Couture vs Machida @ UFC 129

[kaps]

Anybody who fights Machida will be chasing him all night...

[TheGreatA]

Machida will make Couture look ancient. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the fight ends the moment Machida decides to unload any serious punches.

[BrotherDudeJack]

Anybody who fights Machida will be chasing him all night...

Couture better have on his Nike's. lol

[phallus]

I assume you're referring to the Vera fight. I agree he was gifted that one. He has to hope that Machida doesn't even show up and allows Randy to get to him. That's the only way he wins. Randy's in the same position that Matt Hughes is in at 170 in that he'll beat fringe contenders or old farts but as far as top level opposition goes, he's done IMO.

machida isn't really top level opposition though, he's scared to engage with anybody who has even medium power. when tito ortiz fought him, he almost caught lyoto in a triangle choke. if old man randy has enough power left in his fists to scare the dragon, i could see him chasing machida around all night and maybe winning a narrow ****ing split decision based on aggressiveness. you can be sure in any machida fight, that only one of the fighters in the octagon really wants to fight

[BrotherDudeJack]

machida isn't really top level opposition though, he's scared to engage with anybody who has even medium power. when tito ortiz fought him, he almost caught lyoto in a triangle choke. if old man randy has enough power left in his fists to scare the dragon, i could see him chasing machida around all night and maybe winning a narrow ****ing split decision based on aggressiveness. you can be sure in any machida fight, that only one of the fighters in the octagon really wants to fight

lol @ that last sentence

[FloydTBE]

machida should win

[jakkups]

machida isn't really top level opposition though, he's scared to engage with anybody who has even medium power. when tito ortiz fought him, he almost caught lyoto in a triangle choke. if old man randy has enough power left in his fists to scare the dragon, i could see him chasing machida around all night and maybe winning a narrow ****ing split decision based on aggressiveness. you can be sure in any machida fight, that only one of the fighters in the octagon really wants to fight

Machida's style is to pick shots or counter any oncoming assault. That doesn't mean he's scared, that's just his style, big difference. And how is he not top opposition? I would have to say that @ 205 he's fought the tougher comp. Randy's rep @ 205 is built on 1 wins out of 3 against Chuck, a win against Tito, a win over Belfort, Coleman, Vera, Toney & a win over Van Arsdale.

Tito ALMOST caught him, ALMOST being the operative word. That's like saying that Vera had Randy hurt badly with a bodyshot and almost finished him, means nothing, it's the overall outcome that matters.

Randy's never had power in his fists, not enough to scare anyone, and certainly not on the level of guys like Rampage, Shogun, Silva, Franklin, Sokoudjou & Evans. His clinch game is his strength, but he has to eat some leather to get there. With Machida it's not a case of how, rather than when. Randy's punch resistance is on the decline, as seen in the fights with Vera, and especially round that beard as seen in the fight with Nogueira. In Machida he faces quite possibly the most accurate striker in the division, and one of the quickest both on his feet and with his strikes.

Randy's a warrior & a legend but since his return to 205 he's been in very soft. Just going on their last 3 fights, you can't even compare Vera, Coleman & Toney to Shogun (x2) & Rampage. If he comes out overly aggressive it will be his downfall.