The Natural’s “Reality Check” Keys to Victory
Randy Couture Apr 13, 2006
You could have heard a pin drop in the usually noise cluttered
training center. As 12 onlookers watch, I slid across the mat on to
my back, only to quickly be grabbed by the arms and hauled to the
standing position.
“Hands up, chin down Randy," came the thickly Russian accented response, followed rapidly by another smack up side the head with a focus mitt. "Ok I get the message Andrei."
This was pretty indicative of my week of training sessions with
current UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) leading up to “Couture vs.
Liddell 3.” You’re probably saying maybe you should have paid
closer attention! Trust me, when you’re standing in front of the
“Pitbull” — even in practice — he has your undivided attention.
It's a unique feeling to have the hair on your body stand up all at once. Andrei is one of the few mixed martial arts fighters I've run across who can go train in a "Top Rank Boxing Gym" in Vegas and hang, technically speaking. It's not that MMA fighters are bad boxers, but MMA with clinching and “dirty boxing “is just different. Andrei possesses amazing pure boxing skills. He is an agile and explosive athlete with very good power.
The Key to Victory for him against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) this weekend is to use his mobility and athleticism. Stick and move. Use those defensive boxing skills against Tim’s long-range attacks. Find ways to get in score and get out.
That brings me to the “Maine-iac,” big Tim Sylvia (Pictures). Tim is one of the nicest athletes in MMA. This former UFC heavyweight champion has spent a few weeks at my house in Oregon training and hanging out. Tim is one of those guys you enjoy spending time with. By the end of the visit you feel like he's part of the family.
You will not find a harder worker both in and out of the Octagon than Tim Sylvia (Pictures). Tim has taken the tools and gifts he's been given and gotten the most out of them. Sparring with Tim is a challenge because when the buzzer sounds Tim sticks that long jab in your face … and he hasn't even left his corner yet.
Tim has a well-rounded stand-up game, adding Thai kicks, both high and low, to his already devastating knees. Tim's ranginess is both his strength and his weakness. It makes him a very formidable and effective stand-up fighter, having viciously knocked out some very tough opponents.
Those long levers, however, pose all sorts of problems for Tim when the fight hits the ground. With the guidance of coaches and mentors like Pat Miletich (Pictures) and Jeremy Horn (Pictures), Tim can operate and survive on the ground and his takedown defense is excellent — but ground fighting is not his strong suit.
The keys for Tim in this fight against Andrei are to use his jab a lot. Keep it in Andrei’s face and keep him at range for that right hand. Mix in the kicks and knees from the clinch. Keep the pressure on Andrei. Don't let him step up or find his rhythm. I'll be surprised if you see this fight on the ground for very long. It's going to be a great altercation.
Tito Ortiz (Pictures) vs. Forrest Griffin (Pictures)
The co-main event is also going to be a spectacular match-up. I don't think you will ever see Forrest Griffin (Pictures) or Tito Ortiz (Pictures) in a boring fight. Having fought Tito and now having trained with Forrest extensively, I know these fighters very well.
Tito is always going to make an exciting fight, first because he has a unique ability to generate hype. I think you could pair him up with Mother Teresa and there would be "heat" and people would want to see it!
Whether you love him or hate him, Tito is a very skilled fighter. He has a very well rounded game, but his strength is certainly his ability to put you on the floor and keep you there while he lands a barrage of punches and elbows. His submission game is underrated. He spends a lot of time with submission guru Dean Lister (Pictures) and it shows. He hasn't relied on it much in his fights, but the ability is there. He showed it time and again in the training camp of mine he attended in Sacramento, Calif. prior to Vitor Belfort (Pictures) III. He submitted almost everyone in camp, including me.
Tito's strongest asset is his ability to train and prepare his body for a fight. He does have a tendency to overtrain on occasion, but I think he's figuring that out and making adjustments. He is a hard worker and as episode one of the third season of The Ultimate Fighter showed, he is a very gracious and giving workout partner. That’s why he will be a great coach.
Expect Tito to hype this fight with Forrest well. He'll come out hard and do his best to put Forrest on the ground and keep him there — that's the key to victory for Tito.
Forrest Griffin (Pictures) is definitely stepping up in competition taking on Tito. I believe he is up for the challenge and ready to meet Tito head on. It's really a win, win for Forrest. He is so likable and exciting to watch that he's under no pressure. Even if he loses the match, it doesn't hurt his stock that much. He's fighting "Tito Ortiz (Pictures)."
Forrest trains like a mad man! He has turned into one of my best training partners this year. What you don't realize until you stand next to him, is how big Forrest is in person. He's 6' 3" and 235 pounds. That is a big 205-lb fighter. He's like Alfred E. Newman on steroids.
Forrest has a well-rounded game, showing an ability to strike and submit, whichever presents itself. But his strength is his heart. He is a scrapper who absolutely will not give up. He just keeps coming. He's gonna need that ability in this fight.
If he can defend Tito's early takedowns and scramble back up if he does get taken down, the momentum could swing his way. The pressure is on Tito to perform in this fight. He hasn't been in there in a while. Forrest has to scrap and stay active and he can win!
It makes for a great weekend of fights and that's why you have to love MMA!
Randy Couture (Pictures) is the only two-division champion in UFC history. He twice held the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight belts. “The Natural” retired from mixed martial arts competition in February 2006. Please visit his Web site: www.thenatural.tv.
“Hands up, chin down Randy," came the thickly Russian accented response, followed rapidly by another smack up side the head with a focus mitt. "Ok I get the message Andrei."
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It's a unique feeling to have the hair on your body stand up all at once. Andrei is one of the few mixed martial arts fighters I've run across who can go train in a "Top Rank Boxing Gym" in Vegas and hang, technically speaking. It's not that MMA fighters are bad boxers, but MMA with clinching and “dirty boxing “is just different. Andrei possesses amazing pure boxing skills. He is an agile and explosive athlete with very good power.
His wrestling skills are probably the weakest part of his fight
game, but they are certainly more than adequate. He has a Sambo
background, so if you leave a leg dangling on the ground, he'll be
on it like a rat on a Cheeto.
The Key to Victory for him against Tim Sylvia (Pictures) this weekend is to use his mobility and athleticism. Stick and move. Use those defensive boxing skills against Tim’s long-range attacks. Find ways to get in score and get out.
That brings me to the “Maine-iac,” big Tim Sylvia (Pictures). Tim is one of the nicest athletes in MMA. This former UFC heavyweight champion has spent a few weeks at my house in Oregon training and hanging out. Tim is one of those guys you enjoy spending time with. By the end of the visit you feel like he's part of the family.
You will not find a harder worker both in and out of the Octagon than Tim Sylvia (Pictures). Tim has taken the tools and gifts he's been given and gotten the most out of them. Sparring with Tim is a challenge because when the buzzer sounds Tim sticks that long jab in your face … and he hasn't even left his corner yet.
Tim has a well-rounded stand-up game, adding Thai kicks, both high and low, to his already devastating knees. Tim's ranginess is both his strength and his weakness. It makes him a very formidable and effective stand-up fighter, having viciously knocked out some very tough opponents.
Those long levers, however, pose all sorts of problems for Tim when the fight hits the ground. With the guidance of coaches and mentors like Pat Miletich (Pictures) and Jeremy Horn (Pictures), Tim can operate and survive on the ground and his takedown defense is excellent — but ground fighting is not his strong suit.
The keys for Tim in this fight against Andrei are to use his jab a lot. Keep it in Andrei’s face and keep him at range for that right hand. Mix in the kicks and knees from the clinch. Keep the pressure on Andrei. Don't let him step up or find his rhythm. I'll be surprised if you see this fight on the ground for very long. It's going to be a great altercation.
Tito Ortiz (Pictures) vs. Forrest Griffin (Pictures)
The co-main event is also going to be a spectacular match-up. I don't think you will ever see Forrest Griffin (Pictures) or Tito Ortiz (Pictures) in a boring fight. Having fought Tito and now having trained with Forrest extensively, I know these fighters very well.
Tito is always going to make an exciting fight, first because he has a unique ability to generate hype. I think you could pair him up with Mother Teresa and there would be "heat" and people would want to see it!
Whether you love him or hate him, Tito is a very skilled fighter. He has a very well rounded game, but his strength is certainly his ability to put you on the floor and keep you there while he lands a barrage of punches and elbows. His submission game is underrated. He spends a lot of time with submission guru Dean Lister (Pictures) and it shows. He hasn't relied on it much in his fights, but the ability is there. He showed it time and again in the training camp of mine he attended in Sacramento, Calif. prior to Vitor Belfort (Pictures) III. He submitted almost everyone in camp, including me.
Tito's strongest asset is his ability to train and prepare his body for a fight. He does have a tendency to overtrain on occasion, but I think he's figuring that out and making adjustments. He is a hard worker and as episode one of the third season of The Ultimate Fighter showed, he is a very gracious and giving workout partner. That’s why he will be a great coach.
Expect Tito to hype this fight with Forrest well. He'll come out hard and do his best to put Forrest on the ground and keep him there — that's the key to victory for Tito.
Forrest Griffin (Pictures) is definitely stepping up in competition taking on Tito. I believe he is up for the challenge and ready to meet Tito head on. It's really a win, win for Forrest. He is so likable and exciting to watch that he's under no pressure. Even if he loses the match, it doesn't hurt his stock that much. He's fighting "Tito Ortiz (Pictures)."
Forrest trains like a mad man! He has turned into one of my best training partners this year. What you don't realize until you stand next to him, is how big Forrest is in person. He's 6' 3" and 235 pounds. That is a big 205-lb fighter. He's like Alfred E. Newman on steroids.
Forrest has a well-rounded game, showing an ability to strike and submit, whichever presents itself. But his strength is his heart. He is a scrapper who absolutely will not give up. He just keeps coming. He's gonna need that ability in this fight.
If he can defend Tito's early takedowns and scramble back up if he does get taken down, the momentum could swing his way. The pressure is on Tito to perform in this fight. He hasn't been in there in a while. Forrest has to scrap and stay active and he can win!
It makes for a great weekend of fights and that's why you have to love MMA!
Randy Couture (Pictures) is the only two-division champion in UFC history. He twice held the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight belts. “The Natural” retired from mixed martial arts competition in February 2006. Please visit his Web site: www.thenatural.tv.
