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[T]

mmaweekly.com - A match-up between former Pride heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, and former UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, is currently in the works for a possible fight in July. Current UFC heavyweight champion, Randy “The Natural” Couture, recently spoke to MMAWeekly Radio about his thoughts on the fight, if it does happen.

Couture defeated Sylvia in March 2007 to regain the UFC heavyweight championship and for the last few months he has been campaigning for a fight with Emelianenko once his current deal with the UFC expires.

“I think Tim poses some interesting problems for anybody who wants to fight him,” said Couture. “At 6’8” and 280lbs, he’s a seasoned veteran now, he’s got some very good striking skills, I think he poses interesting problems for anybody.”

One of the obvious glaring problems for Fedor going into a fight with Sylvia is the size difference between the two fighters, and Couture understands that could create problems for the Russian.

“Fedor’s a lot more akin to my size, around 230lbs, and I think he may even be a little shorter than I am, I’m 6’1”, he may be 6’0” or even 5’11”,” Couture commented. “It’s interesting how Fedor just fought Hong Man Choi over New Year’s and that’s a 7’0” tall guy, who’s a lot heavier than Tim even, but probably not nearly as seasoned as Tim is, but still similar problems in the height and dealing with the range.”

Fedor was able to defeat Hong Man Choi on the ground, submitting the much bigger fighter by armbar in the first round of their match-up last New Year’s Eve.

The proposed fight would also give Couture a chance to size up Emelianenko with a similar opponent that he’s already faced.

“It would be an interesting match-up and I think it gives me a pretty good indication where I stand in watching on how Emelianenko kind of solves the problems that Tim poses and what happens in that fight,” he said.

Of course one major question looming overhead is would Couture still pursue a fight with Fedor if he loses to Tim Sylvia?

“I’m not sure if all the interest in that fight goes away if he should lose to Sylvia, having (I) just beat Sylvia back in March,” Couture said. “The whole thing for me at 44 years old at this stage in my career is to fight the best fighter in the world, and be considered the best fighter in the world.”

“I don’t have a lot of fights left in me to be honest, and so that fight makes sense to me. Now if he loses to Tim then obviously the question probably gets answered because he lost to Tim, and then they’ve got to decide and rank who’s the #1 fighter in the heavyweight division after that.”

As of now, the bout between Emelianenko and Sylvia is still in the works, and Couture will wait for his chance to step in the ring with the Russian fighter.

I wondered if he would still fight Fedor if Sylvia won. I think Fedor would still be ranked number one if he lost to Sylvia in many peoples eyes, not mine and that's because I don't care for him. I am excited that he's fighting a ranked fighter. It will be a tough fight for Fedor, like Randy said he is a seasoned fighter now unlike Hong, so dealing with Tim's size will be a lot tougher do to Tim's experiance.

On a side note I think Tim could beat Nog in a rematch, he just made a mistake but that's all it takes, just one mistake and Fedor will capitalize on it if Tim does.

[hunterkiller]

Randy and the UFC need to kiss and make up. Then Randy needs to fight Nogueira. That will end his contract, solving all these legal issues. Seems the only logical explanation and if Randy didn't have his head up his ass, and if Dana didn't have his head up his ass, it could get done. Randy should say, I messed up, and Dana should say, I'm equally to blame, lets get this done.

If Randy wants to be considered the top Heavyweight, fighting Nogueira, who I think is 2 or 3, would be something that should be on his agenda, not that douchebag, Kurt Angle.

[twankydawg]

I don't see Tim being able to beat Fedor. Randy beat him with a bad back and I'd probably take Tim in a rematch. Randy has this overinflated sense of how good he really is. He's good but he's not a top 5 HW in my book. If he beats a top 5 guy, who has no injuries prior to the fight, or no fluke injuries in the fight like what happened with GG, I'd change my opinion. Until then, I just see him getting destroyed by Fedor.

[scottsec]

I wish couture would just faaaaaddddeeeee away....

[T]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Randy and the UFC need to kiss and make up. Then Randy needs to fight Nogueira. That will end his contract, solving all these legal issues. Seems the only logical explanation and if Randy didn't have his head up his ass, and if Dana didn't have his head up his ass, it could get done. Randy should say, I messed up, and Dana should say, I'm equally to blame, lets get this done.

If Randy wants to be considered the top Heavyweight, fighting Nogueira, who I think is 2 or 3, would be something that should be on his agenda, not that douchebag, Kurt Angle.

I believe he has two fights left on his contract so he would need to fight someone else after Nog. I did say before that it would be cool if they re-did his contract for one fight, which would be with Nog, but that would never happen.

[STruC1x]

Randy Couture:
I like the way he handles himself and his opponents.
I like how respectful he is of everyone.
He has the true Martial Arts attitude (down to earth).
At his age, it's amazing that he can hang or even beat guys half his age.

IF Randy was 27 years old right now... I would consider him top 5 HW.

Randy is the legend... for what he's accomplished and at the age he's accomplished it.

But he's not top 5 HW.

[WadoKai]

Originally Posted by STruC1x

Randy is the legend... for what he's accomplished and at the age he's accomplished it.

But he's not top 5 HW.

Who are the top 5 then? Other than the UFC Heavyweight Champion...

[T]

Originally Posted by STruC1x

Randy Couture:
I like the way he handles himself and his opponents.
I like how respectful he is of everyone.
He has the true Martial Arts attitude (down to earth).
At his age, it's amazing that he can hang or even beat guys half his age.

IF Randy was 27 years old right now... I would consider him top 5 HW.

Randy is the legend... for what he's accomplished and at the age he's accomplished it.

But he's not top 5 HW.

I am going to have to go with mmaweely.com's world ranking with Randy at #3.

[Severn]

Before Randy pats himself on the back too much in the case of Fedor losing to Tim, I think there is an iron-chined brazilian that IMO puts the kabosh on him thinking he's the number one HW in the world. He wants no part of Big Nog.

[MrSpanky]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Randy and the UFC need to kiss and make up. Then Randy needs to fight Nogueira. That will end his contract, solving all these legal issues. Seems the only logical explanation and if Randy didn't have his head up his ass, and if Dana didn't have his head up his ass, it could get done. Randy should say, I messed up, and Dana should say, I'm equally to blame, lets get this done.

If Randy wants to be considered the top Heavyweight, fighting Nogueira, who I think is 2 or 3, would be something that should be on his agenda, not that douchebag, Kurt Angle.

thats really well said u should email that to couture and white haha