Fedor Emilienko vs. Randy Couture

The problem for Randy is that Fedor has speed and power. I think he would overwhelm Randy. This wouldn't be close.

 

He wasn't allowed to hit Arona on the ground so that took away one of his main weapons. On top of that, Fedor has only become better and better. Arona is also a totally different fighter than Randy so your comparison makes no sense.

 

lol when he fought Arona he was just starting out and so was Arona but you won't expect domination from beginners. The fight was close but from what i remember Fedor won hands down. Plus, like mentioned there was completely different rules in Rings.

 

You could have made one for Mike Tyson against a wet paper towel. We are talking about serious comparisons.

 

After seeing Couture/Gonzaga.. i think it may be a lot closer than i previously thought...

 

Fedor is even more natural then "the natural".

The guy just... finds a way. He can take people out by striking, GnP or ripping out impossible arm-bars or submissions. I can't see anyone beating him.

 

They already fought......and McBride beat him :deal :deal

 

That just shows that skewed polls are not worth a good pair of bollocks.

 

As I've said before, while Fedor clearly has the tools to beat Randy, I also feel that Randy is a legitimate threat to beat Fedor. While Fedor has handled similar, and even better in some aspects, wrestlers than Randy, Randy does not utilize the same style as Coleman and Randleman.

Randy approaches the takedown much different than Coleman and Randleman, who go in there looking for the takedown as soon as possible and at any costs, except Randleman when he's looking for a 1 punch KO; Randy goes in there, even against guys he knows he wants to takedown, and survives on the feet until the takedown is presented to him. After all the years of "surviving" before the takedown he has actually become a legitimate threat while standing, especially in the clinch where the opponent has to defend against strikes while constantly being aware that they can be dumped on their head at any time.

Fedor presents two major problems however, in that he is almost of the same style as Randy in terms of using his standup to set up the takedown has turned him into a legitimate threat striking, and like Randy has the ability to make the opponent defend against both strikes and takedowns from the clinch.

The other, and probably bigger problem is that Fedor is a great bottom game fighter, and is a real arm hunter, as most Sambo fighters are since they almost without exception are also Judo guys and with chokes being illegal in Sambo and leglocks being illegal in Judo they train armbars to perfection.

So in essence what you have is two fighters with highly similar strategies who came about perfecting them in different ways thanks to their nationalities, similarly unlimited gas tanks, similar sizes with Randy being 6'1 and Fedor being around 6'0 depending on who you ask, and similar weights. Both are also THE face of MMA in their country with their similar class and calm demeaner. They both also served in their countries respective Armies, the similarities are almost eerie.

With all that said, each does have edges over the other, with Fedors sub game being better than Randys (although Randys is greatly improved and a little underrated) and Randies takedowns and positional control, Fedor's aggresive and confident muay thai which has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, and Randy's more classical patient western boxing style. Fedors speed and Randys control, and possibly most importantly, experience of the cage.

In the end predicting how this fight will happen is almost impossible as both gameplan on such a higher level than most fighters, let alone fans, can comprehend.

But, I truely believe that Randy will prevail, mostly due to his experience in the environment the fight would take place. I won't be surprised either way, unless their is a blowout which would be surprising, and I can't really give you a definite way for either fighter to win, because as I mentioned before these two are like two chess grandmasters thinking on a different level than we can comprehend, but I think it will be Randy in the end, I really do.

 

Well, I really respect Randy in the clinch. Thing is, I dont think Fedor will be a slouch there either. Randleman and Coleman are more double and single leg type takedown artists, from there they GNP, or as you stated, Randleman looks for monster right hands. Couture will work his way in and get into the clinch and work a takedown from there.. Thing is, working your way into Fedor leaves you open to his specific game.

Fedor is like an elephant trapeze artist, I really wonder who will have the advantage in the clinch in that Sambo is so similar to Judo. First off, Fedor is super scrappy and lets bombs go from all angles. So closing the gap poses a problem. Secondly, with Sambo is so similar to Judo, but requires a lot of agility to utilize effectively.. Fedor is an acrobatic guy for his size.. Randy gets in close and Fedor could attempt any number of things, from Kimura throw to uchi mata. Havent seen it from Fedor in his fights because guys are so wary of his own takedowns, and he's usually punching like a madman long before there is ever a clinch..

The one place I feel Coutures game is extremely strong is in the clinch, but like I said, we really don't know what Fedor can do from here.. I'm just going on the assumption that he posesses all the Judo throws and counters from the clinch because after all.. We are talking about Fedor..

Fedor tends to go on punch frenzies too. Once he starts its hard to stop him. Top it off, he will be allowed to use elbows.. I think this is going to be bad for Coutures health.

 

I still wonder whether Couture can handle big Nog.