"step up to the plate and give Nogueira the chance to win the title,” White said

[boxingcar]

White’s challenge to Couture
With the submission victory over Tim Sylvia, Nogueira won the UFC interim heavyweight championship. The reason for the interim tag is due to the true champion, Randy Couture, walking out on the UFC.


UFC President Dana White clearly stated that he wants Nogueira to have the same opportunity Couture did.


“I expect Captain America (Couture) to step up to the plate and give Nogueira the chance to win the title,” White said, “Couture was knocked out twice by (Chuck) Liddell. Then, he called me and asked for the heavyweight title shot. I gave it to him. Now, it’s his turn to return the favor.”


Nogueira also thinks the fight should take place.
“Today I got the belt. I deserve a chance to fight Couture,” said Nogueira

[Blaze]

I think it looks bad for Couture if he doesn't fight Nog. It kinda lame for Couture to act like there is no competition worthy of him unless it's Fedor.

[scurlaruntings]

Nog certainly deserves it. But if Couture doesnt want to fight for the UFC and has contractual disputes its his perogative not to do so.

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

Nog does deserve it. However, if Randy doesn't fight him... Nog becomes the true Champion anyways. I would like to see this fight happen, but I don't see Randy returning after all that has been said and done.

[demzor]

Randy just keeps looking worse, imo.

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

Randy just keeps looking worse, imo.
Well... if he holds out... and ends up being released from his contract, then he will look just fine.

[demzor]

Well... if he holds out... and ends up being released from his contract, then he will look just fine.

No.. his face will look like it just went through a meat grinder after Fedor pounds it in. :!:

[ufoalf]

I think Couture has 1 more fight left in him. And I'd rather see it against Fedor than Nog.

I also believe that this is exactly what Couture is thinking. That's why he always says "at this POINT it only makes sense for me to fight Fedor." I think he means after next fight he is done. Since it's his last fight than why not go for the best of the best.

[BewareofDawg]

Why does everyone still want to see Rany fight Fedor? Randy has been hyped up to ridiculous levels since he beat Tim. A guy who gets anally raped by the very posters who are labelling Randy top dog at Heavy. People want it both ways, they want to build Randy up for beating Tim, but also break Tim down as one dimensional and overrated. Randy exposed him.....well so did Nog. Randy beat Gonzaga, another hype job, well so did Werdum. I'd honestly rather see Arlovski vs Fedor, or Sylvia vs Fedor or Nog vs Arlovski. I think beyond any doubt that Arlovski is top 5 at Heavy and was just matched up horribly against Sylvia. Randy is still the guy that Liddel starched twice. Fedor would murder him, hell Nog would beat him too.

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

I think Couture has 1 more fight left in him. And I'd rather see it against Fedor than Nog.

I also believe that this is exactly what Couture is thinking. That's why he always says "at this POINT it only makes sense for me to fight Fedor." I think he means after next fight he is done. Since it's his last fight than why not go for the best of the best.
Exactly. As deserving a fighter as Nog is, a win over Nog wouldn't do much for Randy's legacy at this point. Pretty much everyone would say that Nog is washed up anyways, hell they already are. A fight against Fedor would be HUGE. Randy isn't getting any younger and this fight with Fedor needs to happen as soon as possible. A win over Fedor would be huge, and a loss against him wouldn't really hurt Randy either. However, there just isn't anything in a fight against Nog for Randy. I would watch it though.

[Donut62]

Randy is a big pussy, so it won't happen.

[Dostoevsky]

Randy is a big pussy, so it won't happen.

As big as Fedor? or about equal?

[Donut62]

As big as Fedor? or about equal?

Bigger. Fedor waited and signed a contract that was desireable to him. Randy signed a legally binding contract, then threw a bitch fit when he didn't get a mandatory challenger that was to his liking, and tried to justify it by straight up lying about how much he got paid. He's been awfully silent since the Fertita's whipped out a bank statement showing what Randy actually made.

[Dostoevsky]

Bigger. Fedor waited and signed a contract that was desireable to him. Randy signed a legally binding contract, then threw a bitch fit when he didn't get a mandatory challenger that was to his liking, and tried to justify it by straight up lying about how much he got paid. He's been awfully silent since the Fertita's whipped out a bank statement showing what Randy actually made.
:think
You know, I still have to disagree, Randy came back to fight Sylvia and fought Gonzaga who annihilated Crocop, he is now actively seeking a fight with Fedor, he's chasing after Fedor.
Fedor had no guts to come to the richest and biggest MMA organization on the planet and fight legitimate fighters, rather to fight circus side shows.

So its one fighter who did break his contract, but is at least pursuing a fight with a great fighter and came back to fight two great fighters, against one fighter who doesn't exactly look like he's in an a hurry to fight anyone of decent quality.

They are both acting a bit(alot in Fedors case) pussy but atleast Randy has had the guts to fight legitimate fighters in the last 2 years instead of over the hill, undersized and freak opponents.

[ufoalf]

:think
You know, I still have to disagree, Randy came back to fight Sylvia and fought Gonzaga who annihilated Crocop, he is now actively seeking a fight with Fedor, he's chasing after Fedor.
Fedor had no guts to come to the richest and biggest MMA organization on the planet and fight legitimate fighters, rather to fight circus side shows.

So its one fighter who did break his contract, but is at least pursuing a fight with a great fighter and came back to fight two great fighters, against one fighter who doesn't exactly look like he's in an a hurry to fight anyone of decent quality.

They are both acting a bit(alot in Fedors case) pussy but atleast Randy has had the guts to fight legitimate fighters in the last 2 years instead of over the hill, undersized and freak opponents.

Fedor wants to fight Randy too but why the fuck would he lock up the rest of his career to do that? There was already offers to UFC to make a fight between Fedor and Randy so don't give me this bullshit. You keep talking out of your ass when it comes to Fedor and uve been cought doin that numerous times. Just stop.

[Koa]

So, how rediculous would I sound now if I called Randy a coward for not taking on Nog? Sounds the same as Fedor not signing with the UFC, doesn't it?

Funny thing.. I think most everyone knows Nog would own Randy. Or, they are in denial and very afraid to admit this is the most likely outcome.

How would Randy look then? Being owned by an over the hill Nog. When Fedor beat the tar out of the same guy when he was prime?

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

I don't know why people should think that Nog would own Randy. I think that Randy takes him down with relative ease.... and I really don't see it being all that likely that Nog submits Randy from his back.

Saying that NOG would own Randy is a little bit outlandish, IMO.

[Beebs]

So, how rediculous would I sound now if I called Randy a coward for not taking on Nog? Sounds the same as Fedor not signing with the UFC, doesn't it?

Funny thing.. I think most everyone knows Nog would own Randy. Or, they are in denial and very afraid to admit this is the most likely outcome.

How would Randy look then? Being owned by an over the hill Nog. When Fedor beat the tar out of the same guy when he was prime?

Not quite the same, as Fedor is actively fighting nobodies, Couture is for all intents and purposes retired at 43. I don't care about all of that, its a done topic and hopefully Couture fights Fedor soon, if not then fuck it, plenty of other Heavyweights in the world.

I would love to see Couture vs Nog regardless of everything else involved in the situatio.

[Dostoevsky]

Jacare couldn't sub Randy in 30 minutes of their grappling match a while back, (Jacare is considered in the top 3 pfp best grapplers in the world) so don't assume Nog would easily sub him.
Fedor easily manhandled Nog to the ground, so I think Randy would have a pretty easy time with his superior olympic caliber greco throws and clinch.

[Koa]

Nobody remembers, Nog has beaten Barny. Barny beat the crap out of Randy, manhandled and punched his face in.

Randy Couture.. Captain America.. 16 wins, 8 defeats. But, he could beat Fedor :P

[Dostoevsky]

Nobody remembers, Nog has beaten Barny. Barny beat the crap out of Randy, manhandled and punched his face in.p
OMG!! George Foreman destroyed Joe Frazier who beat Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali has no chance against Foreman!

Wait, Wha..wait a sec? hmm.....what, What is this? incoming telegraph.:think
*8th round KO*


Victor:
Ali

:shock::shock: Good God!

Oh and check your MMA history, Randy was completley tooling Barnett until Barnett got a sweep and trapped Randy against the cage forcing the stoppage. Randy wasn't even really hurt.


Randy Couture.. Captain America.. 16 wins, 8 defeats. But, he could beat Fedor :P
Of course he has a chance, did 2007 not tell you anything of the uncertanity of MMA.

[Koa]

OMG!! George Foreman destroyed Joe Frazier who beat Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ali has no chance against Foreman!

Wait, Wha..wait a sec? hmm.....what, What is this? incoming telegraph.:think
*8th round KO*


Victor:
Ali

:shock::shock: Good God!

Oh and check your MMA history, Randy was tooling Barnett until Barnett got a sweep and trapped Randy against the cage forcing the stoppage. Randy wasn't even really hurt.



Of course he has a chance, did 2007 not tell you anything of the uncertanity of MMA.
:D

I'm only doing this to point out the absurdity that was going on so long, and still seems to be going on about Fedor supposedly being a bitch and ducking.

Of course, nobody will call Randy a bitch for ducking somebody who is Fedor's inferior.

Still. Take a look at the big picture.. You seriously think Fedor would have the least bit of trouble with Randy? Such a great grappler, essentially a large version of Matt Lindland, who is actually a very good fighter. Matt tends to be a bit more aggro than Randy, but they share skillsets.

Just trying to put things into perspective.. Dana can call out Fedor, call him a bitch and its okay.. but when Dana calls out Randy, its totally different? :patsch

[Dostoevsky]

Umm....no, I seem to recall everyone going bonkers when Dana called Fedor a farce.
Randy is 45. He has two choices, face the number 1 guy in the world. (according to everyone else) or face the guy who got absolutley decimated by the number 1 guy.
Randy can't hold off father time forever, he only has 1 fight in him tops, the Fedor fight is the only one that makes sense at this point in his career.

[Koa]

Umm....no, I seem to recall everyone going bonkers when Dana called Fedor a farce.

They all wen't Bonkers when Fedor didn't sign, and claimed he was ducking. Will the same happen now? Randy going to refuse a fight and call him a bitch too?

[Dostoevsky]

They all wen't Bonkers when Fedor didn't sign, and claimed he was ducking. Will the same happen now? Randy going to refuse a fight and call him a bitch too?
Theres a slight difference.
Randy is 'ducking' a fight with Nog to try and fight the man who destroyed him, Fedor.
Fedor is ducking the UFC and their stable of HW fighters (The best stable of HW fighters in the world) to face the likes of Hong Can Choi and Jeff Monson in M1.

Quite a difference to duck another inferior fighter to face the considered best HW in the world than to ducking the best HW stable of fighters ever assembled to fight unranked opposition.

[Koa]

Theres a slight difference.
Randy is 'ducking' a fight with Nog to try and fight the man who destroyed him, Fedor.
Fedor is ducking the UFC and their stable of HW fighters (The best stable of HW fighters in the world) to face the likes of Hong Can Choi and Jeff Monson is M1.

Quite a difference to duck another inferior fighter to face the considered best HW in the world than to ducking the best HW stable of fighters ever assembled to fight unranked opposition.

Nah, its no different. In the end we are all putting reasons in Fedor's, and Randy's mouth. Fedor came out and said he won't fight for Dana, and who can blame him? But nooo, instead of blaming Dana, we blame Fedor.

When it comes to Randy, everyone is all sympathetic, and Dana is the bad guy..

You talk about the best stable of heavies, but then you forget Fedor doesn't want to be owned, and for the most part has earned the right to fight who he wants.. I think with Nog defeating Tim most recently, it really shows there isn't anyone of great merit left for him to beat in the UFC.. If anything, the one big fight left out there for Fedor is Barnett.

[Dostoevsky]

I'm not so sure Fedor is any less 'owned' under M1 than he would have been under the UFC.

[Koa]

I'm not so sure Fedor is any less 'owned' under M1 than he would have been under the UFC.

So, it MUST be that Fedor is AFRAID of the oh so great competition in the UFC?

It could be that Fedor just refuses to deal with Dana White.. Do you blame him?

[Beebs]

Double

[Beebs]

This is beyond fucking retarded, let it die.

[AJAX]

So, it MUST be that Fedor is AFRAID of the oh so great competition in the UFC?

It could be that Fedor just refuses to deal with Dana White.. Do you blame him?

You do really think Dana White is the Devil don't you?:fire Do have nightmares about him...you know there actually is alot of fighters that are happy being in the UFC even with their contracts...you act like Dana is the AntiChrist and should be avoided at all cost:-( ...Alot of the former Pride fighters are actually happy...that might surprise you, I don't think anyone is saying Fedor is actually afraid of any other UFC fighters himself. I think it's more Finkelstink protecting his investment. And I don't people are even saying Randy "would win" because he is the obvious underdog.

And then say nog would "own" Randy is another ignorant statement.Randy beat Sylvia in all 5 rounds of their fight....Tim almost KTFO Nog in the first round so don't make comments assuring us who would win a fight....especially all that has happened in MMA

in Dana's position not everyone will happy and fallouts will happen....maybe not in the perfect world of Pride and M1, but this is the real world. So do you really think Fedor is in a better position now then if he would have signed with the UFC?...At least in M1 he is guaranteed to get hugs and kisses from Jean Claud Van Dam after he beats his Tomato Cans:tired

[sugarngold]

Couture will fight Noguiera. It will happen.

[ufoalf]

I don't think anyone is saying Fedor is actually afraid of any other UFC fighters himself.

There's a few people. I'm too lazy right now but Im pretty sure uve said it too.

[Koa]

I think Fedors in the position he wants to be in. As a person who is patriotic about his own country, a person who was in Japan during the hayday of Pride, I can honestly say, I at least think I understand Fedor's point of view.

Why would a person like Fedor, Russian want to take part in an org that is incapable, or unwilling to take members of his own family and friends (Alexander and Barny). All the shit talking in the U.S., the poor U.S. fanbase (not talking about folks on the forums, but talking about the mobs chanting USA during fights and booing). If you have ever heard the term, "Ugly American." You might understand just why Dana White is so repulsive to so many people.

The UFC is one of the best things to ever happen to MMA. But at this point, it's taking MMA in an Americentric direction, regardless of where the fights are taken geographically.

[AJAX]

I don't know about that...he is in Canada now promoting UFC 83 and can't say enough about Canadians and how they support MMA wherever it takes place. He brings in fighters from all over the world even if they beat his former pets like the all american Hughes,Franklin,Sherk and even liddell and Couture could be beat by other nations so I'm not sure I agree with your point of view on that. And how can you make a contract when a fighter demands his buddies and family are included....really is that even realistic and to have control over who he fights....I don't think Dana was being unrealistic in the contract dispute...because he wanted Fedor in the UFC but wasn't ready to give up his children in the process.

[am0kgonzo]

Jacare couldn't sub Randy in 30 minutes of their grappling match a while back, (Jacare is considered in the top 3 pfp best grapplers in the world) so don't assume Nog would easily sub him.
Fedor easily manhandled Nog to the ground, so I think Randy would have a pretty easy time with his superior olympic caliber greco throws and clinch.
Nog is 240, how much does Jacare weigh? 185? And all Randy could do was stall. Fedor has excellent submission defense, Randy was subbed 3 times.

[Ubersteve]

Randy is tailor made for Nog, imo. Really bad style match up for Randy, Randy will want him on the ground, which is exactly where Nog is at his most dangerous. Unless Randy goes for bullying Nog against the cage and avoiding takedowns and squeezing out a boring win, I don't see him beating Nog.

[Ubersteve]

And I'm sure Fedor is scared stiff of fighting in a division where he's already convincingly proved he's better than the champion.

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

I think that people really bash Dana without reason as well. I mean... the guys gives opportunities to so many people. They bash on him for not paying some of the lower level, non-televised fighters much more than a few thousand.... are you kidding me? These guys are doing NOTHING for the UFC event. They aren't bringing asses in the seats, and he is giving these guys an opportunity to showcase their talent to the UFC, and the fans in attendance... even televise it later if the fight is good enough. I know a lot of low level fighters who fight on cards for MUCH MUCH less than that, and would strangle their mother for an opportunity "disrespected" by Dana White in that manner.