Wanderlei and Chuck belt less?

[habbalah]

If I told you Wanderlei and Chuck would both be belt less at the start (or near start) of 2006 you would have called me a mad man? It could happen. MMA as we know it can be turned on its ear. What does this mean? Nothing beyond pure speculation. But it's got me excited.

What will both fighters do if there with out title? Will it finally happen, will both of them look down and realize. "Now is the right time." Wanderlei could this this chance to gain (or lose out come pending) some new credibility. Either that or he can jump or and take a stab at Randy.
I'd be all for that. Talk about your stock rising through the ceiling. I know Tito has the next shot but hay doesn't mean the champ can't take an extra fight along the way. I got a feeling about this year. Ignoring the whole bas blow out... this is going to be a great year for mma. At least I feel it will be different.

[DUCE]

It could happen. Arona would be the new Vitor and everyone whos beaten him will come out of the woodwork. I thought Guy Mezger could have won that decision... between them. Pride would hold another rematch. Randy beating Chuck.... I'm having a hard time with that one. Maybe Randy losing and going up to heavyweight to give Andrei Arlovski more crediability other then Tim Sylvia a ROTR turny winner and destroyer of Gan Mcgee and a tired Ricco, KOTC champ Paul Buentello when Ricco wasn't there, IFC champ (when he wasn't losing to Vernon White) Vladimir Matyushenko. Ricco and Matyushenko should come back and end some questions. If he beats Randy on the other hand that would put a gleam in that title hes got around his waist.

[habbalah]

Now Duce, your not the only one that has a hard time with saying Chuck beat Randy. It burns me down to my soul... (but it happened). I will be livid if it happens again (which it could.. makes things damn exciting). And that's the good thing about Arona getting the belt.

Seeing fighters coming back for a chance at the top would kick butt! Wanderlai would eventaully get a rematch but lets be honest... that would be 2 loses in a row. Arona would definatly have a few good reasons to duck him.

Now as for Randy... I mean besides spanking tito a second time (lol). Babalu? MAybe Rich Ace F. could come up and weight and continue knocking off members of team quest left and right (tanner and Nate Q). He'll get his some day! Damn him!

As for giving Arloski credablity.... to hell with credablity.. how about good matches? I don't need to see him fight some one good.. i need to see him challenged. Why should Alrovski kill himself trying to prove he's Fedor? He's not. Let him be the best UFC champion he can be.


Wait... did you say you had a hard time seeing Randy beat Chuck? ..... WHAT!? E tu Duce?

[DUCE]

I really want Randy to win but as the match gets closer.... I got this feeling Randy is moving his weightclass again.

[habbalah]

You make it sound as if Randy will take a dive to Chuck so he can go fight Arlovski.

This just a hunch or do you got some inside information? I think Randy's happy with his current weight class. Yes Randy Could be Arlovski,,,, but damn that would be an uphill battle.

[DUCE]

Randy Couture's unavoidable upcoming loss? A couple of reason to explain my reasoning;

Reason #1 Hawaiin Kempo Eye Poke
"(An early) poke in the eye changed my composure," Couture says, "and I chased him around instead of cutting him off. By going straight at him -- I had hit him with a good shot and stood him up, then threw a left hook and overcommitted -- I allowed him to step to the right and gave him the angle where I was out of position." -Randy Couture

Randy's eye lids are very tearable as seen in two of his last three matches. Chuck's eye jab has been used as a KO set up since his Vernon "Tiger" White match.

Reason #2 If Randy is a company (UFC) fighter he should take a dive.
Chuck & Tito rematches are the only thing headed his way next year. Chuck has alway been a trusted investment of Dana White. Randy has already done his job and created interest in the 205 scene again. Time for him to move up.

Reason #3 MMA life kills his social life. How many ex wives/children does he have?
Two more matches next year and maybe another season of TUF... Arlovski to round his career off...

Reason #4 The future isn't bright for him in that weight class or anyother.
What if he beats Liddell - would he retire on top?
"I don't know. We'll see," he says. "I'm taking it one fight at a time, and I'll make an honest evaluation after the fight." -Randy Couture

[habbalah]

Surprisingly after having Sherdog the last two months bust there asses to destroy all of my faith in Randy Couture, I'm not flinching at this right now.

1. I don't think Randy will work a fight. Or I simply refuse to believe it.

2. Super thumb 5000 is not Chuck's be all and all way to win a fight. If Randy gets thumbed I'm sure he won't make the same mistake again.

3. So what if Randy winning the title leads to a dead end. (I kinda agree Chuck has more options with the belt). But that alone doesn't win fights for you. In fact that may hurt Chuck in the actual fight.. if he starts believing his own hype. I've heard posters who claim they've met Chuck and he doesn't even sound worried about the fight. That may or may not be true... But hell I hope it is. If Chuck's taking Randy lightly this is going to be a one sided a$$ kicking contest.

Now Duce do you wanna know why I think your thinking the way you do? Unless this fight was fixed... you'd actually have to give Dana White credit.. He's putting his golden boy in harms way, everything he's been building up can come crashing down.

If Dana White really was this great Chuck loving promoter that everyone makes him out to be he would had Couture go no where near him.. and let father time catch up with him first. Instead, for everything Randy's done for the company he re payed his years of loyalty with a rematch... and the fact Dana White might actually do something honorable is unfathomable to mostly everyone.

Now more than ever I can say Randy's going to win. I can feel it now, and I am casting off any and all doubt. And if he loses and retires.. I'll be glad he went out with me believing in him. But he's not done yet.

[DUCE]

we will see... I'll be routing for Couture nonetheless.

[habbalah]

Route nothing, I'll be beleiving in Randy Couture. You know I hear he's getting some kick A$$ odds(gambeling wise) on him if he wins. After all this time I've been fearing what Chuck might do I finally feel confident as the match draws near. And it feels pretty damn good.

[DUCE]

Randy has bad odds because of his track record. Not because of speculation or that hawaii kempo eye jab. Most of his loses come from title matches.

[habbalah]

Hay asside from Al oveream I've yet to see Chuck really bounce back in a fight where he was in trouble. I don't expect Randy to make the same mistakes, and if the first round is going in his momentum I don't see Chuck taking it back. If Chuck wins this fight, it'll be because he shows us something we haven't seen out of him yet. It'll be because he's grown as a fighter... which is possible. But I'll ask you this.. If Randy would blew right past Mike Van A. would you even be doubting the man right now?

[DUCE]

I didn't see the Van Arsdale match.

[habbalah]

Catching this latest ppv? (either or) I'm really torn between the ufc and pride for which to get next (I'll probrably get both).

[Darth Turkish]

Pride card looks great!!!

I have really been getting interested in Pride due to the clips posted, and reading up on the fighters.

I am very impressed with Fedor especially. I want to see as much of him as possible.

[habbalah]

Oh the irony of ironys i saw a pole at sherdog for Randy and Chuck's fight. www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=320879

Randy's ahead. At a Sherdog pole. I think i just went brain dead.

[DUCE]

Chucky's hated for his kempo eye poke history.

[habbalah]

Yeah I know, but i just naturally assumed they'd favor the striker over the wrestler.