Dissection by Dallas: Randy Couture x Mark Coleman

The "legends" match headlining UFC 109 features a pair of battle-hardened veterans whose inspirational performances have helped to shape MMA into what it is today, and they are also  amongst the finest wrestlers to ever grace the sport.

The abundant praise and expression of high emotion that riddled MMA messageboards after Randy Couture shocked the world by taking apart the then undefeated Vitor Belfort at UFC 15 was only the beginning, for Couture would continue to amaze fans and defy age by registering equally exemplary outings versus Pedro Rizzo, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Tim Sylvia, and Gabriel Gonzaga.

In the dark tale "The Smashing Machine" featuring Mark Kerr, the positivity and big-hearted charisma of Mark Coleman helped to balance the gloomy and depressing storyline, especially after it was capped off with Coleman's influential clinching of the Pride 2000 Gran Prix and his unforgettable, celebratory flail over the top ropes.

Since 2004, Coleman has only competed 7 times with a mediocre 3-4 record, where he mostly struggled against topflight heavyweights like Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Mirko CroCop.  Conversely, Randy Couture experienced a resurgence in popularity around the same time when he trimmed up and tried his chances in the light-heavyweight division, earning the rare honor of holding championship belts in two different weight classes by destroying Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz at their own game.

This contrast in career trajectories is clearly reflected in the betting lines, which hold "The Natural" as the heavy favorite.  There is a certain theme being underlined by many a hardcore fan concerning a mappable trend in Couture's career losses, which is that big, strong heavyweights have Couture's number.  Surely, Josh Barnett, Ricco Rodriguez, Brock Lesnar, and Big Nog agree; however I'm not fully ingratiated with those echoing that sentiment, as Couture thoroughly dismantled massive heavyweights like Gabriel Gonzaga and Tim Sylvia.  Still, the notion rings of some truth.

The underlying factor brought to the table by those immense heavyweights that bested Couture was not just size and strength, but striking power--which mostly pertains to ground-n-pound, excluding Lesnar or Nogueira.  Although he found himself underneath the leviathan at times, it was Lesnar's meaty right hand on the feet that ended Couture's night, and it was Nogueira's crisp boxing in the pocket that rocked Couture standing and swayed the scales in the Brazilian's favor (in addition to his grappling prowess).  Barnett and Rodriguez did indeed unleash a fearsome barrage of strikes from the top position to emerge victorious versus Couture.

Despite rightfully earning the moniker "The Godfather of Ground-N-Pound", I don't think Coleman flaunts the type of iron-fisted oomph that has been known to fluster Couture.  In the early, SEG-era of the UFC, Coleman's headbutts were the differentiator; in his heyday in Pride, the vicious knees from the side-control and north-south positions were virtually unstoppable.  Under the current set of rules, neither technique will be at his disposal.

The weight issue will also be minimized as we find both prestigious heavyweights competing at 205 pounds, and their height is even.  Coleman will still be the stronger and bulkier of the two, but any extra weight that Coleman decides to carry into the fight after the cut will more than likely have an equally adverse effect on his cardio--which has been quite suspect since his return to the octagon.  This important facet is also a core competency of Couture's.

Finally, the criterion of most vital importance will be of the very fabric of what defines mixed martial arts, and that is the extraordinary evolution of Randy's overall combat skills.  It's not coincidental that Couture has continued to rise while Coleman's star has fallen considering the former's strict adherence to becoming a complete fighter.  Advantages in striking, footwork, the clinch, submissions, cardio, and strategy all rest with Couture.

Because of this, I feel Couture is a lock and the betting odds are accurate.  I wouldn't even be surprised to see Randy spring a little sprawl-and-brawl on "The Hammer", and even if the fight hits the ground with Coleman on top, I feel Couture has become savvy enough with subs and sweeps to hold his own.  Coleman's best shot is to assume control and pin Couture against the fence in a vulnerable position and force a referee intervention with strikes, or to out-hustle Couture to a win on the cards, but both scenarios seem to be a stretch and something Couture knows well and has fully prepared for.  My guess:  Couture by decision