UFC 91: Couture vs Lesnar

[Evan]

It's a little ways off, but easily one of the more anticipated big money fights in the near future. The legend returns to the cage to face Dana's pet project.

The press release from UFC is below.

I know a topic like this was started in OOC a little while back, but could easily spark some debate here in the new forum.

Will Randy break Brock or will Brock squash Randy?


Full press release...

Tickets for UFC 91: Couture vs Lesnar go on sale this week

Las Vegas, NV (USA) the The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) today announced that tickets for what is expected to be the biggest UFC event in history will go on public sale this Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11am PT. "Our estimates project that UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar will be the highest grossing UFC pay-per-view event in history," said Dana White, UFC President.

Las Vegas, NV ( USA ) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® ( UFC® ) today announced that tickets for what is expected to be the biggest UFC event in history will go on public sale this Saturday, Sept. 20 at 11am PT.

"Our estimates project that UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar will be the highest grossing UFC pay-per-view event in history," said Dana White, UFC President.

Tickets for UFC 91 will be priced at $1000, $750, $500, $300, $150 and $75. UFC® Fight Club™ members can purchase tickets on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 10am PT via the website ufc.com, and a special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers on Friday, Sept. 19 starting at 10am PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

Earlier this month, White announced that after a year away from the game, UFC® heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural" Couture will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to defend his title against rising star Brock Lesnar in a clash of titans destined to shake the foundations of the sport. This championship bout, the biggest heavyweight title fight in years, will headline UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.

"I am happy to announce that UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture will be returning to action in the Octagon," said Dana White, UFC President. "He's a legend in the UFC, and I have always said that wrestling is one of the best bases you can have in MMA and not only is Randy a top level wrestler but his opponent is as well. Brock Lesnar showed the MMA world that he is for real in his last fight, dismantling the far more experienced Heath Herring. His combination of speed and power was absolutely devastating. It is a fascinating matchup: the crafty, multiple-time heavyweight champion versus the younger, bigger, and stronger challenger. This is one that will go down in the history books."

UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR will be available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer's Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts ( where available ).

A UFC Hall of Famer whose name is synonymous with mixed martial arts, Randy ‘The Natural' Couture ( 16-8 ) is the only fighter in history to win the UFC world heavyweight title three times, and that's not even mentioning his two UFC light heavyweight titles. Owner of heavyweight wins over the likes of Maurice Smith, Vitor Belfort, Kevin Randleman, and Pedro Rizzo ( twice ), the 45-year old Las Vegas resident turned back the clock in 2007 with a stirring win over Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 that netted him his third heavyweight crown. Couture defended his title for the first time at UFC 74 with a third round TKO of number one contender Gabriel Gonzaga, and now the man often referred to as "Captain America" will look to prove once again that he should never be counted out in a fight when he takes on Brock Lesnar.

"I have a lot of respect for Brock as an athlete and a collegiate wrestler, but I know exactly where he's at, he's trying to make the transition from a wrestler to mixed martial arts," said Couture. "I've been there, done that, and I know where the pitfalls are. This will be an interesting matchup, and it will be very nice to be home in the Octagon for this fight."

A physically gifted athlete with the size, speed, and power to impose his will on any opponent, Brock Lesnar ( 2-1 ) made an immediate impact in the UFC when he debuted here in February of 2008, and he has his sights set on shocking the world on November 15th. A four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion, and 2000 NCAA Division I National Champion in wrestling, Lesnar made a name for himself internationally after college as a professional wrestler, but he soon found his true love in mixed martial arts in 2006. After a 69 second win in his pro debut a year later, Lesnar entered the UFC and made a positive impression in a loss to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 81, but at UFC 87 in August, the Minneapolis-St. Paul resident showed why he is rapidly becoming one of the most feared fighters in the sport today and an immediate threat to the heavyweight throne.

"It's an honor to fight Randy Couture, he's a legend in this sport, and to get the chance to test myself against him is a gift," said Lesnar. "A lot guys would love to have this opportunity, Randy is the UFC heavyweight champion. There is one goal that I've had since I started training in MMA and that is to capture the title. Now that I'm getting the chance, nothing is going to stop me. I'm walking out of the Octagon with the belt around my waist."

[RyanD]

fuck Lesnar.

[Evan]

fuck Lesnar.


Quoted for fuckin' truth, my friend.


I hope Randy rips Brock to pieces and Dana's little pet project goes down in flames.

[Jim]

I have no problem with Lesnar whatsoever, anyone who can manhandle Herring in his third ever fight deserves praise. When Coleman pulled out he could have been put in their with Brad Imes - but no, he went up against Herring a guy who has consistently been a Top 10 Heavyweight [and at times a top 5].

He hasn't gone out and fought cans and been protected, he's gone out and fought against guys who would have made him look like a chump if he didn't have the ability to be in their with them.

Rich Franklin was protected because he was a well spoken, intelligent good looking poster boy for the UFC, then he runs into a top tier talent and gets raped, twice, that was a pet project.

I have no idea if Lesnar will beat Randy because I've never bet against him, but if he does, I'm not going to rag on him for doing it.

[RyanD]

Lesner gets by solely because he's a genetic freak. Seriously, they don't make many like him.

I mean, if he were doing toughman competitions on ESPN that's one thing, but Lesnar is going to ruin UFC if he's successful.

In short: I hate lesnar because he gets by on his gross size, not on any type of talent of skill (blah blah amateaur wrestling champ blah blah)

[Jim]

He's far from invincible.

He didn't finish Herring, if Herring had a ground game Brock would have had to think of something else other than controlling the rounds.

Kongo is a big dude, but he still sucks.

He's good enough to be great, but great fighters still get beaten.

So far as ruining the UFC... How exactly? By being the champion of one weight class - the weight class which, incidentally has lumbered along for the past five years with Tim Sylvia as its cornerstone. I'd rather pass a kidney stone than have to watch the [fat] UFC Heavyweight Division from 3 years ago.

Matt Hughes is not hugely different to Lesnar in terms of the relative size and strength advantage he [used to] possess over opponents in the WW division, he relies on wrestling to boot, yet I wouldn't say he has 'ruined' the UFC.

[Evan]

I personally hate Brock because he's a flaky douchebag, above all else.

Leaves WWE in the lurch after they invest millions in the asshole (albeit that's Vince's fault for putting all his eggs in Brock's proverbial basket, but I digress)

Then when he fails at football (badly) he goes back to wrestling for New Japan, they put their newly minted IWGP belt on him.. and he LEAVES.. literally, he fucking leaves the God damn country with their belt. I can understand if he wanted to leave, but drop the belt to someone.. shit, even if your going to sneak out in the middle of the night like a coward fuck at least leave the hardware.

Now he's in MMA, apparently doing great.. well whoop de do.


Fuck Brock Lesnar, he's a coward shithead, fuck him in his pee hole.

[Justin]

Fuck everyone mentioned in this thread.

None of them could beat Fedor.

Until Fedor becomes involved, UFC is fail.

[Jim]

I no longer care about Fedor.

He hasn't been relevant for 2 years, and beating Tim Sylvia doesn't count.

[HJD]

I personally hate Brock because he's a flaky douchebag, above all else.

Leaves WWE in the lurch after they invest millions in the asshole (albeit that's Vince's fault for putting all his eggs in Brock's proverbial basket, but I digress)

Then when he fails at football (badly) he goes back to wrestling for New Japan, they put their newly minted IWGP belt on him.. and he LEAVES.. literally, he fucking leaves the God damn country with their belt. I can understand if he wanted to leave, but drop the belt to someone.. shit, even if your going to sneak out in the middle of the night like a coward fuck at least leave the hardware.

Now he's in MMA, apparently doing great.. well whoop de do.


Fuck Brock Lesnar, he's a coward shithead, fuck him in his pee hole.

I thought Lesnar dropped the IWGP title to Angle?

[Evan]

New Japan revamped the IWGP title, minted a new belt.. Lesnar was the first to wear it after his title win, few defenses in Brock up and decides he's done with New Japan. Leaves with the belt. New Japan pulls the old IWGP belt out of mothballs and starts using it again, the belt Lesnar effectively stole was renamed the IWGP 3rd Belt title. Lesnar eventually wrestled on Antonio Inoki's first IGF show against Angle, Angle won the 3rd Belt.

Earlier this year Shinsuke Nakamura (the actual IWGP champion) beat Angle for the 3rd Belt and "unified them".. Angle was never a recognized IWGP champion. Angle was just a go between due to the fact Brock is a pussy.

[Justin]

I think Angle has the v4 version of the belt, and Lesnar had the v3 version, or some shit, and after Brock through his bitch-fit they unified them or something.

I don't know, Japan sucks.

[Justin]

Yeah, nevermind what I said, pay attention to Evan.

[~ < o > ~]

I personally hate Brock because he's a flaky douchebag, above all else.

Leaves WWE in the lurch after they invest millions in the asshole (albeit that's Vince's fault for putting all his eggs in Brock's proverbial basket, but I digress)

The dude wasn't happy. If you're so pissed off that a multi-million dollar contract won't fix it, then you're pissed off. It isn't like there was wrestling money somewhere else, he was upset enough to basically abandon his career at the time.

Then when he fails at football (badly)

That's complete bullshit. What twenty eight year old have you ever heard of that walked on to an NFL team that wasn't a fucking kicker? The dude didn't even play football in college, and he still got an extended tryout with the Vikings. He hadn't played in TEN YEARS, had never played past high school level, and he was gifted enough to make it to the final tryout, and almost made the practice squad.

How is that failing, in any concievable way? Had he of made the Vikings, that would have been much bigger then success, that would of been a miracle. People don't just walk into the NFL, especially if they didn't even bother playing past high school.

This dude has done more for wrestling in the mainstream media then any wrestler on any active roster. The Rock and Stone Cold made wrestler's capable of being marketed to adults, and Lesnar has made wrestlers look legit tough, more then any other wrestler in the history of the business.

Who gives a fuck if he didn't drop some stupid belt in Japan in the correct wrestling fashion. They probably just handed him the motherfucker when he got there, anyway. It isn't like he earned that shit, they devalued the thing way before he did.

[Justin]

Nobody likes Brock because Brock was all about getting himself over, not the business.

[~ < o > ~]

He's getting the business over right now, by being one of the top draws in the UFC, WWE is just too dumb to try and get something out of it.

Imagine how much shit boxing promoters would talk if Mayweather was winning MMA fights. Hell, Anderson Silva is talking about doing some boxing, watch how quickly Dana White tries to bury boxing if Anderson Silva starts beating contenders.

That's just the usual selfish ass wrestling fan mentality, mad because the dude wanted a better job. Same reason people hate Rock. He didn't "up and leave." He honored his contract, and didn't extend. The dude is above wrestling. The Rock was above wrestling, and so is Lesnar.

That, and in every interview he's had, he's not saying "Wrestling was a fucking joke, and I out-classed everyone there", he constantly says the shit was difficult, and he doesn't have to say that shit. He could easily bury wrestling, if he wanted to.

[Justin]

Source: thesun.co.uk

His Future In MMA: "I’m talking to several fight companies about doing MMA by the end of next year - 2009. I’m going to cross over to the MMA world for a while but I want to end up back in TNA and back in wrestling. I’ve always wanted to do it. I’m the only Olympic gold medallist that will enter the Octagon and it feels right for me. I can almost guarantee you’re going to see me in the Octagon."

[Jeff Fox]

That's complete bullshit. What twenty eight year old have you ever heard of that walked on to an NFL team that wasn't a fucking kicker?

Vince Papale was 30 when he did it. Though one career reception as a wide receiver ain't much.

Besides that nitpick I agree with Gip about Lesnar. It's not his fault that wrestling fans and bookers put so much on him. He walked away cause it wasn't right for him. It's bullshit to blame him for getting a different job. If your friend left a job they didn't like would you bitch at them?

I want Lesnar to win. I like seeing pro wrestlers kick ass in real life. It's got a neat ironic quality to it.

Of course I use to use Lesnar on special teams in madden. So I might be biased.

[~ < o > ~]

Vince Papale was 30 when he did it. Though one career reception as a wide receiver ain't much.

That was in the 70's.

[Joe]

New Japan revamped the IWGP title, minted a new belt.. Lesnar was the first to wear it after his title win, few defenses in Brock up and decides he's done with New Japan. Leaves with the belt. New Japan pulls the old IWGP belt out of mothballs and starts using it again, the belt Lesnar effectively stole was renamed the IWGP 3rd Belt title. Lesnar eventually wrestled on Antonio Inoki's first IGF show against Angle, Angle won the 3rd Belt.

Earlier this year Shinsuke Nakamura (the actual IWGP champion) beat Angle for the 3rd Belt and "unified them".. Angle was never a recognized IWGP champion. Angle was just a go between due to the fact Brock is a pussy.

I think Inoki, who founded the IWGP strap as well as New Japan, claimed that Lesnar was the true champion and didn't acknowledge New Japan's stripping him of it.

I don't know though, I really don't follow and don't know how to follow Japanese wrestling.

As far as Lesnar goes, I don't know the guy I got nothing against him. But I don't like the way he talks down on pro wrestling. If it wasnt for his time in the E, nobody would know who the fuck he is now.

[~ < o > ~]

As far as Angle's talk goes, that's just what it is. He's not saying anything he hasn't said before, and he's been saying it for years.

If he ever does end up doing an MMA fight, which is highly unlikely, it won't be in the UFC. No way in hell he passes the physical. He can want to fight in the UFC all he wants, that doesn't mean Dana White's going to let him get crippled.

[Evan]

Frank Mir Says Lesnar Deserves Couture Fight
Posted by Ashish on 09.24.2008

Mir says Brock is the new Couture...

In an interview with Sherdog, Frank Mir said he understood why Brock Lesnar got the Randy Couture fight, but said that inexperience could cost Lesnar in the fight.

"I think it's too early in his career," says Mir of Lesnar, who will be 14 years Couture's junior when they meet in the Octagon. "I think he's a great wrestler, powerful background, but Randy Couture is one of the most decorated Greco-Roman wrestlers we've ever had in our country. He has 12 years of MMA experience and he has the same background as Lesnar. Lesnar is basically the new Randy, a better athlete, bigger and more powerful and more dangerous, but he only has two years of [MMA] experience."

"I can get why Brock Lesnar's getting the fight," he says. "It's not like I think it absurd. If Brock Lesnar was fighting some bum off the street, it would be a main event card. That's Brock Lesnar. If ‘Kimbo Slice' came into the UFC tomorrow, he's probably going to be above me. That's just the way it is. It's name recognition."


If Kimbo Slice came to UFC I'd probably throw up a little..

[RyanD]

Kimbo = Brock = Mouth vomit.

[BigPimpin]

Who is this Kimbo Slice dude? I keep hearing about him but have no idea who he is.

[Joe]

He's a former homeless guy that the guys who started Bang Bus filmed beating up other homeless people, turned mma fighter.

[Jim]

He had an 'epic' underground match with a fat cop who knew basic MMA.

Fat cop subsequently got a one-off match in the UFC where he got pwned by nowhere man Brandon Lee Hinkle.

That said, Kimbo now trains with Bas Rutten, he has zero ground game, but at least he's no longer a complete douche.

[megszentségteleníthetetlenségeskedéseitekért]

He had an 'epic' underground match with a fat cop who knew basic MMA.

Fat cop subsequently got a one-off match in the UFC where he got pwned by nowhere man Brandon Lee Hinkle.

That said, Kimbo now trains with Bas Rutten, he has zero ground game, but at least he's no longer a complete douche.

and most importantly he has some place to sleep and a way to pay his child support.

[Jim]

and most importantly he has some place to sleep and a way to pay his child support.

Thanks to him being protected and marketed to the moon by EliteXC

[RyanD]

I like the fights on HD Net, because they occasionally show fights from atlantic city with a ring announcer that sounds a little like Rip Taylor