UFC 74: Comments, Predictions, and So Much More

Headlining the event is Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga. This fight will be interesting in that while Gonzaga did manage to handle Crocop with relative ease, there isn’t an obvious weakness with Couture that he can exploit. Gonzaga’s striking is decent… better than Couture’s. Couture has admitted that he’s basically looking for the takedown. I wouldn’t count Couture out on playing the standup game though after seeing how effective his overhand was with Tim Sylvia. But then again, it was Tim Sylvia. That dude wouldn’t move his head unless there was cheesecake just out of biting range.

I don’t see either of these dudes submitting the other. Gonzaga’s jits is strong and Couture hasn’t been submitted in a long long time including in a grappling only match with Jacare. Win will come either from Gonzaga on the feet or Couture via ground and pound stoppage. Unless Gonzaga starts using his ultrasonic imaging—doesn’t he look sort of bat-like?

Then there’s Georges St-Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck. This one is going to be a war… provided that GSP hasn’t been mentally damaged from his recent loss. GSP’s standup is technically better than Koscheck’s, so I’m betting that Kos will go for his bread and butter takedown. Koscheck’s takedowns are basically unstoppable. It’s like a black and blonde blur and the opponent is on his ass. That said, if GSP has the guard, it will be an amazing display of jiujitsu finesse to get to a better position by sweeping or taking the back of Koscheck. As good as GSP is with the jits, I don’t see him really pulling it off against a man who has earned the nickname “The Blanket”. They’ll get stood up and the cycle will repeat. There will be booing. I will throw popcorn at the TV and put my girlfriend in a triangle.

I predict 3 rounds of close-knockouts and a lot of takedowns and smothering by Kos. Decision Koscheck. GSP fans worldwide weep.