Randy Couture vs. Rickson Gracie

randy UD or rickson by rnc

 

These guys are from two different eras, so it would depend on the circumstances.

Early in Couture's career, around the time Rickson was still active: Randy would not have the submission knowledge to prevent Rickson from submitting him, and I don't think Randy would refrain from taking Rickson down. I think Rickson would submit him.

Peak versions of each fighter under today's rules: Randy never takes Rickson down, and wins by wide decision, if not a stoppage. Remember, Rickson will want the clinch but has little chance to get the take down. There will be numerous breaks and re-entries, and Couture will have lots of opportunities to over power and deal out damage in the clinch.

Peak versions under early UFC rules: A fight longer than Royce vs Severn, and Rickson will not have to close the distance nearly as often with no sort of stand-ups or breaks. Rickson would have to withstand a severe clinch beating, and would probably take at least a half hour to get the fight to the ground. I believe Rickson would submit Couture after close to an hour of audience hating style grappling.

 

Rickson by submission.

Its a real shame Rickson`s son died just as there was major talk of Sakuraba v Rickson when Sak was the p4p best, Rickson lost his drive for fighting when that happened... this fight would have told us everything we needed to know about Rickson Gracie - who by most accounts is the best BJJ grappler of the past 3 decades.

 

old man randy all the way.

 

Depends when the fight took place, at the beginning Rickson would have destroyed him, if the evolved Randy would fight him now Randy would win, Rikson used BJJ to finish fights in minutes because no one had any clue how to stop him. Now people do.

 

Yea man agreed but since rickson mma has evolved and now wrestling is the top tier style not bjj anymore.

 

How does the Silva-Sonnen fight fit into this?

 

Randy would beat the **** out of Rickson from the clinch.

 

This is about right, great post

 

Presumably this is 97; Couture loses via RNC or armbar. I've always thought Roger and Rolls were/are better tha Rickson. And Fernando Terere is better than any Gracie.

 

I agree with this. Depends on which Couture if its late 90s or early 2000s Couture vs peak Rickson then I dont this fight goes much different then when Overeem and Inoue submitted Couture back then. Id say any verison of Couture from about 03-04 on would be to much. Couture already had the wrestling skills and the GNP and by then he added Jiujitsu techniques and some great submission defense. Couture beats him down on the ground and gets a late stoppage.

 

HAHA yea that was funny.

 

Terere must have been thinking that as Roger choked him...