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That was one hell of a remarkable performance by Randy Couture.
Pride 33 Coverage
March Rankings
UFC 68 Coverage
or bookmark the boxing/MMA page.
That was one hell of a remarkable performance by Randy Couture.
posted by Todd Martin at 11:23 PM
9 Comments:
UFC is becoming predictable.
Coutures victory is amaing I suppose, but come on its the only play UFC had. Like CroCop came over here for a big time money match with Sylvia?
Its hard for MMA to continue to be interesting when the top names rarely lose and the big match is set up just like WWF.
If I want to watch guys rolling around on the ground for position and points, I'll watch wrestling. If I want to see someone get kicked in the head, I'll watch kickboxing. If I want to see a fight, I'll watch boxing. MMA is a handful of guys who aren't skilled and some not disciplined enough to be top boxers. I understand that Mixed Martial Arts is being pushed hard on the west coast, but boxing is the ultimate fight sport. It's just strange how reporter's tone's change on subjects when their personal livelihood and future are at stake.
Am I suppose to believe that Tim Slyvia is the type of guy who will take steroids to cheat to win a world title, but not the type of guy to lay down and make somebody look good under the promise of a nice payoff and a future rematch or title shot? Please.
Yeah, Couture-Sylvia was a work...
A 25 minute work where one guy's face was busted up really badly and the other was at the point of physical exhaustion.
Good lord.
I won't even touch the bitter anti-MMA stuff.
I didn't see the show, but I agree that Couture-Mirko is ten times the matchup that Sylvia-Mirko would be.
Not sure how the fight could be a "work", but if the question is the character of Tim Sylvia, from everything I've ever seen or heard about him, from the positive steroid test to his post match comments with Couture I've got to agree, not the highest character and totally unpredictable on what he considers acceptable and not acceptable when pertaining to life as a professional fighter and a champion of MMA. Unless everyone in MMA takes steroids at some point, which I don't believe to be true, but alot definitely do.
There is zero chance of Couture-Sylvia to be as big as "the thrilla in manilla".
Boxing ain't so hot right now, and has not been in a long time. It's extremely dangerous when compared with MMA. Boxing needs one of two things, either a people's champion or a monster heel. The comeback story is beaten so dead it's ridiculous. With that said I'm really looking forward to Mayweather-Oscar. Oscar laid down against Hopkins cause he knew he couldn't win, that happens alot in MMA as well.
Todd, how can you base it not being a work on how bad a guys face is busted up? Joey Mercury came out of that PPV a few months back with a pretty busted up face, but that was a work. I'm just saying let's not try to judge how far these guys are willing to go to feed their families. And Mike, until there is proof you come off sounding like a conspiracy theorist.
Mercury's face getting busted was an accident. Sylvia's face being busted was the product of repeated, deliberate hard punches to the head. If you're doing a work in a shootfight, you make it short. Because you can't make a 25 minute fake fight look real. It just isn't possible. It doesn't make sense that UFC as successful as it is right now would risk it all by working fights, and if they did, they would just end with Couture clocking Sylvia like he did in the first and not with him grinding out a tough decision win.
I understand Mercury's injury was a freak accident, but the countless injury plagued hardcore matches that have taken place over the years both here and abroad are picture perfect examples of what someone will do to better their career, while at the same time putting their physical well being at risk. And let's not act like fight sports have never had a problem with fixed fights, so for someone to suggest it is to be expected.
All I'm saying is that I agree with mike that the IDEA of Dana White aiding Sylvia to see the bigger picture is not completely out of the question.
It is still, by far, the greatest achievement of any Mixed Martial Artist in recent history. But, Meltzer was putting it on the same level as some of biggest fights in the history of boxing. And when people do stuff like that I can see boxing purists rebelling. Which is what looks to have happened here.
I guess everyone's allowed to "mark out" from time to time.
I caught the Chuck Liddell incident on Dallas morning TV over at YouTube..he was in that condition before sitting on that couch. They put him on to embarrass him, that was wrong.
Sorry maybe it wasn't the Thrilla in Manilla reference that got to me, maybe it was comparing it to the US hockey team beating the Russians in the Olympics. Ranking Randy's achievement as one of the biggest moments in the history of sports?
I mean it's not passing 755..
To end this arguement..view the damn fight for yourself. It's in 3 parts.
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they would just end with Couture clocking Sylvia like he did in the first
That was not that solid of a connection, Sylvia stumbled because he was off balance more than anything. And the crowd could tell as the 3rd replay, which was the clearest impact view had the smallest reaction by far. Couture hit him harder standing up in a clench in the 3rd round than he did in the first. Sylvia ate that one. Sylvia was tailor made for Couture, that fight was a worked-shoot.
C'mon Todd, be honest, that was a ridiculously overrated fight. And I'm actually a Couture fan. His striking was not all that improved and his movement was as a 43 year old should move; his bob and weave was funnier than hell. Takedowns phenomenal as always and he didnt do much on the ground.
Sylvias face was not busted up that badly either. No where even close to what Tito did to Ken Shamrock. Not even close.
I've seen Sylvia fight probably 7 or 8 times and that was the most disinterested Ive ever seen him for a fight. Start to finish.
Just stating the facts from my point of view. While I'm a fan of boxing I wouldn't necessarily call myself a boxing purist. Either one of those guys would be knocked out in the first round by George Foreman though.
1994 George Foreman.
If it's a fight sport then they should fight. If it's play for the biggest payday then kayfabe the hell out of it, push it as legit and overlook the facts.
Oh wait..
Watch out for them elbows Mr. Evans. Tito is gonna be pissed.
If Tito does not knock out Dana White, headgear or not, UFC should fold.
It's nice that it's a boxing expo, they should take it to the next level after Couture upsets Mirko and throw Randy in there wit Klitschko.
In the end it's all entertainment. Even with Fighting in the title.
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