When he announced his return to the UFC today, Randy Couture made clear that he has a great deal of respect for the man widely regarded as the best heavyweight in mixed martial arts, Fedor Emelianenko.But the other two people involved in today's announcement, UFC President Dana White and Couture's opponent on November 15, Brock Lesnar, showed significantly less respect for Fedor.
After several media questions about Fedor, Lesnar finally snapped and said,
"Who gives a s--- about Fedor? I'm fighting Randy Couture. I don't give a damn about Fedor. I'm sick and tired of hearing about f---ing Fedor."
White wasn't quite as animated when talking about Fedor, but he was similarly annoyed. When it was suggested that Fedor is the best MMA fighter in the world, White suggested that Fedor should stop ducking the UFC.
"I want to see if he's the best," White said of Fedor. "Come and find out. ... Randy Couture is relevant. Fedor is not."
I asked Couture whether he thinks that if he retires without having fought Fedor, something will be missing from his legacy, and conversely, whether he thinks if Fedor never fights in the UFC, something will be missing from his legacy.
Couture clearly has more respect for Fedor than Lesnar or White has, but he echoed White's basic sentiment.
"I don't think anything is missing from my legacy," Couture said. "I can retire today and be perfectly fine. I'm fighting because I love to fight. Do I want to fight Fedor? Absolutely. Most people consider him the No. 1 heavyweight and I want to take that from him. As a competitor that's important to me. ... If he wants to be the No. 1 heavyweight he needs to come and fight me."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-02-2008 @ 8:32PM
RANDY McLELLAND said...
PERSONALLY I AM SICK OF BROCK LESNAR, HE IS A PUNK! HE TALKS LIKE HE IS STILL IN THE WWE !!!! HE NEEDS TO KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT UP FOR AWHILE, OR HE WILL BE PICKING UP HIS TEETH WITH A BROKEN ARM!!!!!!!
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9-02-2008 @ 9:31PM
finestdj said...
Tim Silvia said the same bs Brock is saying until Fedor beat him quickly...
Fedor hands down will both Brock and Randy...
Trust me you don't want this guy in the UFC...
Dana will because of the money Fedor will bring to the UFC...
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9-03-2008 @ 2:12PM
dave said...
Fedor could beat them both on the same night.
9-02-2008 @ 10:08PM
Colonial said...
Define Irony: someone who has been in involved with MMA for little more than a year and gets far more coverage (and title shots apparently) than his 2-1 record should warrant is sick of people talking about a legend who has been dominant since the turn of the millennium.
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9-03-2008 @ 12:41AM
finestdj said...
How does Brock get a title shot so quickly...
He hasn't proven himself and he's not good...
You saw the way he acted when being interview...
No class what so ever...
Randy very classy....
Fedor very classy...
Nogueira very classy....
True champs
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9-03-2008 @ 12:58AM
finestdj said...
Randy should be fighting Noguiera immediately...
C.Kongo should be fighting F. Mir....
With the winners meeting...
Where the hell Brock come from...
He hasn't paid his dues yet...
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9-03-2008 @ 8:01AM
Colonial said...
Calling these comments from Brock "masterful self-promotion" gives him far too much credit. The truth is he has a huge ego and a small intellect.
He sounds like this even when he doesn't have a fight to promote.
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9-03-2008 @ 12:41PM
Shonda said...
I can't believe the audacity of this d-bag: Fedor would do a hell of a lot more that sit on his opponent for 15 minutes--which is apparently all Brock the Crock can do. Hopefully Randy'll shut him up...and he definately doesn't deserve a title shot w/ a 2-1 record, that ridiculous.
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9-03-2008 @ 3:16PM
john the animal said...
I love Randy's career. He always has these fights where we dought him a little cuz his opponents are bigger, stronger, and younger. But you'll see the outcome in a few weeks, Randy will win no matter how old he is or gets. The man ages like wine. I hope there is room for Fedor to fight one day.
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9-03-2008 @ 5:17PM
dvs1 said...
i dont think lesnar is no where near randys level nor does he deserve a shot. he beat Hearring, big deal. Nogeira beat Hearing 3 times and he is the UFC INTERM champ. if any one should fight Randy(other than Fedor) its Nogeira. Lesnar should fight some up and commer that hed probally have a better chance against bcause with Randy, hes bitting off WAY more than he can chew... but some guys got to learn things the hard way.
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9-05-2008 @ 2:40PM
michael said...
i liked lesnar after his fight with frank mir.. he seemed like a nice guy and he seemed like he had a lot of heart.. then after he beat herring, he has turned into a dick... i honestly am happy he is fighting courture.. that way after randy gives him the ass whippin he needs, he might shut that mouth... he definetly does NOT want any of fedor.. fedor will whoop the brakes off lesnars ass......
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9-05-2008 @ 5:42PM
mac said...
Fedor couold beat Brock and Silvia at the same time !!!!!!!
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9-06-2008 @ 2:21PM
Patrick Trioli said...
Fedor would absolutely destroy Lesner. Tim S. talked the same crap, and Fedor took him apart in 36 seconds. It was a complete and utter joke. Fedor didn't even break a sweat. Nobody, and I mean nobody can beat Fedor. He will absolutely destroy Couture, because athlete's on Fedor's level no exactly how to raise their game to a much higher level when he needs to. He could have beat Lesner, Couture with the same ease as he did Tim S. all in the same night. Trust me nobody can beat him!!!! Nobody.
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10-04-2008 @ 10:06PM
lostinsanity said...
He may not have broke a sweat, but he broke his hand enough to warrant a 6 month lay off...
He beat Sylvia in 36 seconds, but the kicker is Fedor came out more hurt than Sylvia
fedor would kill Lesnar though, that is if he is still alive after Randy is done with him
9-07-2008 @ 8:36AM
LJ said...
I understand Lesnar getting sick of hearing about Fedor. It's like if Matt Ryan kept getting questions about Brett Farve or Tom Brady; at some point enough would be enough -- if Matt Ryan were a complete tool.
But Fedor would beat Randy, Brock and Dana White before his borscht got cold.
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9-08-2008 @ 1:03AM
rhys said...
man dont hate on brock,
honestly he is just stirring the pot, its just a classic pro wrestling technique to increase interest in the randy fight.
remember, lesnar is a fighter, but he is also a masterful self promoter.
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9-08-2008 @ 1:57PM
victor said...
I would love to see brock fight more before he gets a title fight. Perhaps fight cheick kongo
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9-09-2008 @ 2:19PM
miked said...
I really hope randy disables that disrespectful loud mouth lesner, there is no way in hell that d-bag deserves a title shot,, he won 1 fight against a worn out heath herring and couldn't even finish the fight. and now dana white gives him a title shot, over all the people who have actually earned a shot? what a joke, dana white is willing to kill the integrity of the sport in the name of promotion, lesner has no respect, no class and is nothing but a big juiced up meathead,not to mention he seems to have the IQ of a mouse turd,,its a shame Mir didn't crank that knee bar a bit harder and give him a good year off, or better yet scare him into leaving....anyway,,, GOOO RANDY!!!, and hopefully fedor will get a chance to destroy lesner at some point too.
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9-23-2008 @ 6:20PM
arana said...
i know whats going to happen, lesnar is going to win, fixed fight, that way there can be a rematch, more money for the UFC, just seeing how this d-bag got a chance for HW title makes me sick. UFC has lost all credibility ... ALL OF IT!
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9-23-2008 @ 6:23PM
arana said...
if White thinks he has the BEST fighters, then he SHOULD let them fight outside of the UFC, let Randy go after Fedor, Fedor has NOTHING to prove, he has already proven himself worlwide. if anyone has to prove himself then they are the ones that should go after fedor and not expect Fedor to go after them, HE IS THE WANT TO BEAT, people should be wanting to fight him wherever he is, they should try and go after him, not the opposite
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