Promoter Talk Or Not, Randy Couture Isn't A Top 5 Light Heavyweight

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 8, 2010 12:00 PM EST in News Comment 13 comments

Don't believe the hype. After Couture's UFC 109 sparring session win over Mark Coleman, Dana White said that Randy Couture is a top 5 light heavyweight. I know Dana has to throw some hype bytes out there for his promoter schtik, but calling Couture a top 5 light heavyweight is almost laughable. Yes, Couture has won two fights in a row since he has moved back to the UFC light heavyweight division. However, winning a questionable decision over Brandon Vera and then stopping Mark Coleman doesn't equate to being a top 5 light heavyweight. Especially considering that neither Vera or Coleman are even close to being top 5 much less top ten at the moment. I mean shouldn't a fighter have to beat someone that's ranked before you can rank them that highly?

Dana White likes to justify his statement by saying that you can never doubt Randy Couture and that he's the only fighter that has put up a decent fight against Brock Lesnar. However, you can't really count what Couture did as a heavyweight here. That's like saying a dude that was a pretty good NASCAR driver should be rated as one of the best Indy car drivers as he's making his Indy car debut. We are talking about two different things here. It's a totally different division with totally different fighters that bring totally different dynamics to the fight. In fact the very dynamics that will be Couture's kryptonite, which is speed and power striking.

Now, there is one top 5 light heavyweight that Randy Couture has the potential to beat and that's Forrest Griffin. The only reason being is because it's a perfect style match up for Couture. Griffin lacks the big power that all the other strikers have in the division, and he's always been vulnerable to the take down. I could see Couture grinding out a decision against him, but that's about it. In fact, that's the next fight that the UFC should book for Couture if Antonio Rogerio Nogueira beats Griffin later this year. However, until Couture beats someone of note in the light heavyweight division. Just continue to take what Dana White says with a grain of salt. Couture isn't a top 5 light heavyweight.

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He was good against a guy his own age.

Dana would rip Coker if he had a bout with two 40year olds fighting each other in a main event.

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by _Felix_ on Feb 8, 2010 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Starting to get kind of pissed at them recycling yesterday’s fighters, especially if it culminates in Couture getting a fast-tracked titleshot. Which he probably will.

"I don’t care, hit him with your groin!"

by 3PA on Feb 8, 2010 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is why I’ll never be a Couture fan. He’s always had the inside route to title shots and doesn’t have a good enough record to justify his status as a legend of the sport.

Why not make him fight someone like Rodrigo, Luis Cane or Rashad and see how they run right through him. Instead they make him fight another overrated guy in Vera and a punching bag in Coleman to get him another possible shot it the belt. I hope whoever fights him next, fucks him up real bad.

by cauliflower_ears on Feb 8, 2010 1:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why not put Randy in the ring against a real killer, instead of guys who can’t get it done in the Octagon?

Randy’s last opponent is getting turfed out of the UFC and the one before that is now relegated to free TV. These are not dangerous opponents. They were very meticulously chosen by the UFC brass because they knew neither of them would put Randy in any danger, either because they are flaky or just too damn worn down.

When Jon Jones brutalized Vera, it’s going to make Randy look even worse. In fact, if Jon Jones does make Vera look like shit, he should be matched up with Randy next. I want to see Randy punished for the way he fought Vera.

I don’t think the molest an opponent against the fence strategy is entertaining. It’s downright death TV. Rule book modifications should be ongoing as we speak to remove any chance of it ever being used again in MMA. Any one who implements it should be punished.

by mattio on Feb 8, 2010 1:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

In fact, if Jon Jones does make Vera look like shit, he should be matched up with Randy next. I want to see Randy punished for the way he fought Vera.

Man, I bout spit my drink out after I read that.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 8, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No way a top 5. I honestly dont think he is a top 10…. BUT I LOVE THE GUY. And most people do, he is extremely charismatic, and he reached a demographic of middle aged men, who dont want to be counted out.

The other thing about Randy, is in the back of everyone’s mind, even though we KNOW he cant take top competition, there is this thought that maybe, just maybe he can pull it off.

In many ways, thats what makes fighting exciting.

by ziontiger on Feb 8, 2010 1:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I feel you

The other thing about Randy, is in the back of everyone’s mind, even though we KNOW he cant take top competition, there is this thought that maybe, just maybe he can pull it off.

I don’t have those thoughts with him as a LHW though.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 8, 2010 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Defiantly not a top 5 fighter anymore. It is always an X factor for him to be able to control a fight with his wrestling, but he is simply to slow now.

The one thing I could not believe was how stiff both fighters were. I don’t think either of them even attempted to bob and weave what so ever, they were more content on just accepting a punch to the face or what not.

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by AceOfClubs on Feb 8, 2010 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

People are really still doubting Randy after all this time, newsflash for you Couture wasn’t a top 5 HW when he beat up Sylvia and won the HW title. This isn’t some guy who is a flash in the pan or a never was, Couture at LHW has as big a list of accomplishments as any LHW ever.

Randy thanks to his style can give anyone fits, he belongs at LHW and looked much better in his second bout at 205 than his first which I think was part of the reason the Vera fight was even close.

The guy has done way too much and beaten too many top guys for people to be talking about him like he’s Coleman. Randy is still at the top of his game and i’d pick him over Little Nog if they fought, he is in the mix where he ranks is irrelevant considering his rep this is a silly argument imo.

by Raker on Feb 8, 2010 2:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Liddell for a titleshot if he beats Tito then?

"I don’t care, hit him with your groin!"

by 3PA on Feb 8, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What? lol..

So rankings are determined by reputation? In that case…UNC should be top 5 in college basketball right now then.

Also, beating Sylvia 4 years ago doesn’t have anything to do with now…the fact of the matter is…Couture hasn’t beaten anyone at LHW to be considered for that high of a ranking…I know the allure of rooting for Couture because he’s old and has beaten the odds a few times…but for folk to be talking about him in the same breath as other great light heavyweights without having beating any of them is pretty much retarded imo…

Couture at LHW has as big a list of accomplishments as any LHW ever

What? Couture beat Liddell and beat Belfort as a LHW..that’s about it….then turn around and got destroyed by Liddell twice….what other accomplishments as a LHW are you referring to?

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by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 8, 2010 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tito

by BJPennfan on Feb 8, 2010 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ehh

I’ve never thought much of Tito considering all the guys he beat were like 185’ers back in the day…for the most part. I remember giving Couture a pretty good chance of winning that fight back then..

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by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 8, 2010 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs