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Randy Couture has made it clear that should he get past James Toney, a title shot against the winner of Machida/Shogun should be in order.
The first question that comes to mind is how does beating a former boxer with no MMA experience move you up the ranks of Light Heavyweight contenders? Does Randy honestly believe that with a win over Toney he should leapfrog Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans? What about Ryan Bader or Jon Jones? Forrest Griffin? Antonio Rogerio Nogueira?
However, we should not be surprised that Randy feels that he is deserving. Much like the infant that has only to point at what he wants for his parents to acquiesce, the UFC always has a bottle, diaper change or title shot ready for Randy. Especially if what Randy wants happens to coincide with what Dana White wants. There is no way around it, Randy is one spoiled brat.
In fact, if you were to take an impromptu poll of the MMA fighter that has received the most unwarranted title shots in UFC history, in all likelihood, Randy would be at the top of that list. The problem that Randy presents for all these cynics, however, is that when he gets these undeserved title shots, he does something quite annoying…..he wins. Now, winning a title shot that was deemed by many to be undeserved does not therefore justify it, but it does kind of put a damper on your argument if you happen to be a Randy skeptic.
Since his return from his self imposed exile from the UFC Randy has gone 2-2. If we acknowledge that even a completely dominating performance against Toney, a complete MMA novice, should have no real bearing on title implications, we are left looking at these 4 fights. Randy fought gamely against both Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira but two losses should certainly not help his case. He next won a unanimous (albeit very controversial) decision against Brandon Vera and followed that with a submission victory over Mark Coleman. Vera and Coleman are certainly not cans but Vera hasn’t looked impressive since 2006 and Coleman should be required to suck on oxygen while fighting. To my mind, neither of these victories makes Randy’s case for a title shot.
As I read this, I find that I myself must be coming across as having quite the bug up my butt concerning Randy. This could not be further from the truth. To list all of Randy’s accomplishments would be disingenuous. Sort of like having your wife list all of your good qualities to soften the blow before she tells you to get the hell out. Everyone knows how much Randy has done for the sport of MMA and his many accomplishments don’t need to be repeated here. I will say this, however. One of my favorite moments in MMA, which I was fortunate enough to see in person, was at UFC 68 in Columbus Ohio. Randy took on Tim Sylvia, for what was considered by the way, an undeserved shot at the heavyweight title. When Randy knocked big Tim down in the opening seconds of the first round I and everyone else around me jumped up and remained standing for the rest of the fight. As the final seconds of the fight wound down, in what was sure to be a unanimous victory for Randy, a countdown began amongst the crowd…10, 9, 8.You would have thought you were standing in Times Square on New Years Eve and as the crowd reached 1 there was a feeling of euphoria that I don’t know I’ve ever experienced before while watching an MMA fight.
Does Randy Couture deserve another title shot? In my own opinion…. no. He should be required to get by one of the six contenders I mentioned above.
However, when dealing with an icon sometimes you have to give a little. If it happens, I certainly won’t be grumpy. What the hell? It’s Randy
