Thursday, August 19, 2004 Taneo: Do it again By Paul J. Taneo Free-for-all
WHILE we are excited at the upcoming martial arts tournaments this year in Cebu City, let us not forget the bread and butter of our mixed-martial arts appetite.
On 21st of this month, Randy Couture “has unfinished business to take care” as he takes on Vitor Belfort for the third time in their light-heavyweight title match in Ultimate Fighting Championship 49: Unfinished Business at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The last time these MMA icons fought, there wasn’t a fight. It was just a few punches and a clinch and a referee-stopped contest.
Couture’s left eye was injured and the doctor deemed it proper to end the fight to prevent further harm to the defending light-heavyweight champion, thus creating an anticlimax to what was potentially the Rematch of the Year.
As it was, Couture lost the title he won over Tito Ortiz via the saddest of circumstances – Referee Stoppage due to Injury – and the title handed over to Belfort. Indecisive at it was, still a new champion was named.
Thus “Unfinished Business” on Saturday in Vegas (Sunday in RP) will be a bout to put the issue to rest: Who’s better, The Natural or The Phenom?
It will be a battle of the ages. Couture is 41 while Belfort is 27. But the older man has proven time and again, against some of the best in his division (Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell), that his number of years on earth and in the octagon aren’t so much a liability as an advantage: Experience and honed technique.
But Belfort is no greenhorn either, after bursting into the MMA fight game with a series of stunning knockout victories (starting with a KO win over Jon Hess on Oct. 11, 1996 in SB-2-Superbrawl 2 followed by four other triumphs gained via his vaunted power punching – he submitted Joe Charles by armlock in UFC Ultimate-Japan 1 on 12 21 97).
Then lest we forget he is such a great striker, Belfort demolished one of the most feared strikers in the sport, Wanderlei Silva, 10 months later, in UFC Ultimate-Brazil with his machine gun fists, rendering his fellow Brazilian half-conscious on the floor in 44 seconds.
In only 15 fights, gaining a 12-3-0 win-loss-draw record, Belfort has gained enough experience and courage (Couture said Belfort was scared of him in their first encounter, delaying his entry into the octagon by nine minutes). He is not the same overeager boxer who relied on bulk and sheer power to beat opponents.
Many also forget or don’t know that Belfort is a Gracie whose jiujitsu skills are as good as his boxing.
While Couture, with his not very impressive 12-6-0 slate and matchless rep is up against Belfort’s newfound confidence and peerless physique. Not that Couture is a flabby middle-age couch potato. He has a body that can still make girls swoon and young men groan.
The smart money will go for youth, speed and power the big Brazilian Belfort provides but the smarter money will go for the maturity, guile and power the just as big American offers.
Underdog lovers love Couture and pumped-up edge adorers lean towards Belfort.
Statistics don’t make much difference. There’s only one way to settle this: Do it again.
If fight No.3 is still indecisive. Do it again. And if there are still doubts. Do it again and again.
But that scenario is seriously unlikely. As one Frank Shamrock once said: “Belfort makes you fight his game.” In short, Couture is smart.
On Sunday, we will know for sure. Trite as it sounds, let’s get in on!
(sports@sunstar.com.ph)
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