UFC 74 Couture vs. Gonzaga is truly about respect
Tomorrow, August 25, 2007, wasn't supposed to happen. UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture was expected to succumb to old age and then-champion Tim Sylvia when he came out of retirement earlier this year. Gabriel Gonzaga was seen as a sacrificial lamb to showcase Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic before the latter was given a title shot.
UFC 74: RESPECT will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and could not have been more aptly named. Neither fighter was expected to win the fights their previous fights, which would ultimately destine them to meet tomorrow.
March 3, 2007. Although he's recognized as one of the best the sport has ever seen, Couture was fighting an uphill fight that few people thought he could win. He was coming out of a year-long retirement and staring directly at a title shot against 6' 8", 260 pound Sylvia, who hadn't lost a fight in two years.
Even if the crowd was behind Couture, so too was his prime. At 43-years-old, he didn't have the speed and strength of his glory days. In fact, he didn't seem to have any advantages — Sylvia was 13 years his junior, knew how to keep opponents at bay with his insanely long-reaching jab and was more than adept at blocking take-downs, a strategy many felt was Couture's only hope at victory.
But no less than eight seconds into the first round, Couture stunned the mixed martial arts world when he flattened Sylvia with a perfect punch. At the end of five rounds, the over-aged underdog would walk away the new UFC heavyweight champion in what could have been considered one of the biggest MMA upsets of the year. Until, of course, April.
April 21, 2007. UFC's recent acquisition, Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic was widely accepted as the second best heavyweight fighter in the world. He made his octagon debut two months earlier when he smashed through Eddie Sanchez at 4:33 into the first round.
With Couture winning the heavyweight title a month later, MMA fans were salivating at the idea of watching these two clash in a championship super fight.
Before he could make a bid for a title shot, Crocop needed to legitimize his status with another win. Enter little-known fighter Gabriel Gonzaga. Much like in Crocop's first fight, Gonzaga was expected to be a walk-through opponent whose only purpose would be to show just how dominating Crocop could be. What actually happened would be an upset to end all upsets as 4:51 in first round Gonzaga would land a right kick to Crocop's head and win by one of the most brutal knock-outs the sport has ever seen.
August 24, 2007. Couture is facing the same criticisms he did five months ago. He's the underdog once more, while Gonzaga has earned the respect of all the people who doubted him in the past. Both fighters preferring grappling and ground fighting-based tactics.
The fight is seen as a bad match-up for the champion. In addition to the stark age difference between the two, Couture now at 44 and Gonzaga at 28, Couture have to contend with an equally overwhelming size difference.
During the official weigh-in Friday afternoon, Couture looked to be in excellent condition at 228 pounds, but nowhere near the massive 252 pound Gonzaga.
Saturday, August 25. These two men will finally meet at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
For Couture, it's the chance to show everybody that he still has what it takes. It's a chance to show everybody that being a Champion takes more than youth.
For Gonzaga, it's a chance to prove that he's one of the greats. It's a chance to be regarded as one of the best in the sport.
Like the old saying goes — to be the man, you've got to beat the man.
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