Randy Couture (2007) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (2018)

[NoBiasJustMMA]

That's a miss match.

Fedor then and Randy then fedor wins.

But prime Randy vs fight worn fedor now? Nope Randy savages him.

I don't think it would be a mismatch, the Fedor that beat Sonnen still presents a lot of issues for Couture since he's still much faster, hits harder and showed that he's still strong in the clinch. His chin isn't nearly what it used to be and he's slower than he was and his reaction time isn't as good but Randy being a below average hitter helps 2018 Fedor a lot.

I think prime vs prime it's much more of a mismatch mainly because I think Fedor is a bad match up for Couture.

 

[sapporo ichiban]

Yes It's an interesting topic that has never really been covered like it should have been... Crocop, Wanderlei, Shogun, even Rampage seemed burned out two years into it and tried to go to Hollywood... Fedor never went there at all.

I am not sure that Dana and Fedor would have been a good mix even if they had reached an agreement. Sad for the fans but Dana is a complete dick and I would guess that Fedor felt he could do more without restriction. Nobody can know for sure how it would have turned out if he had not decided to pass from a business perspective.

 

[Philtard]

I don't think it would be a mismatch, the Fedor that beat Sonnen still presents a lot of issues for Couture since he's still much faster, hits harder and showed that he's still strong in the clinch. His chin isn't nearly what it used to be and he's slower than he was and his reaction time isn't as good but Randy being a below average hitter helps 2018 Fedor a lot.

I think prime vs prime it's much more of a mismatch mainly because I think Fedor is a bad match up for Couture.

Gotta agree to disagree on the former. I do agree with you that fedor takes out Randy in his prime.

Shame that fight never happened.

 

[JKS]

2018 Fedor?? I don't know....is gas tank is questionable. Randy in 2007 still went 5 hard rounds boxing and wrestling.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Gotta agree to disagree on the former. I do agree with you that fedor takes out Randy in his prime.

Shame that fight never happened.

Why exactly? I mean I can definitely see Couture tiring out Fedor and winning through cardio and wrestling but I can also see him getting KOed quickly since the speed/striking power/striking heavily favors Fedor. You're a good poster so I wanna hear your take on the hypothetical fight.

 

[Levi_]

Under USADA probably Fedor, otherwise Randy.

Hard to imagine Randy was clean, especially given his performance at the age of 46.

 

[Philtard]

Why exactly? I mean I can definitely see Couture tiring out Fedor and winning through cardio and wrestling but I can also see him getting KOed quickly since the speed/striking power/striking heavily favors Fedor. You're a good poster so I wanna hear your take on the hypothetical fight.

Now? Becasue primo Randy was a really good wrestler, not just that he had really good dirty boxing and his conditioning was absolutely too notch. Back then Randy was the best and although fedor has had the opportunity to evolve with the current climate of fighters I don't think he would favour very well at all against prime Randy now. I'm a big fedor fan and although he's a good boxer the man arguably lost to Maldonado. I'll give you he's seemingly on a good run now, I just dont think it's enough to beat prime Randy. I think that's doing a disservice to couture.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Now? Becasue primo Randy was a really good wrestler, not just that he had really good dirty boxing and his conditioning was absolutely too notch. Back then Randy was the best and although fedor has had the opportunity to evolve with the current climate of fighters I don't think he would favour very well at all against prime Randy now. I'm a big fedor fan and although he's a good boxer the man arguably lost to Maldonado. I'll give you he's seemingly on a good run now, I just dont think it's enough to beat prime Randy. I think that's doing a disservice to couture.

I don't agree that Randy was the best back then(Fedor was till he lost to Werdum) and Fedor didn't really need to evolve, he just devolved starting around 2007(IMO Fedor in his prime is still the most well rounded HW ever). Fedor did arguably lose to Maldonado because it should have been a draw but Couture doesn't have Maldonado's striking skill or punching power so I don't see Couture having success in the striking.

I don't think Couture declined a lot from 2007 to when he fought Big Nog 2 years later and Big Nog had the advantage striking and on the feet.

I think 2007 Couture vs 2018 Fedor would be a close fight but Couture could get KOed quickly.

 

[DesiredUserName]

Fedor.

 

[Oscaraps]

He was declining at the end of Pride, his knees/ankles and legs in general had taken a lot of damage and the injuries were piling up. He fucked up his ankle before the Hunt fight and messed it up again on Wanderlei's head.

Yep also added to it, but man what a sight it was to see a motivated Mirko

 

[Philtard]

I don't agree that Randy was the best back then(Fedor was till he lost to Werdum) and Fedor didn't really need to evolve, he just devolved starting around 2007(IMO Fedor in his prime is still the most well rounded HW ever). Fedor did arguably lose to Maldonado because it should have been a draw but Couture doesn't have Maldonado's striking skill or punching power so I don't see Couture having success in the striking.

I don't think Couture declined a lot from 2007 to when he fought Big Nog 2 years later and Big Nog had the advantage striking and on the feet.

I think 2007 Couture vs 2018 Fedor would be a close fight but Couture could get KOed quickly.

Maybe mismatch was a strong word.

 

[DayV]

How did Randy beat Sylvia and Gonzaga then? He probably would have smashed Crocop at that time too.

Couture was definitely better matchup for Cro Cop than Gonzaga.
Cro Cop really had no need nor business fighting then unknown and globaly unranked Gonzaga. Cro Cop as one of the biggest stars at that time should have got title shot vs Couture. But UFC wanted to milk out his 6 fight contract, and since casual Americans generaly do not have a lot of knowledge of what´s happening outside of USA, so most of UFC audience had probably never heard of Cro Cop or Fedor, and UFC wanted series of attractive knock outs by Cro Cop to build PPV sales before they give him title shot and risk their established brand home star.

Cro Cop basically had guaranteed title shot in Pride in 2006, so he really should have somehow protected himself by contract to carry that title shot right in UFC.

 

[Prince Nephilim]

Fedor would finish Randy faster than Randy can finish himself

 

[Sweater of AV]

Fedor. Left hook KO.

 

[daniel san]

How would Couture beat Fedor? Randy’s striking wouldn’t be enough to crack Fedor’s current glass chin and would Couture be able to outwrestle Fedor who is stronger and has faced behemoths? It might be a competitive fight and Couture might steal a round or two by wall and stall but in the end I see Fedor knocking out Couture sooner or later.

Couture is a UFC legend but he has truly been overrated and there is absolutely nothing natural about him.

 

[Ibm]

I think people forget how good Randy was in 2007. He beat Sylvia, Gonzaga and was able to decently box with a man who is 4 weight classes above. 2007 prime Randy would beat todays Fedor with ease. Randy was a master game planner and would probably clinch, dirty box Fedor until he got the takedown. I don't see Randy ko'ing him though but he would wear him out.

 

[Aerosol]

Randy's got inside info on Tim's back injury and he slammed his forehead on GG's nose when he took him down. GG wasn't the same after that.

GG broke his nose with his own knee noob

 

[JabToucher]

Why are you comparing fighters that are nothing like Fedor to Fedor? That makes no sense. I doubt Couture would have smashed Cro Cop, he might have beaten him because he wasn't used to the cage yet but he's a bad match up for Couture.

Sylvia and Gonzaga are both slower than Couture and Sylvia had a back injury, Fedor is way faster than them.

Couture matched up well with Sylvia and Gonzaga as he had a speed and significant wrestling advantage over both, he doesn't have those big advantages over Fedor or Cro Cop.

If I recall correctly, Handy preferred a potential fight with Cro cop than Gonzaga. Still won anyway.

 

[The XL]

Randy easily. Does anyone honestly believe current Fedor would be even remotely competitive with a 30 year old 300lbs Lesnar, peak Timmeh, or even peak Gonzaga?

 

[NoSmilez]

It's one of those fights that should have happened back then but Randy took off and lost to Nog/Brock when he came back. I think folks dismissed Randy too easily due to MMA math.
Dan ended up getting that match and winning. I believe Randy had a good chance on the ground as long as he is on top. Fedor isn't going to sub him off his back. Randy and friends also prepped for Fedor before with Lindland.

I see some folks comparing Randy to Chael but I think this incarnation of Chael we see in Bellator isn't really part of a fight team. He either co owns or trains out of a Gracie Barra. Training too much in gi is what got him in trouble when he tried for a variation of a seat belt roll.