rewatched Randy vs. Vitor (UFC 15)

[Rockapotomuss]

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.

 

[StoneColdSteveAustin]

Randy couture broke vitor just like he did to many other opponents throughout his career and got the win.

 

[Luthien]

 

[TheMessiah]

Still crazy that Vitor became champ because of a cut on the eye

 

[Rob-G]

At the time I believe this was considered a pretty massive upset

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

It was after this fight that the description "no known weaknesses" no longer applied to Vitor

 

[Rockapotomuss]

At the time I believe this was considered a pretty massive upset

it was. Randy was just another wrestler and Vitor had huge hype after winning ufc 12 and derailing tank abbot’s train, all with finishes under 2 minutes. This was natural TRT vitor smashing through early ufc. He looked unstoppable. What this fight debuted was just how great Randy was going to be.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

At the time I believe this was considered a pretty massive upset

That’s a massive understatement. Lol

 

[ramair455]

Yeah I thought Randy would get mauled and KO'd. I really underestimated Randy's boxing & dirty boxing ability.

If Vitor didnt finish a fight with the first 3 minutes he became demoralized

 

[SeattleFightFan]

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.

Good thread, thanks.

Last night watching that GR guy from Sweden I was thinking about this fight, actually. So often there are 2 goals in MMA clinch, but Randy and he last night had so many other tricks than just the classic over and under hooks, that allow them some sick in close fighting.

Guida was as susceptible to them as Vitor was (but Guida was better at disengaging.)

 

[estranged]

Randy was good

 

[mkt]

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.

That remains one of the best gameplans ever in the sport, along with Frank Shamrock's NHB version of rope-a-dope vs. a much bigger Tito Ortiz (who eventually gassed, just like Vitor). One problem with the sport's evolution is you rarely see such novel gameplans now...where a fighter who should lose on paper does something totally unexpected and wins. Most good fighters are too well cross-trained and experienced for that to work now.

As for Vitor's ground skills, I think it was largely a ruse to keep his early fights standing. I'm sure he had some grappling skills and could submit some fighters back in 1997-98. But he was far from the 2nd best grappler. I'd even pick some non-BJJ guys at the time to beat him in pure grappling (Oleg Taktarov, Frank and Ken Shamrock, Sakuraba who beat him not long after Randy did, etc.)

 

[mkt]

it was. Randy was just another wrestler and Vitor had huge hype after winning ufc 12 and derailing tank abbot’s train, all with finishes under 2 minutes. This was natural TRT vitor smashing through early ufc. He looked unstoppable. What this fight debuted was just how great Randy was going to be.

Nothing natural about Vitor at the time. There was no drug testing yet, so Vitor could do more than TRT.

 

[MikeyB]

Vito's hand speed was on another level at that time. Huge upset at the time.

 

[Pakman]

Still crazy that Vitor became champ because of a cut on the eye

the beatdown in the rematch is one of the most lopsided beatings ever.

Randy Couture is not the greatest HW, but he is one of them, and he has had some of the most historical moments/performances/fights in the history of the sport. That win over Vitor was huge for him, beating Chuck, the win over Tito, Vitor to get the LHW belt back, coming back and beating Sylvia.

The highs he achieved on those nights are better than what most MMA fighters will ever be able to do in their careers as a whole.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

the beatdown in the rematch is one of the most lopsided beatings ever.

Randy Couture is not the greatest HW, but he is one of them, and he has had some of the most historical moments/performances/fights in the history of the sport. That win over Vitor was huge for him, beating Chuck, the win over Tito, Vitor to get the LHW belt back, coming back and beating Sylvia.

The highs he achieved on those nights are better than what most MMA fighters will ever be able to do in their careers as a whole.

Absolutely.

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

 

[Klaavical]

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

 

[Viking Power]

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

So true.

 

[Reffson]

Their second fight was totally rigged. Vitor said his strategy was to lay against the wall and let Randy punch himself out. He was all messed up in the head at this point. Got it back together when he moved down to 185 and improved his footwork, Muay Thai and boxing skills. 185 Vitor was the best Vitor.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Their second fight was totally rigged. Vitor said his strategy was to lay against the wall and let Randy punch himself out. He was all messed up in the head at this point. Got it back together when he moved down to 185 and improved his footwork, Muay Thai and boxing skills. 185 Vitor was the best Vitor.

Rigged?