Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman: Does the Winner Deserve a Title Shot?

Last night on the UFC Fight Night broadcast, Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg tried to push the idea that the winner of the fight between Randy Couture and Mark Coleman could be in line for a shot at the 205-pound belt.

Sometimes the commentators just throw an idea out there as an afterthought, but this time I think the UFC is trying to put out some feelers to see if people really buy the idea.

Put me in the "sell" column.

I'm excited to see the Couture vs. Coleman fight for other reasons, but there is no way that the winner of this fight should be fighting for a title, no matter how impressive the performance.

Couture and Coleman might be considered close to the title simply based upon their "legendary status," but let me translate that term in other words: They're old.

Between them, they have over 90 years of life experience and achievements more than worthy of their ages, but they haven't looked so great recently.

Couture had trouble getting very much accomplished in his recent decision victory over Brandon Vera, which he earned mostly on the basis of "Octagon control."

In his last 10 fights, he's compiled a 5-5 record.

Mark Coleman is coming off a less than stellar victory over Stephen Bonnar, and has a record of 4-5 in his last nine fights.

Admittedly, both records include losses to elite opponents, but the performances themselves weren't really that encouraging.

Couture was beaten fairly easily this past August by Minotauro Nogueira, another fighter who has also shown signs of wear recently.

Coleman's sloppy victory over Stephen Bonnar was impressive only on the basis of lowered expectations following his terrible fight with Mauricio Rua.

The fight with Rua was so bad that the UFC had trouble getting Coleman licenced for his fight with Bonnar.

Aside from issues about their previous performances, I'd be willing to accept the UFC giving a title shot to either of them, if they weren't fighting each other.

If, for instance, Randy Couture were able to beat a current top contender like Rashad Evans, then he would have proven that he can still compete with the best fighters in the world.

But when you match up two declining fighters, the UFC is able to create the illusion that both fighters are still more capable than they actually are, since at least one of them is guaranteed a title shot.

I can almost hear Dana White talking about a future Couture title shot right now...

"Let me tell you something about Randy Couture. Randy Couture is a legend in the sport, and he's proven that he can still fight. He's just coming off a victory over another legend in Mark Coleman, and there's no way you can tell me that he doesn't deserve a title shot, based on what he's achieved over his career."

He hasn't said anything like that yet, but I'm waiting.

Of course, if Couture loses the title fight, White still gets to promote him as a contender, since there's obviously no shame in losing to a champion. Overall, pushing these old guys toward a title shot would just be a game of extending their marketability and relevancy within the UFC.

All of this is good for the UFC, because Couture is marketable, and the indoctrination that says "you can never count out Randy Couture" would be enough to ensure that a title fight opposite Lyoto Machida or Mauricio Rua would pull in some big money.

The UFC wants that title shot, I think, and because of that, I think they might just have Couture skip the usual test against an elite contender, should he be successful against Coleman.

I'm really not sure that the UFC wants to risk the potentially lucrative Couture title fight by putting him up against a younger contender who might beat him. The UFC is justified in having such concerns, because I'm not sure what contenders Couture would be able to beat at this point.

For example, would Couture be able to use his wrestling skills to accomplish anything against Jon Jones? I personally don't think he would win that fight anymore. What about Rogerio Nogueira, who possesses a skill set similar to that of his brother, Minotauro?

All of this being said, I'm still excited about the Couture vs. Coleman fight, but only for the other stories involved. I just hope that the winner doesn't get an immediate shot at the title.

Say what you want about a fighter's legendary status; at some point in time we need to separate the man from the myth.

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