Randy Coutures Losses Legal Battle With UFC But Will He Get to Fight Fedor

As Randy Couture seeks to quit the UFC it looks to be apparent that he may never actually get away from it. With a Texas court ruling in favor of the UFC in appeals for Couture to return to the Octagon it looks like he still has two fights left on his contract. Strangely enough though that once Couture’s forced re-entry back into the UFC takes place the rumors may be that he will finally get that one fight he has been dreaming about; this of course being a fight with former Pride heavyweight champion, and current Wamma titleholder Fedor Emelianenko. The UFC has apparently taken the lead of other promotions, such as Strikeforce and Elite XC, and is in talks with Affliction to possibly co-promote a show in order to get these two titans to battle one another.

Emelianenko and Couture are both two phenomenal talents in the heavyweight division, both owning they're respective titles for very obvious and compelling reasons. Couture collecting his from three times UFC champion Tim "The Manie-iac" Sylvia; Emelianenko gaining his title by defeating Sylvia as well. Both with outstanding reputations and pedigrees in their particular organization and sports; Couture a Greco-Roman fighter and Emelianenko a World Combat Sambo Champion, nevertheless, when it comes down to sheer dominance and who has the potential on paper to win the advantage must go too Emelianenko.

Emelianenko, who started his career in fighting in the now dead Japanese mma promotion known as RINGS, has gathered an impressive record of 28-1 in his overall career. His one loss came via an illegal elbow from famed Alliance fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Although not as well known in the United States, Emelianenko has dominated the Heavyweight division for quite some time with repeated defeats of Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, the current heavyweight champion of the UFC, in the Pride organization. He has only shown weakness once in his career and that came by a near knockout from former pro wrestler Kazuyuki Fujita at Pride 26. A man well versed in striking and submissions, Emelianenko has also shown a great talent in the top position that is usually favored by wrestlers. Though both Couture and Emelianenko put Sylvia down it should be noted that between the two Emelianenko put him down the fastest; having defeated Sylvia in 36 seconds of the first round it took Couture just about five rounds to finally grind out a decision. This should be a testament of Emelianenko's incredible finishing capabilities.

Couture however is a world-class Greco-roman wrestler who has been an Olympic alternate on several occasions; he is a hard worker and very determined. Couture should never be counted out of a fight no matter who it is. Although his career has had its ups and downs he has come in repeatedly as an underdog and defeated those who were considered to be far superior. If it comes down to fighting in a cage Couture may have the advantage in experience, Emelianenko has spent his entire career within a ring. Where as Couture has spent a little over half of his career in a cage. Couture has competed in the ring as well; in fact his experience comes from the same organization that gave Emelianenko his start RINGS. However, the various skills and complete domination of a division do not appear equal to Emelianenkos. Emelianenkos reign has been long and without question as to who is the best; only recently has Couture been making waves in the heavyweight division as possibly even being a challenger. He has only defeated two top guys in his weight class in the last year and those being Gabriel Gonzaga and Tim Sylvia. Prior to those two heavyweight fights his last one was in 2002 to Ricco Rodriguez, which was a loss. Couture possesses good takedowns and ground n' pound, but his striking from the standing position is a little mediocre and is really only effective when he is in the clinch position. Fedor on the other hand has good takedowns and ground n' pound, and his striking is amazing having out boxed Mirko Filipovic for a win, and having his incredibly technical younger brother Aleksander as a sparring partner.

So when it comes down to advantages and who is better on paper it is always going to look like Emelianenko, and until this fight actually comes through it is going to be Couture trying to prove something not Emelianenko. Hopefully, if all goes well in late 2009 these two will finally fight with one another. Both have verbally expressed that they wish to fight one another, and have had multiple meetings with each other’s management to discuss potential opportunities. However, it potentially will comes down to Dana White and Tom Atencio the faces of the UFC and Affliction.