rewatched Randy vs. Vitor (UFC 15)

[fatmanthenextbatman]

True Vitor had hands but he didn't have the gas tank or right game plan to back it up. Vitor's bjj back then was OVERRATED. He was at best an advanced blue belt or a low level purple. NO WAY was Vitor a legit bb in bjj when he fought Randy. His muscles were from body building and he had poor conditioning. Randy was way more conditioned and fought a smarter fight. He was also a legit wrestler as well. Big Nog's a legit black belt in bjj and look how the fight went on the ground with Handy. Handy got schooled. LOL at the horrible commentary when Randy was pounding the crap out of a dazed and finished Vitor "He wants the guard! He wants the guard". seconds later , vitor was layed out flat beaten to a bloody pulp. good times.

 

[CPH]

Vitor's bjj back then was OVERRATED. He was at best an advanced blue belt or a low level purple. NO WAY was Vitor a legit bb in bjj when he fought Randy. His muscles were from body building and he had poor conditioning. Randy was way more conditioned and fought a smarter fight. He was also a legit wrestler as well. Big Nog's a legit black belt in bjj look how the fight went on the ground with Handy. Handy got schooled.

This is why it's silly for fans to hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of fighters and their teams; misrepresentation of skills, health status, weight - this is all part of the mind games being played by teams to give their guy an edge. Whenever you put something out there, it's an opportunity to mislead the opponent or to get to him mentally.

 

[Rockapotomuss]

This is why it's silly for fans to hang on every word that comes out of the mouth of fighters and their teams; misrepresentation of skills, health status, weight - this is all part of the mind games being played by teams to give their guy an edge. Whenever you put something out there, it's an opportunity to mislead the opponent or to get to him mentally.

one thing I didn’t mention in the OP was Randy made a couple weak takedown attempts before his big shot. In hindsight I believe this was to give Vitor confidence in his TDD so that he’d open up for the hard fast double leg. And it worked.

 

[ltarian11]

I remember watching this fight with some buddies many years ago. It was awesome to watch the upset. Vitor seemed unbeatable going into the fight, but Randy beat him handily. After that fight, I knew Randy was something special and enjoyed watching him compete for many years.

 

[gluehuffer1776]

I think vitor would win in a rematch

 

[RayMercer]

Randy whooped Vitor's flower ass.

Normal, happened almost every time Vitor fought a guy on that level.

He's a loser for a reason, he finds a way to lose.

 

[cade187]

I think vitor would win in a rematch

Randy is 75 now though.

 

[Sickbro69420]

Sweet thread. I watched this fight last year and had the same feelings about what works in modern MMA and how Randy's clinch work and dirty boxing changed the game. He got older and people became wise to the style. It's still a great base style to have to this day and I feel like most people need to implement the same strategies Randy does here to be successful at the top.
I was big Vitor fan when I was a kid and seriously thought that Vitor didn't have any weakness. Of course I don't buy UFC hype bs anymore but I can see why a casual would get swept away in it.

 

[Sixstring]

Great fight. Good memories there. I remember when Randy fought Brock and was really hoping he was going to win. Didn't turn out that way but wouldn't have that been an amazing victory?

 

[cws80us]

Randy was not the most talented or physically gifted fighter but made up for it with heart, and smart gameplanning. Probably one of the most cerebral fighters ever.

 

[Paolo Delutis]

this is one of the earlier fights between two legends (and likely HOFers). Both fighters came in undefeated.

Vitor at age 20 had finished every fight within 2 minutes. Vitor had never shown ground skills, but rumor had it he was 2nd best in the world after Rickson.

Randy at age 34 came in off the national wrestling championships in unreal fighting shape.

What surprised everyone was Randy pushed forward with the striking. Everyone expected Randy to shoot. By circling left, the first 2 minutes of the fight were on the feet. As soon as Vitor got loose with overhand shots, Randy shot a quick double and took the fight to the ground. Despite Vitor's ground skills, Randy showed no fear in the guard. One interesting move Randy made, which you would not see today, was switching from half guard over to a headlock with his back facing Vitor, so that Randy could throw punches on an undefended stationary face. This allowed Vitor to roll out.

Vitor exploded up and then Randy began his signature dirty boxing, and it was simply a matter of time before Vitor became exhausted. Randy didn't load up his shots but just kept punching over and over and over and over until big john had to stop it.

Looking back at this fight, you see a lot of modern MMA. Vitor was younger, faster, more skilled.. but what Randy had here above all else was the better gameplan.

Randys fight IQ was super high...possibly the best ever....Id put him above Jones...and maybe tied with GSP


He had to be smart when dealing with a powerhouse fighter with no known weaknesses like HW vitor...Randy did this with many opponents in his career

 

[Paolo Delutis]

I honestly think Randy was even better than he was given credit for mostly because Dana hates him.

Absolutely the way they buried him is sickening...the guy was a friggin stud and didnt even start fighting till he was 30 years old and on...imagine a 25 year old Randy....

He was a 5 times UFC champion....5 time...like no1 has done this...and no1 probably wont...

 

[Pakman]

Absolutely.

And the idiots who measure greatness by mere win percentage haven't a clue.

100%

That's why guys like BJ will always be held in high regard to those of us who were able to watch him.

End of his career sucked and for a very long time now he has fallen behind the game when for a long time he was ahead of the curve.

But the highs he achieved with the Hughes win, the LW title run he had, are highs that the vast majority of the UFC roster will never ever be able to achieve.