The dog days of summer are nearly behind us, but things are really starting to heat up in the world of MMA. Let’s start with the biggest rumor being circulated.
According to MMAJunkie.com their sources inside Xtreme Couture told them, negotiations are ongoing between the UFC and the camps of both Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko. This fight would happen in January or February providing Couture gets by another rumored opponent, Brock Lesner. The Lesner-Couture fight would take place in Portland, Oregon November 15th at UFC 91. Does anyone really believe a Couture-Fedor fight would happen anywhere but the UFC? There’s not a chance Dana White would let this one get by him. White may be a lot of things but dumb is not one of them. The thing is, what are Couture’s chances of getting past Lesner? He’s notoriously had a tough time against big wrestlers and although he never ceases to amaze me, all I can think of is ‘what if Lesner connects with the same straight right hand that he did against Herring’. Couture may want to rethink this one. Are they serious? The prize you get for beating Lesner is Fedor! That’s a prize you can keep.
Chuck Liddell says he’s 100 percent healthy and his eyes are on Rashad Evans. I would hope Liddell’s not overlooking Evans; I think we all saw what happens when “The Iceman” doesn’t appear focused (Keith Jardine). Evans, you can bet will be ready; a win over Liddell would seriously alter his standing in the light heavyweight division.
Tito Ortiz was on HDNet’s “InsideMMA” discussing his free agency. I’m never one to bash fighters and I don’t believe this is bashing, but does anybody really care. I think Tito is good for the sport, you can’t deny that you either love him, or hate him, and he can sell a fight. On the other hand, I think he is completely overrated. The last time Ortiz finished a fighter off, other than Ken Shamrock, was Elvis Sinosic way back on 6/29/01. That’s over 7 years ago! Since that time, Tito has had 7 wins, 2 unanimous decisions (Matyushenko, Cote) 2 split decisions (Belfort, Griffin which was questionable) and 3 TKO’s over Ken Shamrock. With that record, he’ll have to bank on his personality to land a big deal.
Speaking of Ken Shamrock, it was announced this past week his next opponent is non other than Kimbo Slice. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take. Shamrock is yet another guy with enough talent that he could beat Kimbo but it’s a safe bet he wont. For those who don’t know, Shamrock has lost 5 in a row and 7 of his last 8. In the 5 most recent losses, he’s been (T)KO’d in each one. So EliteXC matches the 44-year-old up with a heavy-handed striker? Seems like an obvious outcome. My opinion, bring on Brett Rogers and let’s see what Kimbo is all about.
Enjoy the fights and lets all hope these rumors become reality. It would certainly make things interesting in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
