Creepy Justin was able to get an interview with The Natural. They not only discussed fighting, but Randy’s roll in the “The Expendables.” Special thanks to Legend Cage Fighting for helping set it up.

I didn’t think in a million years that the question this guy asked The Natural would make it all the way to Bristol, but it seems it did. MMA Live is a good show and should be on TV as well as the web. Having Kenflo and Evans on at the same time goes to show just how much hand the four lettered network has and I hope somebody up there realizes that MMA is worthy of regular coverage on one of ESPN’s channels. Till that day, I’ll just have to play this segment over and over again while treating my privates like a set of devil sticks.

The whole episode is good, but if you want to hear my tiny mention, fast forward to about the 26 minute mark. Slowly but surely weasling my way into the MMA world like an unwanted guest or a chick with the clap. Word. Click HERE to see the video.  

Sidebar: It’s funny that ESPN makes sure that they got their source right, but Jake Rossen of Sherdog can’t be bothered.  I emailed Rossen about a correction and did receive a response.  This was after Jake took THIS unprovoked shot at me as well in another post he made off news I broke.  I have been critical of ESPN in the past things, but at least they give credit where credit is due.  You may not know who I am Jake Rossen, but you will in time.  Until then, try and make sure you give credit to the right parties in your posts from now on.

Part 1

Part 2

Quite a thrill.  A legend that can still whoop ass takes some time to sit down with The Nation’s Leading Website.  Randy chop’s it up with The Fukerton about his movie career, fighting Brock Lesnar, who he is picking in the Penn vs GSP fight and whether or not Fedor is coming to the UFC.  Forgive the horrendous cliche but it applies:  We’re not worthy.

I really like the fact it seems like Dana White won’t take his shirt off in the pool. Just like me. I’m really excited that ESPN the mag is doing anything with the UFC, but this is one gay photoshoot. You can throw as many ring girls as you want into this thing, it’s still a lesbian taking pictures of shirtless dudes. As gay as it may seem and as much as I don’t care about Prada shirts or whatever, it is good shit for we MMA fans. Word.

I thought Randy would test Lesnar.  I think he did in some areas.  If there is a rematch I’ll pick Couture again. He was wearing the bigger man down against the cage and Brock couldn’t stay on top of the older fighter when they got to the mat.   Randy came in too light and the year off did him no favors.  That being said, the advent of Brock Lesnar becoming heavyweight champion is a boon for the UFC.  A former pro wrestler will drive no MMA fans away.  They can still wax philosophical about possible Fedor opponents and root for someone to knock Lesnar off his hastily built high horse.  One of the many things that Lesnar will do is put the MMA bug in even more professional wrestlers heads.  Those with amatuer wrestling backgrounds would be fools not to consider taking a shot if they have grown weary of the WWE’s grueling road schedule.  Certainly those with Lesnar’s gentic makeup and God given abilty are few and far between, but he has paved the way.

Let’s talk about some of the other things Lesnar does for the sport.  At the very least Lesnar brings excitement to a stale division.  At the most he has single handedly taken the UFC into the mainstream.  I don’t want to get carried away and I don’t want to take away anything from what the UFC had built before Brock Lesnar joined the company.  The fact is that more people watch when Lesnar fights and the UFC gets more coverage from mainstream sports outlets when Lesnar fights.  The video above is just one example.

This isn’t like Kimbo Slice.  This isn’t some paper champion that is being fed tomato cans to keep him propped up. Dana White (at Lesnar’s request) fed Brock to the wolves.  His first 3 fights have included two UFC Heavyweight Champions, former and current.  He manhandled UFC/PRIDE/K1 vet Heath Herring  in his third career MMA fight.  Brock Lesnar’s baptism by fire should give him near instant credibility as champion coupled with his big name and even bigger body.  That’s a marketing major’s dream.  Why wouldn’t ESPN be all over this guy?

What MMA has working for it as a sport is almost instant appeal.  Wrestling fans or sports fans who are drawn into watching a pay per view because of Lesnar will almost certainly find something to like with the rest of the fight card.  Last night had very few big names other than the main event.  What it did have were some tremendously entertaining fights.  Jeremy Stephens’ knock out, Kenny Florian doing what Kenny Florian does and Gabriel Gonzaga nearly decapitating Josh Hendricks in the first round.   If you can get em in the door, they will become fans.  I firmly believe that.

I was rooting for Randy Couture but I was happy to see the way Lesnar handled the win.  He was very respectful to the man he beat and seemed to have gotten over the “me first” attitude he displayed after he beat Herring.  I was rooting for Randy, but I root for the sport first and foremost.  With this victory I think that Brock Lesnar may have done more for this sport than any other fighter could have.  This is no slight to Liddell, Rampage, Shamrock or any other fighter that has paved the way.  Brock Lesnar is bigger than life, and hopefully he can be the one to make the UFC even more bigger than life.

ESPN is all over this fight.  I hope that continues for the next few UFC events.  Aside from that, watch this video of MMA Live’s coverage of the weigh-in for UFC 91.  Randy Couture looks like he is half the size of Brock Lesnar.  For those of us rooting for The Natural, it is a nerve wracking image. See for yourself.

Thanks to Combat Lifestyle for the photos.  I’ve been a really big mixed martial arts fan for over a year now.  It’s not too long, but in that year I have watched every fucking fight that has been on television.  UFC, WEC, EliteXC, Affliction, hell even Yamma Pit Fighting.  I have been to half a dozen fights live including UFC 88 in Atlanta.  I got to see Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, The Iceman and a slew more fight up close and personal.  For the past three to four months I have been making a few picks and placing a few bets on MMA fights.   I’m no mastermind, I’m clearly no expert. However, my record is such that I am fairly confident in my general knowledge of the sport.  Knowing all of that, how the hell can you pick this fight?  We are talking about one of the most cerebral fighters in history going up against the damn Cloverfield monster.  It’s Captain America vs The Hulk live and in person. 

I picked my winnner midway through this past week.  Brock Lesnar is a monster.  I’ve never seen a real life human being who is built like this freak that can actually move around.  You expect to see him on stage with Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler posing awkwardly and smeared with orange tanning cream. The difference being those guys can barely walk.  Lesnar can certainly do more than that.  Couture started out as the favorite in this contest but as of today (thursday), many sports books have him as an underdog.  Lesnar can wrestle, scramble, strike and has proven he has the endurance to finish a fight.

That being said, we here at The Fukerton are picking Randy “The Natural” Couture to win the fight via TKO in the second round.  When have we seen Lesnar take a punch?  When have we seen Lesnar on his back? When has we seen Lesnar against the cage?  I think we will most certainly see some of those things come Saturday.  Lesnar is big, but Couture has fought big men before this.  Put eloquently by Betus.com:

On March 3, 2007 Couture entered the Octagon at 6′ 2″, 220 pounds and the +110 MMA betting underdog at UFC 68 in hopes of reclaiming his title against a mammoth 6′ 8” and 268-pound Maine-iac named Silva who wore the belt, priced at -135 by BetUS UFC odds experts.

For 25 minutes the two went to war in what was one of the best fights in UFC history. What the 45-year-old Couture lacked in size, he made up for with heart, determination and raw fighting skills in warrior like fashion. Couture initiated the striking as the aggressor versus Sylvia, taking him to the ground in the first round clearly frustrating the Maine-iac. In the best fight of his Hall of Fame career, Couture dominated throughout much of the bout to score an unanimous decision victory for his third championship.

Randy isn’t going to have his skirt blown up Lesnar that can bench press more weight.  Brock is completely overrated in my eyes.  I know why he is getting this shot, I agree with him getting this shot, but he has not earned it.  Selling PPV’s makes you good for buisness. It doesn’t make you a champion.  I love watching Lesnar fight, but I smell wax wings.  Icarus learned the hard way and so will this man.  I have no doubt in my mind that Brock Lesnar will be the UFC heavyweight champion one day, and most likely one day soon.  I just don’t see it being this Saturday.

Leave it to an ESPN anchor to look unprepared and misinformed in an interview that I would kill to have.  Dana White in person.  So, Michael Kim, the biggest fight in UFC history is days away, and you spend half your time with White talking about Kimbo Slice?  Kimbo slice who got knocked the fuck out?  Kimbo Slice that has no job?  I love Slice, but what the SHIT does he have to do with Brock Lesnar taking on Randy Couture?  Way to bring up UFC 100, btw.  The UFC has 3 mega fights coming up including GSP vs Penn, but you bring up a PPV that’s months away. 

Kudos to Mr. President for saying that Kimbo on the cover of ESPN the Magazine made him ill.  Saying that on ESPN proves he’s not going to kowtow to this network for media coverage.  Shame on ESPN for sticking a huge interview on ESPN 2 on a limp dick show like First Take that no one watches.  This should have been on the 6pm Sportscenter at the very least.   If White is willing to give them studio time, why is not on Rome is Burning, PTI and Sportscenter?

Why not?  I was thinking about this while my eyeballs were drying out playing Gears of War 2 all night.   What would be the biggest slap in the face for a fighter with an ego as big as Tito Ortiz?  Losing to a professional wrestler.  Who would love to give Tito Ortiz a huge slap in the face? Dana White.  Dana White, who has proven he’s not adverse to giving a former amateur/professional wrestler a shot at a former UFC Champion.  Dana White who has seen what publicity his faith in Brock Lesnar has provided his company.  This actually makes so much sense I can’t believe I’m the first person to have discussed it.  It’s a win/win for The UFC.  If Tito wins, Dana is happy because he’s paid and a professional wrestler with delusions of granduer is put in his place.  If Angle wins, Dana is happy because he is paid and Tito lost to a 40 year old MMA rookie.  I should be made General Manager of the UFC.  You think this isn’t impossible?

Bloody Elbow is reporting that Tito wants to fight again in July. Kurt Anlgle thinks he deserves the winner of Lesnar vs Couture.  What better way for the Olympic wrestling gold medalist to prove he is worthy of title shot this early in his MMA career?  To be honest, I’m not sure if Tito would move up in weight or Kurt would drop down, nor do I think it really matters.  If Randy and Brock is the biggest fight in UFC history then Kurt and Tito maybe one of the most intriguing.  The UFC has some monster cards coming up and they have been getting more and more coverage from the mainstream media.  A fight like this would ensure them press into the summer and beyond.

If Tito wins, he goes can go up in weight for a superfight with Brock or at least prove he is still a threat in the light heavyweight division.  If Kurt wins we have the carnival that would be Angle vs Lesnar for real.  I am filling the cup with the thought of it.