Quote:
After a very public split with the organization back in October, reigning UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has agreed to return to the UFC, and he'll meet Brock Lesnar in a UFC 91 championship bout with Brock Lesnar.
UFC President Dana White today confirmed the news in a media conference call.
White also confirmed that UFC 91 will take place Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas -- not at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore., as first expected.
As part of Couture's return to competition, White confirmed that their ongoing legal battle has been resolved.
"I think some compromises were made on both sides," Couture said.
"All I give a [expletive] about is that he's back and fighting," White said.
White also confirmed that the winner of an upcoming fight between interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir will meet the Couture vs. Lesnar winner sometime in 2009 to unify the titles.
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This is HUGE news for MMA fans. Couture's been out of action for over a year so it will be great to see him fight again. This will be a make-or-break fight for both Couture and Lesnar. Couture, the grizzled veteran who has been on Dana White's bad side for the better part of his UFC career, versus Brock Lesnar, the ratings-drawer who the UFC is hand-grooming to be their next Heavyweight Champion. This will undoubtedly garner the highest ratings of any UFC PPV in recent memory, if not ever (the current highest was 600,000+ PPV buys, held by UFC 81, which featured the UFC debut of Brock Lesnar).
From the wording of the article, it appears the the UFC is still considering Couture their Heavyweight Champion, meaning a win by Lesnar would make HIM the champion. Is anyone else pissed that the UFC is giving Lesnar a title shot in only his 3rd fight with the company (especially when he LOST one of those fights)?
It's going to be hard to pick a winner in this one. Lesnar has the height, weight, reach, and age advantage. Couture definitely has more experience, but at 45 it will be hard for him to stop the 6'3'' 265+lb former NCAA Division I Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. Couture's only shot is to make Lesnar stray from his gameplan. It is doubtful that Couture can out-wrestle him (although Randy is an excellent wrestler). Couture may outstrike him, but a single shot from Lesnar could mangle couture for the rest of the fight (ask Heath Herring). As much as it pains me to do so, I'm taking Brock Lesnar via KO.
This one's a wee bit easier. Nogueria vs. Mir is a no-brainer. Mir has no chance in hell of breaking Big Nog. I pick Nog via Submission (probably a Rear Naked Choke).
This will set up Lesnar vs. Nogueria. Nogueria can take a hell of a beating, so Lesnar's power is basically thrown out the window. As long as Nog can get him on his back, Lesnar will be easilly submitted.
With Couture signing a 3-fight contract, this leaves the door open to the much anticipated Couture/Fedor fight that has been brewing for ages. For UFC to not go ahead with this as Couture's return bout is beyond me. Risking him losing to Lesnar will definitely diminish his drawing power for the Fedor/Couture fight, good move Dana White.
Thoughts?