(Rua vs. Jackson, PRIDE Total Elimination, 4/23/05)
Randy Couture may be itching for a title shot against Mauricio Rua, but thankfully, logic will prevail in the light-heavyweight division. Dana White confirmed yesterday that the winner of the Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans headliner at UFC 114 (May 29th, Las Vegas) will get the first crack at Shogun’s belt. If Rampage can pull off a victory in his comeback fight — his first appearance since beating Keith Jardine 14 months ago then "quitting" the UFC to film The A-Team — it would set up a rematch with Rua, who beat the crap out of him five years ago in PRIDE.
Related: In an interview with Sherdog before UFC 113, Rua gave his thoughts on another 205-pound star who he might have to tangle with at some point — Jon Jones. "He is a great young fighter, too damn good, and he’s coming with everything in our division," Rua said. "He is very good in wrestling. I think he and Cain Velasquez are the two guys with the best wrestling in MMA today, together with Georges St. Pierre. He’s a very good wrestler, very dangerous. He’s a guy who will give a lot of people trouble." Will Rua be able to avoid the Light-Heavyweight Title Hot Potato Curse™ long enough to battle Bones for the belt one day?
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commentsPoints 'a' and 'b' are interesting . . .
On point 'c', I've gotta disagree with: "lets face it - father time aint been too kind to Rampage"
While I think it's true that Rampage has lost some of his explosiveness ('blackness', if you will), his boxing for MMA has improved considerably. While I don't think it's enough to make a match with Shogun a fun affair for him, I do think that with his improved skills and experience, it'll be more competitive than that one time in Pride where Shogun raped him.
Bones vs Shogun
Lyoto vs Couture
Rashad vs Rampage -> Winner fights the winner of Lyoto vs Couture
+1
Awesome fights that open the division up.
I do have to agree with you on the lil nog part, cane isn't even that good anyways but lil nog did obliterate him, and it was just his first fight, I say he has to win about two more to get a title shot.
@Failing
You have to look at it in a way that makes even more sense. Yes they are both coming off wins, but the video in the above article and Rashads last two fights clearly show they have no right to be number 1 contenders. Bones Jones is the #1 Contender. Period.
@Kimbosbread
I agree with you 100%
If they both relied on their wrestling, it could get boring, but that's still a fight I'd like to see.
Snap, that would an epic battle. And a perfect excuse to give Couture the ultimatum that if he looses, he goes home for good. If Couture wins, fastrack him to a title shot.
UFC, get it done.
a. Spider is quite possibly the best 205'er now - regardless of where he normally fights or what division he HAS TOTALLY CLEANED THE FUCK OUT. Shogun will have more than his hands full (ew) with Silva on his hands. (note if Silva does beat Shogun - who is left? Jones, meh - too inexperienced. Machida, nah - he wont fight his friends. Rampage? maybe - beyond that he will have cleaned 205 "the fuck out" as well)
b. King Mo - hell yes - im intrigued, I didnt say anything other than intrigued - read it again. King Mo is undeniably interesting - you might put Vitor in there as well.
c. STOP Deluding yourselves into thinking Randy has ANY business in a title fight against anybody in any division in the UFC. He's lucky to still be in the UFC. Shogun Killed Rampage 5 years ago and lets face it - father time aint been too kind to Rampage. And Rashad is already practicing his KO face in the mirror.
Why are we even accepting anything less than Shogun vs. Silva again?
I personally believe the UFC will give Rashad/Rampage the next title shot. But I agree Jones needs to be at the very top of the list. Even above Rashad/Rampage.
Bones vs Shogun
Lyoto vs Couture
Rashad vs Rampage -> Winner fights the winner of Lyoto vs Couture
Both Rashad and 'Page are former 205er belt holders coming off of wins. Makes sense to me that the winner between them will be next in line. (For the record, my money's on 'Page, assuming he actually had a good camp, is in shape, and is not still eating movie set donuts).
That being said, I would still prefer to see a fresh face (read Jon Jones) as a title-shot challenger.
@Perpatraitor, Rampage looks tired because of Religion. He had recently become religious and was forced into fasting the week before the fight.
Randy better have to beat a top contender if he wants a title shot. Randy vs Machida would definetly prove his worth
Why does Lil Nog deserve a shot? Beating Cane was good and all, but beating Brilszszszsz isn't going to make him #1 contender.
Jones will get there, and hopefully he gets a #1 contender fight if he gets by the Janitor
If you think about it Rashads last two fights have been against Lyoto (in which he got his ass handed to him, and Shogun just beat Lyoto) and Thiago Silva (Thiago could have easily finished Rashad in the 3rd round, but they were both gassed).
And Rampage's last two fights were against Keith 'The Dean of Never Winning a Fight' Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. And his last fight was at UFC 97.
Sometimes the UFC irritates me....
/common sense
Who else is with me on this?
Welcome........to this site.........it's really nice to have you here........too bad you wont be around for much longer.........oops,did I just give a spoiler........
http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D3D6pC24BQ
King Mo?
Are you being sarcastic? Because that's pretty funny.
Spider isn't a 205'er
Jones has all of 5 fights in the UFC and is ranked around #7 in the division
Afterbirth has all of ONE fight in the UFC
Rashad and Rampage are ranked #2 and #3 respectively in the LHW division by most websites, although a couple have Machida at 2. How can you deny the winner of that fight a shot at the title? You can't.
He must have been sippin' on some of Lyoto's Dragon Punch before the fight!?
1. Spider
2. Jones
3. lil Nog
4. King 'Mo
Since only 3 of these fights are possible, why in holy hell is Randy or Rashad or Rampage even in the discussion? This aint boxing playa. Make the fights we want to see. Period.
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