| March 3rd, 2007 is the date that Randy "The | | | | ready to defend against it. Randy is an excellent |
| Natural" Couture faces Tim "The Mainiac" Sylvia at | | | | wrestler with near Olympic credentials. We can |
| UFC 68 in Columbus Ohio. That's the date that | | | | expect Randy Couture to throw some long |
| Randy Couture wants to make Mixed Martial Arts | | | | punches, attempting to get inside Tim's range |
| history. Randy Couture is no stranger to the UFC | | | | (without getting hit) to take him down. |
| heavyweight division. He won the heavyweight | | | | About one minute into the fight Randy will |
| title on two separate occasions. But, that was in | | | | attempt his first shot, he will throw a two punch |
| 1997 and 2001. In fact, his last two outings in the | | | | combination to confuse Silvia, then get his |
| heavyweight division, both in 2002, ended badly | | | | underhooks in place. Randy will need to be aware |
| for Randy. His conclusion at the time is that the | | | | of Tim's knees from this position as his size |
| fighters were too big for him. My conclusion was | | | | disadvantage will leave his head in just the right |
| "now the big guys can fight". Randy was once | | | | place for a devastating knee strike. If all the stars |
| able to out skill much larger opponents, but as the | | | | are aligned properly, Randy will get his take down, |
| skill differences lessened, his success did also. | | | | but it's too early in the fight for Randy to finish |
| Not to be kept down, Randy Couture came back, | | | | Tim. Tim is just too strong to be submitted, |
| reinventing himself as a light heavyweight fighter. | | | | ground and pounded, or kept down for long early |
| Once again, Randy was dominant. He was now an | | | | in the first round. Tim will either get back up or be |
| exceptionally strong and skilled light heavyweight | | | | stood up by the ref. |
| and seemed to be in his element. With dominant | | | | Here's where my crystal ball gets a little fuzzy. |
| victories over Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor | | | | Randy will now have some confidence that he can |
| Belfort Randy seemed unstoppable. That is until | | | | keep Silvia down and Sylvia will have some |
| his first and second rematches against Chuck | | | | confidence that he can get up if Randy does put |
| Liddell. In those outings, it was Chuck's superiour | | | | him down. Look for Silvia to come forward a little |
| striking, not his size which brought Randy down. | | | | more with strikes, even trying a head kick. Head |
| The question on March 3rd will be this. Is Tim | | | | kicks are nice, but Randy Couture is not Tra |
| Sylvia too big and too strong for Randy Couture? | | | | Telligman and high kicks on Randy Couture might |
| Randy will be 43 years old and if he comes into | | | | end in disaster for Tim Silvia. I believe Randy will |
| this fight in great shape he'll likely be around 215 | | | | grab a leg on one of these attempts and take |
| pounds. In contrast, Tim Silvia will be 30 years old | | | | Tim down again, this time it will be worse for |
| and will need to cut some weight to fit into the | | | | Silvia. |
| UFC's heavyweight limit of 265 pounds. | | | | As the fight wears on, Tim's lack of cardio will |
| Tim Sylvia is primarily a striker, he uses his huge | | | | begin to show and Randy will become more and |
| reach advantage (Tim is 6'8" tall) well. He stays to | | | | more dominant. |
| the outside and picks opponents apart with his jab | | | | In the final analysis, I don't believe Tim's punches |
| and waits for one to come into his range, then | | | | will be coming at Randy as fast or as hard as |
| throws a big right. Tim also has an excellent | | | | Chuck Liddell's. I also don't believe that Tim's take |
| sprawl and his extreme height makes it difficult | | | | down defense is as good as Chuck's. I will predict |
| for even very good wrestlers, Jeff Monson | | | | that Randy Couture will win this fight either late in |
| included, to turn him over. In his most recent fight | | | | the first or in the second round by ref's stoppage |
| with Jeff Monson, Tim even showed some decent | | | | or submission. |
| ground work in almost submitting Monson. | | | | Ladies and gentlemen, the new world |
| When the cage closes and the fight begins, we | | | | heavyweight champion, Randy "The Natural" |
| can expect the usual from Tim Sylvia. He will stay | | | | Couture. |
| well on the outside, expecting Randy to shoot and | | | | |