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[Howie]

MMANEWS.COM | Ed Soares Comments On Randy Couture's Possible Return

Sportnet.ca's Showdown Joe Ferraro had a chance to catch up with UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's manager, Ed Soares, recently to talk about the possible return of Randy Couture to the UFC Octagon as well his thoughts on the interim champ(Nogueira)and the champ (Couture) hooking up down the line to unify the two heavyweight titles.

"The UFC has not mentioned anything to us, but Randy coming back to the UFC would be great," Soares said. "It's definitely great for everyone involved."

"I fully expect the UFC to do the right thing," said Soares. "From day one they have always been 100 per-cent honest with us and I am confident they will be in this scenario. Many people say bad things about the organization but we've never experienced anything negative at all."

What never has made any sense out of all this is the Nogueira situation. He has been ranked above Randy Couture for a very very long time but yet Couture leaves the UFC to pursue a fight with Fedor. After a year's worth of back and forth jabs between Couture and the UFC, he decides he may want to return and his first fight back is being rumored to be against Brock Lesnar? Followed up by a fight with Fedor?

Fedor and Nogueria have been the top of the Heavyweight ladder for years with Couture usually ranking within the top five, but yet Couture has for some reason avoided a fight with Nog like the plague where as Nogueria has been willing to have the fight since he came into the UFC.


In an interview Chris Howie did earlier this year with the interim champ he comments on Couture holding out and not fighting him:

MMANews.com: How do you feel about Randy Couture holding out from the UFC and not fighting you?

Minotauro: When they had asked me to fight for the title he had the Heavyweight belt so my plan was to fight him. He has his reasons with contracts and such and he has to look for what’s best for him. I have the belt now and am ready to face him. From my background anyone can tell that I am good enough to fight Couture and I hope that he comes back some day because I am ready to face him. I think we would make a very exciting fight.

It just seems like Big Nog is getting the shaft unfortunately and if the proposed fights Randy has on his plate do not include a match up with the interim champ to unify the titles it could be considered a travesty in the sport

[Ramma]

I am sure the winner of Randy/??? will fight the winner of Nog/Mir to unify the title.

[jhell]

Maybe Randy realizes that a fight with Big Nog is very well one he could lose. So then the big money matchup with Fedor could lose some of it's interest.

[ILJO]

Randy knows Nog is a bad match up for him. Its not necesarily that he's scared but IMO he knows that Nog would probably beat him

shit, I wouldnt want to fight Nog either if I was Randy lol

[dudefella]

I don't see how Randy would beat Nog.

[Palma]

Originally Posted by dudefella

I don't see how Randy would beat Nog.

He could beat him from the clinch. Nog is cetainly a better striker and BJJ fighter, but he doesn't have the skills to dictate where the fight goes. Nog doesn't really game plan much either. Nog should certainly be favored, but Randy can certainly win. I'd say the odds should be 110/90 for Nog to win.

[hurt80]

i know nog is abad ass but imo couture is a bad matchup for nog i just see randy staying on top and controlling him on the ground, avoiding subs and cruising to a unanomous decision.........if any of this is true and randy does accept a fight with nog

[LebenTysonTank]

I think they will have him fight Lesnar first for sure while Mir and Nog fight. If Couture wins of course he has to fight NOG/Mir.....if he loses...I see the UFC making Couture vs Anderson Silva at 205 and maybe another fight with Chuck.

[hurt80]

Originally Posted by LebenTysonTank

I think they will have him fight Lesnar first for sure while Mir and Nog fight. If Couture wins of course he has to fight NOG/Mir.....if he loses...I see the UFC making Couture vs Anderson Silva at 205 and maybe another fight with Chuck.

????? how'd you come to that conclusion? i highly doubt he'll ever fight chuck again and silva just wouldnt make any sense at all imo

[JimG]

Let's not forget Fedor beat Nog twice... I see Randy beating Nog also if he attacks the way Fedor did.