Tim Sylvia vs Randy Coutore

[Quiney22]

If any of you watched Inside the UFC last night, you know that Randy Coutore is coming out of retirement to Tim Sylvia. Not as exciting as a Vera/Sylvia fight, but definitely one to watch. I am sure Vera would have been fighting him here but he is holding out for more money and has 2 smaller organizations looking at him with bigger offers than the UFC is offeriing. I dont blame him. The only reason Monson got a shot is because he fought for next to nothing. This isn't a hobby for these guys, its a job. Anyway, I feel Randy is a great opponent for suddenly scared, defensive style in which Sylvia has been fighting. In one of the most boring fights ever televised by the UFC, Sylvia, on numerous occasions had chances to finish The Snowman and backed off to be careful and hang on to the belt. Not the way a champion should fight. The Natural will take it too him and will take him down. I honestly don't see anything that would keep him from losing this fight unless he gets caught with a good punch. My concern is, when he wins, what is he going to do about Cro Cop.

Give me your thoughts.

[Micelli]

I agree with you here, Sylvia doesnt show that killer instinct that one should when you are King of the Heavyweights. He better enjoy being on top now, cause once he loses the belt i doubt he'll ever get it back...

[Quiney22]

Definitely Micelli. If, for some reason, Couture doesn't beat him, he will be hated even more than he is now. It may be another marketing ploy for the UFC. Randy has signed for four fights over the next 2 years. Everyone knows that even if he loses, he is Captain America and he will draw for the card. Lets look at another aspect of The Natural. The fans LOVE him. Tim Sylvia isn't very liked by the fans - especially after he looked like a bigger but more timid dog trying to hold onto his piece of the steak. If Sylvia wins, the fans are not going to like him more. Maybe a few, but the majority will see him as a bully and I don't see any way you can be confidently more aggressive against Couture than you were against Monson - doesn't make sense. Couture is 43. Beating him will not make Tim a better champion unless it is a quick KO. Possible but not likely.

On the other hand, Joe Silva and Dana White are most likely going to begin building up CroCop as the heavyweight posterboy. After he LHK Sanchez head into the third row, every casual fan will hard a hard-on for him. They will then want to see him kick Sylvia's head further if he beats Couture. Great marketing strategy.

Either way, the UFC will be making TONS of $ in 07. I really hope Couture either loses or retires after he wins. He seriously may die if he fights CroCop.