With Randy Couture’s impressive win at UFC 109 over Mark Coleman talk has moved to whats next for captain America. MMA Convert has an article stating Couture needs to fight a top five guy before he get a shot at the title, which I totally agree. Couture has to be considered one of the top 10 Light Heavyweight but since returning to 205lbs has not fought a top 10 fighter yet. Currently almost all of the top 10 guys are scheduled to fight over the next 4 months so Couture might have to wait for his next fight. Couture has fought 3 times in the past 7 months so a rest might be good for the 47 year old fighter.
If Couture and the UFC do not want to wait for the dust to settle over the next few months the only two opponents that I see currently at 205lbs. are Rich Franklin and Thiago Silva. Silva is a top 10 fighter at Light Heavyweight and has been close to a title shot twice, coming up short each time. Silva would be a tough fight for couture but if he won could warrant a title shot. A fight with Rich Franklin would be another super fight placing two former champs against one another but at 1-1 Franklin is not a top 10 light heavyweight. The fight would easily promote itself and even though Franklin is not a top 10 fighter a win by Couture would still go far in his bid for a title shot.
If they choose to wait there is an endless amount of possibilities depending on who wins each fight. I agree with MMA Convert that the only acceptable scenario that results in Randy fighting the title is if Machida beats Shogun, Rashad beats Rampage and Forrest beats Lil’ Nog
- Rashad Evans – UFC 114 versus Rampage Jackson
- Rich Franklin – Recovering for hernia surgery (Jan. 12th)
- Forrest Griffin – UFC 113 versus Antonio Rogerio Nogueira [not going to fight his friend Couture]
- Keith Jardine – UFC 110 versus Ryan Bader
- Chuck Liddell – UFC 115 versus Tito Ortiz
- Lyoto Machida – UFC 113 verusu Shogun Rua
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira – UFC 113 versus Forrest Griffin
- Tito Ortiz – UFC 115 versus Chuck Liddell
- Shogun Rua – UFC 113 versus lyoto Machida
- Thiago Silva – Lost to Rashad Evans at UFC 108
What do you think will be next for Randy Couture?
[...] Personally, I think Randy needs a win over a top light heavyweight before he “deserves” another title shot, but we all know that’s not how it always works. If you ask me, the only acceptable scenario that results in Randy fighting the title is if Machida beats Shogun, Rashad beats Rampage and Forrest beats Lil’ Nog. Otherwise, there are much more deserving title fights to be made among those six competitors. If Randy doesn’t get the next title shot, there are some decent fights out there for him in the meantime against guys like Rich Franklin or Thiago Silva as MMA Valor suggested. [...]
I think Thiago Silva will be a tough fight for Couture. I would like to see that fight to see if Couture can hang with the stronger and younger light heavyweights.
@mmachiro
I totally agree and if couture beat silva I’d be fine with him getting a title shot.
If Randy Fights Thiago or Rich Franklin and beats them I don’t think he should immedietly get a title shot for beating either of those guys because they are both coming off of losses. I think the winner of Rashad vs Rampage should get the next title shot…. or the winner of Rashad and Rampage should fight Randy to see who gets the next shot if Randy wins his next bout.
[...] Personally, I think Randy needs a win over a top light heavyweight before he “deserves” another title shot, but we all know that’s not how it always works. If you ask me, the only acceptable scenario that results in Randy fighting the title is if Machida beats Shogun, Rashad beats Rampage and Forrest beats Lil’ Nog. Otherwise, there are much more deserving title fights to be made among those six competitors. If Randy doesn’t get the next title shot, there are some decent fights out there for him in the meantime against guys like Rich Franklin or Thiago Silva as MMA Valor suggested. [...]