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LESNAR VS. COUTURE IS THE BIGGEST FIGHT IN UFC HISTORY
The mainstream hype for this fight is going to be huge. ESPN had the announcement of the fight in their sports ticker at the bottom of the screen, along with the scores and other news from the sporting world. That's huge. That means that it's very likely ESPN will at least mention it on their shows in the upcoming weeks. And the week of the fight will see segments about the match-up on ESPN shows like Around The Horn and Pardon The Interruption, to name a few. And Sportscenter should do at least a few segments on this fight in the lead-up, especially with the new live format and the need to fill time.
The hype for the first Kimbo Slice fight on CBS was enormous among mainstream media outlets. Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture should be even bigger. Both guys have achieved a high level of fame among casual MMA fans. A lot of people know Brock from his WWE days and the guy looks like a wrecking machine. There's not going to be a lot of people out there scoffing at the idea of Brock as an Ultimate Fighter. He looks like an elite fighter. A guy like Tim Sylvia, on the other hand, doesn't look like an elite-level fighter. He looks like the flabby drunk at the end of the bar. Appearances mean a lot when it comes to marketing and Brock has a fantastic look.
Randy also has a great look, as well as a lot of cred to back it up. There's not a lot of people who dislike him, the guy's considered a superhero. Randy carries himself like a star. It's not just about answering questions the right way; it's about projecting a sense of self-confidence that doesn't stray into arrogance. It's easy to tell that Randy is very confident in his own abilities yet he never seems to take an opponent lightly or assume victory. Even when Randy appeared on "Pros Vs. Joes" he never got into that trashtalking stereotype that so many of the other pros did.
Most everyone can relate to Randy Couture. He's the old, wily veteran who's managed to turn back the clock. Even though he's still in great shape he wins his fights with guile and experience. This fight is a variation on the tale of David vs. Goliath. Brock is much larger than Randy and will look to overpower him. Randy will probably try to outwit Brock and make Lesnar beat himself, much like Goliath beat himself when he removed his helmet.
The question becomes, however, what is Brock's helmet? What is the thing that Randy can use to his advantage in order to defeat the larger, faster, younger man? Is it leg kicks? For all of his muscles, Brock's knees are just as susceptible to damage as anyone else's. Perhaps strikes to the inner thigh are the key to victory. This would make Brock's size work against him and also negate his speed advantage. Having to carry 285 lbs. on a weakened leg is a lot to ask.
Brock employs what I call the Wide V fighting stance. His feet are very far apart, much more than shoulder length, as he engages. That means that he's more open to being thrown off balance by well-placed leg kicks. Brock counters that with his impressive strength but even the strongest guys have to follow the laws of physics. If Randy can get Brock to reach then punish him with strikes to the inner thigh he should be able to negate the sizeable physical advantage Brock has in this fight.
Another area Randy might be able to take advantage of is the natural tendency of fighters to strike at eye-level or above. If Randy can crouch down a few more inches he should be able to get Brock out of his comfort zone and make him look for more uppercuts than he's used to throwing. Randy's already a few inches shorter than Brock and he might be able to force him into fighting a different style than he would like.
The aging underdog versus the talented newcomer; it's a story as old as time. And that's what it translates so well across all cultures and eras. Randy Couture has a chance to write the latest feel-good chapter of this story. The only question now is if he can do it. Either way, this is going to be the biggest fight in UFC history. Scratch that, this will be the biggest fight in MMA history.
NEXT TIME- Why Lesnar vs. Couture Isn't The Biggest Fight In UFC History
