Couture and Rizzo

[Rob B]

The outcome of this fight will completely depend on the pace that Randy comes in with. In all of Rizzo's fight he seems to fight at exactly the same intensity of his opponent. Tank and Tre Tellingham brought it to him, they came in with guns blaring throwing lots of leather, they both got knocked out. Randleman and Coleman came in very cautious with alot of circling and patience. They sort of lulled Rizzo and he was never aggressive in those fights, he lost to Randleman and should have lost to Coleman.

When Rizzo is on top of his game and aggressive he is probably the most dangerous fighter in the heavyweights. He has a good thai kick and very heavy hands; he is one fighter that could literally end a fight with one punch. Randy has to approach this match cautiously, he can't go and look to finish Pedro early. He's going to have to lull pedro for the first half of the fight and save the explosiveness till the last round. Anything else and I can see a viscous knockout for Pedro.

[Americana]

It seems to be a little like paper covers rock, rock smashes scizzors, siczzors cut paper.

When faced with a take down artist of Couture or Coleman's status, Rizzo is going down. He has to hope for a stand up and gassing by the wrestler. Couture shouldn't hang back that much. That (plus advanced age) killed Severn. But it should be an exciting fight.

[Ravenman]

Randy is about the smartest fighter out there and always comes in with the best possible game plan. If it comes down whether Randy approaches the fight one way versus another... then Randy will win. Though I'm not sure that's the case this time. This is one fight that I could imagine Randy getting hit hard a few times while on the feet before getting the takedown, and failing to get the upper hand. Though I'd like to see Randy win; but you know Rizzo's anti-grappling AND his grappling are getting better all the time, and Randy is starting to get old.

[Angel_of_Pain]

My prediction is simple Rizzo win by Knock ou in the 5 and last round in the closing second, Couture will dominate each round whit takedown and g'p and in round #5 Rizzo will get really pumped and will throw some bomb like never before. Prepare you will hear a big BOOM!

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Originally posted by Rob B
They sort of lulled Rizzo and he was never aggressive in those fights, he lost to Randleman and should have lost to Coleman.

Exactly my point, the way Coleman took those leg kicks all fight until both his legs turned purple. That alone should've gotten him the decision

[Mr. Miyagi]

This is not going to be as easy for Couture as it was fighting Mo Smith. They don't call Rizzo the "Rock" for nothing.
I see things the opposite of some of you: I think that Rizzo completely deserved the win over Coleman(which was a unanimous decision I might add) and the fight with Randleman was a draw. In my book Rizzo is still undefeated. Until he either gets subbed, KO'd, or dominated, none of which have ever come close to happening, I see him as #1. And by the way, if the fight with Coleman had continued for just a couple more minutes it looked like Coleman was going to get KO'd bad.
There are guys out there who have won by finishing and lost by decision out there who deserve more credit than those fools winning by decision. Rizzo, Frank Shamrock, Newton, Tank, and Pete Williams come to mind with this idea. Constant "decision winners" are bad and boring for the sport.

[Hitchahard]

I think Miyagi has some great points. As you know, I am a Rizzo bigot since I train in the Marco Ruas camp. The only chance Couture has of winning this fight is by an unforunate decision where he ties Pedro's game up on the ground and throws phantom punches from Pedro's guard to appear active (i.e. Kohsaka vs. Rutten).

However, I don't see this happening since there are at least 5 chances (rounds) for Pedro to begin the action standing up. I see Pedro winning by KO in the 5th round or by unanimous decision.

FYI: I rolled with Marco yesterday. Pedro was going to complete his training in Orange County this month but it was decided that he'd be better off in Brazil. He only had surface damage in the Barnett fight, is training hard with some tough Brazilian wrestlers and will be in great shape come fightime. Marco may not be able to fight in June now. His wife is due in May and more students are attending classes.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Hey Hitch, where are you training? I heard of a Marco Ruas school around my area, but where?

[Rob B]

If you believe that Rizzo beat Randleman and Coleman ( I can see how you'd think that with all those crushing headbutts to Coleman's fist while they were in the guard) that is certainly your opinion. There are however a vast amount of people that believe otherwise. That is the point i was trying to make. Watching those 2 fights again, there should have been no contraversy. Why on earth didn't Pedro get the knockout.

In both fights I was on the edge of my seat waiting for Pedro to explode and land a big shot. Both Randleman and especially Coleman were gassed on the defensive and were primed and ready to get knocked out. Instead of finishing Pedro chose to stand there and wait, maybe throwing a safe leg kick or a pawing jab. He was extremely passive and waiting for a counter instead of iniating the action. He had both the opertunity and the ability to get the knockout and clearly win those two fights; instead he was lulled into a feinting and circling contest.

It's exactly what i stated before, Pedro gives what you bring him. Randy is one of the smartest fighters out there and I know he can see this too. it will be intersting to see what Randy brings.

[Ronin]

In my (minority) opinion, Rizzo has not proven himself to be a GREAT fighter...yet. While he is very close, and can DESTROY B-level fighters like Tank, Vernon White, old man Dan Severn, etc. he has struggled against fighters in their prime such as Coleman and Randleman.

Telligman and Barnett are good, but both thought they could bang with Rizzo. Dumb. Randy Couture is an A-level, smart-as-hell fighter, and always seems to thrive in the underdog role.

This one is almost too close to call, but I'm picking Randy in a war. If Rizzo KO's him, then I will immediately give him props.

BTW, Rizzo/Coleman was a split decision...which I think Pedro deserved. Mainly because Coleman gassed.