Why Randy Couture will lose to Gabriel Gonzaga - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

Drexal · 08-13-2007, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Why Randy Couture will lose to Gabriel Gonzaga
4:51 PM 8/12/2007

UFC 74 is quickly approaching, and many people, including myself are looking forward to seeing Randy Couture (15-8) face off against Gabriel Gonzaga (8-1) for the heavyweight title.

I have a funny hunch that Randy will not be walking away with the belt at the end of the night. Now before you go ballistic on me, let me explain my reasoning for this prediction.

Randy couture has always had problems with larger fighters, especially wrestlers/ jujitsu practitioners. Now Gabriel is one big man at 6’2” and 242 lbs and his bread + butter is his jujitsu game winning 5 out of his 8 fights by submission, including an impressive arm-bar win over previously undefeated Brazilian jujitsu blackbelt Carmelo Marrero.

Randy couture on the other hand, has lost most of his fights to bigger and stronger fighters like Josh Barnett, Ricco Rodriguez and Enson Inoue.

Randy is very talented fighter with lots of big wins to his name, but primarily from smaller guys and most of them by decision. I don’t believe that Randy can win a decision with Gonzaga, Gonzaga is too big too strong for Couture and coming off that impressive win over Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic – his confidence must be through the roof.

In my mind, there absolutely no way that Randy is going to be able to hold Gonzaga down and pound his way to a decision victory like he did with Tim Sylvia. The only way couture is going to take this one is by KO or submission, but even that is far fetched.

Couture even admits that CroCop would be a better match for him style-wise than Gonzaga.

Quote from the Canadian Press:

“I traditionally do better against guys who are strikers, guys like Chuck (Liddell) and Tim (Sylvia) whose weaknesses tend to be more on the ground. That’s an area where I’m strongest, so I can usually comfortably put a guy there. Mirko’s also one of this guys. I was confident if I came after him I could put him on the ground. You take a guy like Gonzaga down and you’re still not out of the woods. He’s an expert in submission. He’s a very, very skilled grappler so you’ve got to be sharp all around.” -Randy Couture

With that said, anything can happen in a fight, and no matter what happens on august 25th, this is going to be an all out war, and if I were a better – my money would be on the big hairy beast from Brazil.

source: http://www.mmalinker.com/Couture_Gonzaga.php

I'm not sure who wrote this article as it doesn't have a name attributed to it, but I think he's pretty much on the money on this one. I'd love more than anything if Randy would win this one but I think he may have a lot of trouble with Gonzaga.

I think I'll be betting Gonzaga but routing for Randy!

arelius · 08-13-2007, 06:18 AM

Nice read. And I can visualize the same.

It is very realistic IMO that Gonzaga could take this fight home.

daveyxx · 08-13-2007, 06:34 AM

im pretty sure this is what 99 percent of people were thinking in their head. (if you knew randy's background.) as much as i'd love for randy to win i dont see it happening :[ you never know though, its mma. hehe.

StratTone · 08-13-2007, 06:44 AM

Man I am so not picking Randy to lose ever again. He has proven me wrong to many times. I pick Randy on this one.

My GnP is Sick · 08-13-2007, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StratTone

Man I am so not picking Randy to lose ever again. He has proven me wrong to many times. I pick Randy on this one.

HA I said the same thing after be beat BIG Tim, but I see GG pulling this off, o well maybe he'll prove me wrong again, then I'll stop picking against him, lol

Kompressor · 08-13-2007, 08:29 AM

These are fair points, and I agree that Gonzaga appears to have the edge on paper.

However, Couture has had some success against large men (I think Chuck is bigger than Randy) Rizzo, and Randleman was small but super strong (with the strength of 5 drunken midgets). So I think he has a chance. I think he is going to have to use his standup to get a clinch, where I think he can handle Gonzaga.

The question is - can he avoid Gonzaga's strikes on the way in, and, once on the ground can he do anything with it?

Awesome.

Saskabush · 08-13-2007, 09:30 AM

I hate to say it but Randy is done here. I hope he retires after he loses, there is no reason for a legend like him to continue fighting past his prime and get seriously injured.

Nimmy · 08-13-2007, 09:34 AM

i like both guys but the odds on couture winning were to great in the vbookie, if GG wins il be satisfied to

Cas2910 · 08-13-2007, 10:31 AM

i agree that Gonzaga could walk away with the belt, but i think that Couture will find a way to win. Gonzaga's confidence is high right now, but after he is under Randy getting pounded it wont be as high. Coututre will pull out the victory.

raconteur8 · 08-13-2007, 10:44 AM

With Captain America fighting in his homeland..the whole building will be rooting for him. Man, im looking forward to listen to the crowd excitement.

Gonzaga looks pretty confident to take the title and i have a feeling tat he thinks Randy will not pose a difficult challenge to him.

jm1010 · 08-13-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

I hate to say it but Randy is done here. I hope he retires after he loses, there is no reason for a legend like him to continue fighting past his prime and get seriously injured.

Why do you say Randy is done? He did just come off a win over the UFC champ.

fullonshred · 08-13-2007, 11:23 AM

Randy by a "lucky punch" or Gonzaga takes it. The guy who wrote the article was dead on. I want Randy to win, but I do not expect him to in this case.

XxGnPxX · 08-13-2007, 11:56 AM

Now sure how anyone can say gonzaga has an edge, hes good on the ground but, so is randy but, with more EXPERIENCE than gonzaga. Its going to make for a good fight but, in the end....well just read my avatar

Saskabush · 08-13-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm1010

Why do you say Randy is done? He did just come off a win over the UFC champ.

He beat an injured champ who wasn't there to fight. Gonzaga is full of confidence and he has the skills to totally nullify Randy's game. I am a much bigger fan of Randy than I am of GG but in reality I just don't see a way for Randy to win this one.

jm1010 · 08-13-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

He beat an injured champ who wasn't there to fight. Gonzaga is full of confidence and he has the skills to totally nullify Randy's game. I am a much bigger fan of Randy than I am of GG but in reality I just don't see a way for Randy to win this one.

This is true, but I still think Randy can beat some very tough guys in the UFC.

jmag · 08-13-2007, 02:27 PM

Randy by cardio and wits.

FEC4 · 08-13-2007, 02:36 PM

gonzaga might be stronger and stuff but it think Randy can figure out a great game plan that could have Randy Win. We seen with Tim, even though Tim is not that good on ground we still saw Randy basically the striking in his favor, he was also doing good to avoid Tim strikes. This time with gonzaga I think he will take and i going for randy all the way.

King Kameamea · 08-13-2007, 03:43 PM

I'm concerned for Randy's health. He could be badly hurt in this one.

TooOldRetire · 08-13-2007, 03:49 PM

Randy by submission 2mins into first round.

SmashingMachine · 08-13-2007, 07:28 PM

Wow...lots of doubters in here. I think Randy will do just fine. I know that the potential for him to lose is there, but I think he'll be ok. Randy's better grappling with the ju-jitsu guys than he used to be. Remember, he was doing grappling tournies in his brief retirement.