads that there is | | | | excellent ground fighter, but he had a lot of |
| still a little steam left in the over 40 | | | | trouble taking down Tim Sylvia, and when he |
| crowd. Recapture your glory and go out on | | | | did get Tim to the ground, he basically could |
| top as champion of the UFC heavyweight | | | | not reach Tim's head to punch while he was in |
| division. I'm positive that Randy thinks he | | | | Tim's guard. It's anyone's guess why Jeff |
| can do this and he certainly has the | | | | didn't lean back and attempt a leg lock or |
| background for it. Randy is a 3 time Olympic | | | | heel hook, especially as Tim Silva's been |
| wrestling alternate. He's won the UFC | | | | caught before in one of those by former |
| heavyweight title on two seperate occasions | | | | heavyweight champ, Andrei Arlovski. |
| and also won the UFC light heavyweight title | | | | |
| defeating Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor | | | | 1) Age - It's a simple as that, over time we |
| Belfor along the way. | | | | all slow down, even Randy Couture. Muscle |
| | | | doesn't recover as well in training and |
| Here's my best 5 reasons why I don't think | | | | putting on new muscle gets harder with each |
| Randy Couture will be able to win (despite my | | | | passing year. Sure Randy is pretty much |
| intense desire for a Couture victory). | | | | super human, entering the eco-challenge and |
| | | | competing at the top level of mixed martial |
| 5) Striking - As much as I hate to admit it, | | | | arts and wrestling for most of his life. |
| Tim Sylvia is a great striker. He's shown | | | | However, we all slow down. |
| this by defeating Ricco Rodriguez, Tre | | | | |
| Telligman and Andrei Arlovski twice. You can | | | | The Randy Couture fans out there, of which I |
| talk about lucky punches all you want, but | | | | am one, will tell you that Randy's superior |
| when these things happen over and over again, | | | | conditioning, wrestling ability and take |
| you've gotta give Tim Syliva his due. | | | | downs will be more than enough to counter and |
| | | | physical advantages that Tim Sylvia has. |
| 4) Weight - At 270 pounds, Tim Sylvia will | | | | That's wishful thinking. On fight night, |
| likely out weight Randy by 50 pounds or more | | | | I'll be rooting for Randy Couture, cheering |
| on fight night. If Randy attempts to come in | | | | on the old guy, but in my head I know that's |
| heavier to counter this advantage he might | | | | just a dream. |
| find his timing off and speed advantage | | | | |
| reduced. Randy Couture will have a hard time | | | | Take it easy, and keep watching the fights! |