VS

UFC 74 Respect
Saturday August 25 2007 8:30 PM
Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Couture +120
Bet this fight at BetCRIS

Some things get better with age like cheese and Randy "The Natural" Couture (15-8). The Natural is a much better fighter now than he was 10 years ago and at the age of 44 that is incredible.

Just look at their birth dates and you would think this fight should be shown on Jerry Springer.

Randy Couture: June 22, 1963 (1963-06-22) (age 44)
Gabriel Gonzaga: May 18, 1979 (1979-05-18) (age 28)

However, Randy has changed his game from just ground and pound wrestler to a much more well rounded fighter. Just look at his recent fight with Tim Sylvia where he shocked the world (Not Me) by trading punches with the huge heavy weight. Randy has the ability to adapt and change his fighting style to the current opponent he’s fighting.

Yes Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga-Nogueira (9-1) is a great jujitsu practitioner and he has shown he can knock out guys like he did with Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70. Gonzaga is younger more powerful, more skilled, and probably has heavier hands. Gonzaga is a really accomplished fighter and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Wander Braga, is a former member of the famous Chute Boxe Academy.

But guess what, Randy the Natural Couture is going to win this fight. Why, because he just has that certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ factor about him. As heavyweight champion he has always been the underdog in all of his fights yet he continues to win. He is not great at one particular thing but overall he is a great fighter.

Gabriel Gonzaga has incredible skills on the ground but Randy has the wrestling background and power to shoot in and hold Gonzaga down for a ground and pound. Gonzaga won’t be able to submit Couture because he has the experience and ability to hold his opponent in the guard until the ref stands them up. I would be very surprised if Gonzaga would be able to arm bar, or triangle choke Randy as he is too smart to get into a close ground fight with him. The fight on the ground will be staled by Couture and in the stand up Couture will be able to surprise many.

Gabriel Gonzaga might have a big head like cinder block but Couture knocked out Sylvia and will be able to move laterally to avoid Gonzaga’s kicks and punches. He will be able to frustrate and confuse Gabriel Gonzaga since Couture is a veteran and Gonzaga is still new to the big show of the UFC.

Bottom Line: Randy Couture has always defied the UFC bettors and the sports betting public. He will be able to neutralize and stifle Gonzaga’s fight game. Look for Randy Couture to knock out Gabriel Gonzaga late in the second round.

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