UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT PREVIEW

Posted on | July 28, 2007 | 3 Comments

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION?

by: Jack J. Bratcher

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Randy Couture faces Gabriel Gonzaga for the UFC Heavyweight Championship Title on August 25th, 2007 at UFC 74 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. This is going to be one of the most exciting battles we’ve had in the Octagon ever. What makes this match so significant? There’s several reasons why this match is not only very important but also incrediblly exhillhirating. Can a forty-three year-old man not only win the Heavyweight Title but can he defend it? Couture did the unthinkable when he came out of retirement to demolish a six foot eight inch knockout artist by the name of Tim Silvia to win the UFC Heavyweight Title. He has held the Heavyweight Title twice and the Light Heavyweight Title twice. Randy “The Natural” Couture is one of the most respected fighters in the game. He is a very intelligent and smart fighterr and is known for being able to recognize and capitalize on an opponent’s weaknesses and holes in their game. For instance, Randy saw Tim Silvia’s title defense against Jeff Monson. Although Silvia won that match, he did not “beat” Monson; he simply retained his belt. He eeked out a decision win but by no means dominated Monson. Randy recognized how Tim coveted his Heavyweight Belt so much that he lost that hunger to win and beat an opponent and simply just wanted to do what he had to do to hold on to that belt. Randy saw an opportunity and took advantage of it and he deserves alot of credit for what he has done.

Enter Gabriel Gonzaga; a Brazilian Ju-Jitsu Black Belt who not only is a wizard on the ground but just knocked out what was arguably the world’s most feared striker in Mirko CroCop during his last fight. Gonzaga is a beast. His nickname is “Napao,” which means “The Nose” signifying he has a unique ability to smell and sense an opponent’s weaknesses and capitalize on them. Here are some of his credentials: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt / Titles: 2006 Mundials Champion, Heavyweight BJJ Black Belt GP 2004 Champion/ ADCC Trials Brazil Champion and ADCC 2005 second place, four-time BJJ national Champion / five-time Sao Paulo State Champion. Gonzaga and Randy are built pretty similar, Randy being six-foot-two, Gabriel being six-one. However, Gonzaga weighing 242 pounds, outweighs Randy by about twenty pounds. Gonzaga, I think may be the toughest fight of Randy’s life. Chuck Liddell was tough for Randy, but that was the light-heavyweight division whereas this is a heavyweight bout and Gonzaga is alot bigger than Chuck.

When I first heard that Mirko CroCop was joining the UFC I anticipated a fight between he and Randy Couture for the Heavyweight Title. To me, this seemed like a dream match and personally I didn’t know how Randy could handle a striker with the capabilities of CroCop. But then, they matched CroCop up with Gonzaga, who is well-known for his submission and ju-jitsu game, but stunned the MMA world when he made CroCop fall and get bent up like a Gumby doll after a high kick to the head. So what you have here with Gonzaga is a man who stood toe-to-toe with one of the most feared strikers in the world and demolished him. Even before Gonzaga knocked him out he was on top of CroCop on the ground after catching CroCop’s very first kick attempt of the fight and taking him down where he proceeded to land some vicious shots. But the referee stood them up in one of the most controversial referee calls in recent memory under the pretense of “not enough activity”. There was activity by Gonzaga for sure but anyway they were made to stand up where most everyone thought was a huge benefit for CroCop; then all of a sudden it was over with Gonzaga’s high-kick to the head.

I for one can hardly wait for this fight. I’m a big Randy Couture fan. But also I have become a big believer in Gabriel Gonzaga. Anyone who could do what he did to Mirko CroCop is clearly deserving of much respect. Clearly, Gonzaga is a very well-rounded fighter, as is Couture which is what makes this fight so interesting. Both of these fighters can take this fight anywhere. Randy has stood toe-to-toe with strikers such as Tim Silvia and also Chuck LIddell, whose punching power is legendary. He has beat Liddell at his own standing game before. He has submitted fighters on the ground and he’s also knocked out fighters (although it’s been years since he’s knocked anyone out). Also, one interesting note about Randy Couture is that he’s only had I think two or three fights ever that weren’t Title Fights. Think about that for a minute. That’s why he’s a future Hall-of-Famer.

The Heavyweight Division of the UFC, with the aquisition of Pride, has become a much harder division now. The competition is more fierce than it’s ever been and Gabriel Gonzaga is the first one in line for the King’s title. Randy Couture is the King of the UFC. Even if Couture loses, he has cemented his place in mixed martial-arts history forever. He truly is a living legend. Randy can go five five minute rounds with no problem. He is always in phenomenal shape. Gonzaga has never had to go five five-minute rounds in a UFC match, though I doubt it will be factor for him judging by the way he looked last time against CroCop. He looks to be in perfect shape. But it will be Gonzaga’s first time in the main event; his first time in the Big One. This is the absolute biggest fight of Gonzaga’s life. Randy has been here many times before. Could nerves and pressure become a factor for Gonzaga? This really is a great match-up. And on August 25th 2007 we wil either have a new UFC Heavyweight Champion with Gabriel Gonzaga or Randy Couture will once again defy the odds, stare age in the face, and retain the most coveted Title in all of mixed martial-arts.

Be sure to check out http://74.ufc.com for all the details about this fight and all the other matches on this incredible fight card.

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