Randy Couture quit the UFC. He walked away from his Heavyweight title, his next few fights, and Dana White as well as Zuffa, and why?
Because the UFC couldn't sign Fedor Emilianenko.
The UFC has a contract clause stating you cannot fight for any promotion not owned by Zuffa, and Fedor is really big into the Sambo tournaments in Russia. This is among the reasons that when the UFC aquired pride, they couldn't land a contract with Fedor. Once it was announced that he'd signed with someone else, Randy Couture resigned from the UFC, and in his letter stated that "At this point in my career it makes sense that I fight Fedor Emilianenko. If I cannot do that in the UFC, then I have to resign."
Hopefully soon they will have a fight between Randy and Fedor in M1. And hopefully after that Randy and/or Fedor will sign a one fight contract with the UFC to face Antionio Noguera.
This is a very good day for MMA fans everywhere. The prospect of a Randy Couture Fedor Emilianenko fight has been brewing for years, with each very highly regarded and highly ranked throughout the world.
Now, my personal opinion? Randy Couture is not ready for Fedor Emilianenko. I like Randy as a fighter, and from what I've seen of him ouside the cage, as a human being in general. I think he, and Fedor both, are truly nice guys, who are willing to put as much effort into helping people make it in MMA as they put toward succeeding themselves. I like both of them, think they are both amazing fighters, and think they have both made terrific champions.
I do not think Randy Couture can beat Fedor Emilianenko. I think fedor has far too vast and phenomenal of a scramble, and a ground game, for Randy Couture to keep fedor down. I also think that, in a standup war, Fedor can easily knock Couture out, while Randy, who is not a slouch when it comes to throwing leather by any means, doesn't have what it takes to knock Fedor out. I see randy as having to force this into a solely clinching match afgainst fedor to maybe get a decision victory. That is his only option, and is a slim one at best.
In my opinion, as great as both fighters are, Fedor is almost entirely too good for his own good. Though, if anyone can add a blemish to Fedor's record (not counting his only loss early in his career. That is vastl regarded as a fluke) it is Randy Couture.
_________________ There is no such thing as right or wrong; only pleasure and pain.
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