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We have brought back the popular MMATorch Roundtable feature. Most days we will publish a question followed by several staff members' answers. We will run several batches of staff responses to the following question over the next several days, and then introduce a new topic after that.
TODAY'S NEW TOPIC:
If Randy Couture beats Mark Coleman convincingly, what's your pick for Couture's next opponents? And Coleman?
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ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
If Couture beats Coleman, that puts him pretty close the top of the heap for title contenders. As for fights, maybe a fight against someone like Jon Jones (if he gets past Brandon Vera) or even Rich Franklin (since everyone else near or at the top is already locked in with other opponents). Couture would have the closest chance of getting a title shot if he beats Franklin, yet, Franklin beating Couture would do wonders and catapult him pretty darn close to getting a title shot in a pretty stacked division.
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ANDREW O'DONNELL, MMATORCH SPECIALIST
I think Randy will beat Mark this Saturday, but convincingly? I doubt it. If I were to choose Couture's next fight, I think of a potential bad matchup in Rich Franklin returning from the sideline later this year at 205. A win for Randy definitely elevates him into the top five picture at 205 since getting the huge win over Brandon Vera and beating the UFC legend Mark Coleman.
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LARAMEY LEET, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
If Couture wins the fight convincingly, he needs to fight a top light heavyweight fighter. He is the former heavyweight champ and has still looked impressive in his last two fights (even though he lost to Nog, he still looked good). I would put Couture against a top contender. If Coleman loses he will probably be back on the prelims. He will have gone 1-2 in his return and, let's face it, he has no shot at a title shot no matter what. Maybe he can fight Herschel Walker.
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WESLEY WALKER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST
I believe with a dominating victory over Coleman, this places Couture back into another shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Title against the winner of Machida vs. Shogun II. If Couture were to lose, I could see him being in line to fight the winner of Ryan Bader vs. Keith Jardine. Also, the possibility looms with a loss to fight the loser of Machida and Shogun.
I believe Coleman has improved in his cardio since the Shogun fight at UFC 93, but this fight is a bad matchup with Couture and he gets completely outclassed in every area. That being said I believe Coleman still has a little left in the gas tank for a couple of more fights. A fight that is very possible is finish the trilogy with Shogun if he loses to Machida in their rematch. Another possible match for Mark Coleman is a fight with Phil Davis to test the young wrestler turned MMA fighter.
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JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
If it's a convincing dominating victory for Couture, he gets the winner of Machida-Shogun for the Light Heavyweight Title. There's too much money to be made and too much of a story from Couture's perspective to tell to not put that fight on should he come out a clear victor one way or another on Saturday night. A convincing beatdown loss for Coleman would mean a serious evaluation of his future by him, and if he fought again he may not get anywhere near a main event caliber fighter as an opponent again. He needs to look good if he's going to lose or his career may be over.
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WADE KELLER, SUPERVISING EDITOR
Dana White is likely going to give Randy Couture a title shot against the winner of Machida-Shogun if Couture wins and looks good in the process. He'll do it due to a mix of economics and the ticking clock of Couture's career. Couture can't afford to wait, and it'd be fitting for him to retire with a championship title belt (after zero, one, or more defenses - up to him and his body). If not an immediate title shot, then perhaps a SuperFight against Rich Franklin or Forrest Griffin. I don't want to see another fight with Couture against Tito or Chuck.
If Coleman loses convincingly, he'll be back in prelims at best. As UFC noted during their Spike TV countdown show, he just doesn't have enough of a history with the majority of UFC fans, who missed most of his career due to PPV blackouts and his fighting in Japan, to justify economically putting him in a semi-main event despite his Hall of Fame caliber history in the sport. He'd be a good gate-keeper for a potential future contender, but nothing more. He needs to stack up impressive upset wins and show something new to be a serious contender for a title shot.
Our next batch of Roundtable Topics to be addressed over the next week or two are as follows (so keep coming back to MMATorch every day for this and more exclusive features):
-If Mark Coleman beats Randy Couture convincing, what's your pick for Coleman's next fight? And Couture?
-Who are the two or three current Strikeforce fighters (other than Fedor) you'd be most intrigued to see acquired by UFC. What match-ups would you make from those acquisitions?
-Who are the two or three current UFC fighters you'd be most intrigued to see leave UFC for whatever reason (perhaps not being given a fair shake, already fought everyone, hit a ceiling, etc.) and be acquired by Strikeforce. What match-ups would you make from those acquisitions?
-Would you prefer Strikeforce in two years was out of business, close to UFC's equal (in revenue, ratings, buyrates, talent roster), or had surpassed UFC (assuming UFC stays static in the mean time)? Why?
-Should UFC add a women's fighting division?
-What would you do to try to make WEC successful on PPV, even if in general you disagree with WEC going on PPV? In other words, what advice would you give to Zuffa assuming they were open to some outside-the-box or aggressive marketing ideas?
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