Predictions For UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar
UFC 91 is just around the corner so let’s get right to it with some predictions.
Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar- Heavyweight Championship Bout
Lesnar via TKO, round 3.
I could go on and on dissecting the strengths and weaknesses between Brock and Randy. But you all know them already. Even the casual fan can easily tell that Brock, the freakish looking man-child, has superior size, strength, and perhaps even speed. Randy on the other hand is old but crafty, smaller but smarter, and has proved on several occasions that one probably shouldn’t bet against him when the odds aren’t in his favor. So let’s get real for a second, it is damn near impossible to make a solid prediction with any certainty regarding Couture vs. Lesnar. The gambling lines are all over the place, and they will probably continue to fluctuate until the last minute. But I have to choose because that’s what judgmental people like me do, and I choose Lesnar.
Lesnar will be coming into the cage somewhere around 275-280lbs. Randy on the other hand will be lucky to tip the scales at 225lbs in wet clothes. You see where I’m going with this? Sure Couture is a master technician but he hasn’t fought in a year and a half, has looked fairly gaunt and weathered in photos these past few months, and really cannot train for Brock the way Brock can for Randy. There simply isn’t anyone who can that closely mimic Brock Lesnar’s physical attributes, I just don’t think that person exists. I’m sure Randy got as close as possible in terms of training partners, but he will nonetheless run into something he has not seen before when he meets Brock on Saturday night.
Lesnar, on the other hand, already has a solid wrestling base and has only gotten sharper with respect to submission defense and controlling positions. I doubt Randy will be able to put Brock in any trouble that Lesnar will not be able to either defend technically, or simply overpower. Clinching, using the fence, setting up trips, and that famous dirty boxing are all great weapons in Randy’s arsenal, but will that be enough against someone who can throw you around like a rag doll before the first knee even lands?
With respect to stand up, I say Couture has a sizeable advantage simply because he has been honing his striking game for so much longer. But here is what stops me from predicting a Couture KO- It seems much more likely that Randy will be on the defensive end of the striking game for the majority of the stand up, not the offensive. I do not think he will have enough power in any counter shots to seriously damage Lesnar’s block-like dome piece. Indeed, Couture uses great head movement and can definitely avoid Lesnar’s power, but will he be able to mount any threatening combinations of his own? I doubt it.
I would certainly enjoy a Couture victory on Saturday night as Randy has always played the underdog role very well, but I just don’t see it given the variables on the table. “The Natural” might have a great strategy and game plan in store for Brock Lesnar, but as Mike Tyson famously said “Everybody has a plan…until they get hit.”
Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson
Florian via unanimous decision
Joe Stevenson is very hungry and fired up since his brutal loss to BJ Penn, but I just don’t know that Florian is the appropriate rebound guy. Florian is patient, smart, and extremely tactical. He doesn’t really let his hands and feet go until he absolutely has to, but that might not matter much as this bout looks to be one that goes to the ground awfully quickly. I suspect Stevenson shoots for the takedown first and ends up defending Kenny’s submissions from the guard for a good while. I don’t know that Florian will be able to secure a sub or land enough ground and pound due to Stevenson’s strong base and submission acumen, but it should be more than enough to grant him the unanimous decision.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks
Gonzaga via TKO, round 1.
Like most of you, I haven’t a clue about this Josh Hendricks kid. I know that he is a promotional journeyman who looks a bit soft from his available photos. His record doesn’t tell me anything impressive, though you might recognize a couple of his losses to former UFC veterans Sam Hoger and Travis Wiuff. So I have to go with the guy whose fights I have actually seen, and that’s Gonzaga. I think Gonzaga will somehow get this fight to the ground where he looks to pound the crap out of Josh Hendricks face.
Nate Quarry vs. Demian Maia
Quarry via split decision
My underdog pick for the night, as I always try to have at least one. In general Demian Maia should be able to win this fight, so long as he continues to shoot and keep Quarry on the defensive. If Quarry gets suckered into staying on the ground with Maia for too long, it will only be a matter of time before he gets caught in any number of the Brazilian’s highlight reel submissions. But Quarry is no dummy and will likely sprawl and brawl as much as humanly possible to keep this fight on his feet, where he has a definitive striking advantage. I also feel like Quarry is all shades of eager to get back into the cage and prove something to the fans after that sad Kalib Starnes fiasco. But let’s not start rehashing that affair.
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory
Hazelett via unanimous decision
I was almost ready to pick Tamdan McCroy in this one because he looked very strong in his last showing against Luke Cummo, and sports a very sizeable height and reach advantage that poses problems for anyone. But Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett has really started to hone his skills as a complete mixed martial artist, and I think he can control McCroy long enough to secure the decision victory. Though if McCrory isn’t careful enough he could get one of his long limbs caught in a submission, but all in all I see him staying away from any real danger and simply losing on points.
DON’T AGREE WITH THE FLORIAN/STEVENSON FIGHT… I THINK STEVENSON WILL SUBMITT KEN FLO
Stevenson by sub
Maia by sub (Quarry could definately win this i just think Maia will)
GG by ko
Hazlett by ud
i can see both sides of Randy v Brock, I have learned to not count out Couture, and yes Brock is huge and fast strong ect. we still dont know much about his all around game then again he could come in and just ko Randy soo im not going to pick just yet im just planning on watch and enjoying that match
Grugel by sub
dos Anjos by ud
Robinson ud
to quote Amir…. Matt Brown by hmmmm Murder
I think Randy wins even with the size difference . Brock does have the frame to win with ,but it will come down to experience and thats something brock lacks .If they get to the ground and Randy has a burst of speed to get an arm or leg in both hands ….its over . If we want to talk about randy being an under dog , that happens when he faces Nog and Mir . If either one of them were fighting instead of Brock then I’d say it was over for him .lesnar has only beaten herring in the UFC …. ……enough said .
i see kenny by split, and i think maia is a sleeper at 185 and he submits quarry in the 2nd round
I have bet against couture before and been wrong but I just dont think he has the physical skills to deal with lesnar. One thing is for sure, I won’t place a dime on the main event!
IM WITH YOU FR702 I CAN’T PICK A WINNER FOR RANDY/LESNAR… WHEN YOU THINK HE HAS NO CHANCE HE WINS… SO I JUST NEED TO SEE HOW HE TOMORROW WALKING OUT TO THE CAGE… I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE RANDY WIN… BUT MAN BROCK IS JUST A BEAST…
My predictions are : Couture by decision,Stevenson KO,Gonzaga by sub,Demian by sub and dustin by decision…
YZ, Randy’s demeanor will show alot imo come fight day…. plus im still upset for the past 400 days or soo of all his bs, Lesnar is getting better and everything and he is a crazy man~child beast that most wont know what to make of him in the cage.. lets be honest Mir held onto that leg for dear life and Brock did tap but ya know.. We shall see tomorrow i wont be suprised either way, unless its sooooo dominant or like Lesnar gets a gogo on Randy, im soley looking to be entertained in this fight and i dont think i will be let down
the Randy/Brock fight I think Brock will win, but mostly I’m just going to watch and enjoy. I’m going to try really hard to not pull for someone in this fight, that way I can be happy regardless of the winner.
I can agree with Florian/Stevenson and GG/Hendricks, though Hendricks trains with Randy. I think Maia will sub Quarry, but I would like to see Quarry KO Maia. I also think that McLovin will get a sub win.
McLovin is such a great nickname
HAS THAT ALWAYS BEEN HIS NICKNAME OR JUST AFTER SUPERBAD… CUZ I NEVER NOTICED LOL THATS AWESOME
I think after superbad.
I can’t pick a winner for the main event, like FR702 said, just gonna sit back and enjoy.
Have the weigh-ins happened yet? When are they?
the only reason why brock has a chance is that Randy has a years worth of rust. Did anyone see brock lose to Mir? Did anyone see Brock get a decision victory over Heath Herring who perma-turtled? he coundnt even finish the fight with a guy turtling for 3 minutes!
I hope to see Cotoure trip the charging rhino Brock in round 1 and slip in a toe-hold for the victory lol. Brock is waaay too overrated. Basically a more aggressive Giant Silva IMO, but what do i know.
I’m also pickin Kenflo. The only person that can beat Kenflo in that division is Penn.
randy via flying roundhouse kick.
Good card i know some did doubt this but with Hazelett vs McCrory bumped up this looks a good ‘un.
I’m going with -
Lesnar via TKO in the 3rd (but i will be pulling for Randy)
Ken Flo via a Split
Gonzaga via TKO in the 2nd
Quarry with a decision over Maia
And i will just enjoy Hazelett vs McCrory but if i have to pick i’ll go with Hazelett decision
I am gonna be the loner here and take Hendricks… and say you are all dumb for not thinking that hendricks can’t do to gg exactly what randy did… Control him damage his face and **** him up
My predictions are as follows:
DBiz over beer - undercard down and pound, nuff said
DBiz over boneless wings - wings take a fierce beating from my molars
Waitress over DBiz - All the ogling and winking won’t do any good against that booty
DBiz over nachos - Nachos have good ground game, but the chip defense is too weak to prevent a submission
DBiz over PPV - Bar tab = PPV cost, plus nice asses around and enjoying the fights
nice haha ^
I see Kenflo striking being too much for Joe as in the BJ fight, i know that is quite the comparison but Joe has no reach and Ken has great strikes and will in my opinion circle and nail Joe from the outside until he pounces and finishes him. I really dont see this being close even.
nice DBiz
Newfie they are @ 4pm pacific i believe
sp00ner4321, Hendricks is a good pick and with his training with Couture he has a good game plan forsure, cheers
G, if only that were plausable great idea tho
I THINK I’LL BE GOING FOR DBIZ ON ALL THOSE BUT I WOULD GIVE THE WAITRESS A 10-8 ROUND SHE’LL BE IN TOTAL CONTROL… LOL
AGAIN I THINK’LL YOU’LL BE TOTAL DOMINTANT IN ROUND 1 THAT IN ROUND 5 I THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO GO WITH PV… ONLY BECAUSE THE BAR TAB WILL BE MORE THE THE COST OF PV… AND YOU MIGHT GO TO SLEEP.
DBiz:
You may submit the nachos, but they will deal some damage and your colon will be on medical suspension from coming over for at least three days or until medically cleared.
Waitress over you (besides a dirty dream come true) is the Lock of the Century.
You over PPV cost is a pretty good prediction, especially since the Suckeyes play at noon.
As far as Lesnar/Randy goes I think this is a terrible match-up for Couture, even though Couture is essentially the Brett Farve of MMA and always finds a way to win, I do not see this ending well for him. The only way he wins is by getting lesnar on his back and that will be hard to do. The only guy I’ve ever seen able to negate Brock’s strength in wrestling was Wes Hand(NCAA/Big Ten tourney) and Hand had 30 lbs on Couture. I know this isn’t a wrestling match but look at where Couture is best…the clinch, takedowns, and on the ground he is best at G&P. His only two submission wins were off an anaconda choke (lesnar doesn’t have a neck so good luck) and and a rear naked choke, both are easy chokes for wrestlers to learn. Not to mention both Herring and Mir have ALOT better of a chin than Couture and that’s the only reason Mir survived to hit that kneebar. Randy doesn’t have the chin to take a few hits from those bowling balls Lesnar calls hands so he has to close the gap and try to control the clinch…good luck. That being said Lesnar SHOULD win but never ever count Couture out.
Honestly, Stevenson vs. Florian could be a problem match. I mean that because Stevenson doesn’t have the Muay Thai to stand w/ KenFlo, so obviously he will take KenFlo to the ground where both of their BJJ expertise may actually negate each other. This may end up like a Hamill- Bisping fight in that Stevenson will get his takedowns and be on top but KenFlo’s BJJ will keep him from truly opening up so there may be no clear winner at all. I see this being an extremely razor thin split decision win for KenFlo.
As for the rest? Gonzaga by TKO, Maia by decision, and Hazlett by a razor thin decision.
Yep, I’d like to see Randy win but sh*t Brock is a corn fed beast.I’d love to see it go at least 3 rounds.
But if Brook gets the belt on Sat., than who do you think could take it away?
Brock is going to lose. Randy’s game plan should be to draw Brock out into the DEEP waters of the 4th and 5th round where brock WILL be DEAD TIRED. We know Randy can go the distance and I am willing to bet that Brock can not. If you watched the “fight science” episode with old man couture on it you would of seen Randy performing a choke hold for as long as he could as HARD as he could after which they tested his lactic acid levels. The scientists and doctors were ASTOUNDED to find out that Randys lactic acid levels went DOWN instead of up like any other human, leading the scientists from STANFORD to conclude that Randy was not human. Brock is GOING TO LOSE.
good stuff DBiz
you got it all figured out d-biz…im right there with ya
hope randy wins…but I doubt he will, its just not a good matchup for him…possibly the worst matchup hes ever had.
Jayo chokes are only good when you are in position to use them and in order to draw that fight into the 4 and 5 rounds he has to be able to withstand a few Home Run shots and when 4 of your 8 losses come from KO’s in your career you can be in trouble. Also Lesnar may not have fought a 5 round fight before but his camp will have him extremely well conditioned so Randy better not go in hoping Brock gases…
Mommie I think the obvious answer would be someone like Big Nog because his chin is formed from the same armor on the M1 Abrams tank and on the ground he could still trap lesnar. I would have also put Werdum here but apparently he is gone. Also give Velasquez more time to mature and he’d make a formidable opponent based in his skill set.