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UFC Quick Quote: Full-time fighter, Gabriel Gonzaga, dreams about being champ

gabrielgonzagaufc.jpg

"My life has changed a little bit from the last fight. Before I had to work and fight, but now I can just train. I'm just one step away from my dream of becoming the champion of the UFC. Since I've moved here I've been able to live my dream. I'm only missing one thing: the belt. He [Randy Couture] is an excellent fighter and he's very aggressive. I respect him as a person, but I'm there to do my job inside of The Octagon and I want to be the champ of the UFC."

-- Top heavyweight contender Gabriel Gonzaga tells the Boston Herald that he is now training full-time and is prepared to realize his dream of becoming a UFC champion when he goes up against current division titleholder Randy Couture at UFC 74: "Respect" on August 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Wow another 1st time comment woo hoo lol any who this looks like its going to be an awesome fight BBJ against wrestling.

by jason bang on Jul 15, 2007 12:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i cant wait 2 se this fight. sorry to say but randy couture is gunna get KTFO.
gonzaga is just the next generation he is good all around much bigger and i think will beat randy were ever the fight goes

i think 3rd round stoppage gonzaga victorious

by ufcaddict on Jul 15, 2007 1:08 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Randy all the way

by davlat on Jul 15, 2007 1:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

it should be an interesting fight

both are coming of massive upset wins… i just wish it was randy who had gotten his hands on crocop while he still had that mystique about him like wanderlei had in pride

i think randy will win it possibly by decision

by anthony hamilton on Jul 15, 2007 2:21 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Randy was awesome with Tim Sylvia, but to be honest Tim was a dead man walking, he probably hadn’t trained at all before that fight.
The only way I can see randy winning against Gonzaga is if he put gabriel on the mat, stay in his guard, control him and win a decision, this may happen if gonzaga gasses,
but I have said a lot of “if”…

by shamo84 on Jul 15, 2007 2:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Randy is the man. He is going to have Gonzaga scouted perfectly. Randy found out that he was going to fight Gonzaga since April 20. This means that Randy had four months time to set up a game plan for Gonzaga. Randy by ground and pound or decision. Couture keeps the belt!

by Red on Jul 15, 2007 3:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I would love nothing more then to see Randy keep the belt but honestly I just cant see that happening,Gonzaga is very well rounded and by the look of him extremly strong.I dont think there is a gameplan in the world that will work for Couture.
I think Randy will be retiring for good after this one.If Gonzaga does win I would love for them to anounce Fedor to be his next fight coz I think Fedor will dispose of Gonzaga but it would be a very interesting fight.
I just hope Randy gets through the fight alive,It would kill the sport if it was Randy who was the first UFC death.I hope that honor goes to Josh Koshcheck lol

by mcanena on Jul 15, 2007 3:37 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I give alot of respect for the fighters who still have day jobs and work double hard to compete at this level. This is why Dana needs to up the ante. This 3000 a fight for some fighters in my opinion is disrespectful. Especially when you’re asking them to put it all on the line and excited the crowd. Now I can understand why some fights are boring. Hard to get motivated with a chumps paycheck

by getrawbc on Jul 15, 2007 3:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It would take a world class striker to knock Randy out, And I dont see GG doing it. That KO of CC may have been the worst thing for him, if he starts to believe his own hype about being a knock out artist or something, I have seen guys abandon their true game once they start to think they can knock people out. Diego Sanchez and Matt hughes are the best examples of that.

by BLOodyMEss on Jul 15, 2007 3:44 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i feel sorry for randy. Gonzaga is going to destroy couture.

by william wallace! on Jul 15, 2007 3:59 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i say randy wins, and then loses belt due to steroid use.

by mike on Jul 15, 2007 4:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Will be a great fight…very interesting, technical, and aggressive. GG will out muscle Rc but RC will find the hole in his game. GG has the skills to be champ, but RC is the best the game has ever had

by Stafo on Jul 15, 2007 4:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Randy was awesome with Tim Sylvia, but to be honest Tim was a dead man walking, he probably hadn’t trained at all before that fight.
The only way I can see randy winning against Gonzaga is if he put gabriel on the mat, stay in his guard, control him and win a decision, this may happen if gonzaga gasses,
but I have said a lot of “if”…

I also don’t see Randy winning this fight. I would have to agree that if Gonzaga gases it will go to decision and Randy will win. Randy’s only chance of winning is by decision and I feel that Gonzaga is going to win either by a submission or (T)KO. I predict Gonzaga (T)KO’s Randy in the 2nd round.

by wolfman on Jul 15, 2007 4:47 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Gonzaga or Randy I don’t know and I dont wanna judge until the day of the weigh in but this is gonna a great fight.

by Monthblanc on Jul 15, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I like how GG is carrying himself in such a classy way. He’s been very respectful in interviews and seems generally humbled by the chance at a championship. I honestly believe he will beat Randy and anyone who’s going to replace RC needs to be at that level of maturity.

by Leno on Jul 15, 2007 5:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I’ve never doubted “The Natural” b4 and im not startin now… hes got so much experience in the cage and in top fights, not to mention he is probably one of the smartest fighters out there. i think all of those will be the deciding factor in this fight. GO RANDY!!

by CanadianFighter on Jul 15, 2007 8:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Damn, so Gonzaga beat Cro Cop down with a part-time training regimen?? That’s bad news for Couture if he’s training full time now.

by cmon on Jul 15, 2007 8:55 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I seriously don’t think that RC will lose. Sure, he’ll get beat up a little (or a lot), but he’ll win by decision. Then, GG will fall down in the rankings just like David L, Babalu, Tito, and so on…

by Matt on Jul 15, 2007 9:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Randy was awesome with Tim Sylvia, but to be honest Tim was a dead man walking, he probably hadn’t trained at all before that fight.
The only way I can see randy winning against Gonzaga is if he put gabriel on the mat, stay in his guard, control him and win a decision, this may happen if gonzaga gasses,
but I have said a lot of “if”…

You’re right about Tim being a dead man walking, not because he didn’t train , but because he trained with Randy before and he knew Randy had his number and so did Randy. This really would have been an upset if Tim won.

by Gord on Jul 16, 2007 12:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I would love nothing more then to see Randy keep the belt but honestly I just cant see that happening,Gonzaga is very well rounded and by the look of him extremly strong.I dont think there is a gameplan in the world that will work for Couture.
I think Randy will be retiring for good after this one.If Gonzaga does win I would love for them to anounce Fedor to be his next fight coz I think Fedor will dispose of Gonzaga but it would be a very interesting fight.
I just hope Randy gets through the fight alive,It would kill the sport if it was Randy who was the first UFC death.I hope that honor goes to Josh Koshcheck lol

Everyone said Randy was going to die or get hurt against Sylvia and the only thing he hurt was his nuckles on Tims thick noggen.

by Gord on Jul 16, 2007 12:58 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

GG is gonna bring it. I personally really really think GG will probably win this one outright. I deff dont want to count out Randy but the more i think about it the more i think GG is gonna win this one and i dont think it will make it past Round 3. Randy is the man and he might stand a chance but even though GG’s record isnt amazingly impressive his background is. I gotta give a deffinite edge to Gonzaga with his Chute Boxe background. Either way it will be cool to see either of them win im not partial.

by Thor1982 on Jul 16, 2007 1:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i still cant believe that there are still people out there that doubt randy couture…there is no way that GG is gunna win this fight, none…randy is the man, and always will be the man until he decides he doesnt want to be the man anymore, and even then he’s still the man! GG is gunna gas in the forth and get TKO’d.

by Mr.Murda on Jul 16, 2007 2:34 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i cant wait 2 se this fight. sorry to say but randy couture is gunna get KTFO.
gonzaga is just the next generation he is good all around much bigger and i think will beat randy were ever the fight goes

i think 3rd round stoppage gonzaga victorious

You should stop smoking crack

by Vera is Overated on Jul 16, 2007 8:01 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

i say randy wins, and then loses belt due to steroid use.

Ban this man for herrasy

by Vera is Overated on Jul 16, 2007 8:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

by the way, Vera is not overrated :-)

by shamo84 on Jul 16, 2007 8:13 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I’m thinking Randy is going to 15-9 after GG is done with him. TKO in the 4th and GG is the new Champ.

by AaronW on Jul 16, 2007 8:53 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I am surprised that Randy as so few fights for such an old vet.

I think that GG has all of the advantages in this fight and he should win. However, since he just started training full time and this is the fight of his life I think he will overtrain and come in at less than 100%. In the CC fight he was a sacrifical lamb with no pressure on him, now he is the favorite. I think experience at the top level will work in Randy’s favor.

by brian on Jul 16, 2007 9:37 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

You guys just don’t ever learn.Randy is going to defend the belt and then beats Fedor and then retire.

by bigdiesel on Jul 16, 2007 10:25 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I really hope this guy isnt just a one headkick wonder. Gonna take some skills to beat Randy, but Im sure he has the sprawl being a JJ specialist… definitely has the strikes too it seems. Just take away Randy’s OH Right, should be good.

by Luppers on Jul 16, 2007 10:50 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

nah he isnt i hav heard about his trainin . one of his sparing partners fight him with protective gear on head 2 toe whilst he practised combo’s with kicks in them and gonsaga had 2 wear padding round his legs as well this guys the real deal

by ufcaddict on Jul 16, 2007 11:00 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I just hope Randy gets through the fight alive,It would kill the sport if it was Randy who was the first UFC death.I hope that honor goes to Josh Koshcheck lol

LMFAO – May God bless your soul…

In my opinion, I can never count Randy out of a fight, unless he is fighting Liddell again.

by ViolentMike on Jul 16, 2007 11:18 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I would love nothing more then to see Randy keep the belt but honestly I just cant see that happening,Gonzaga is very well rounded and by the look of him extremly strong.I dont think there is a gameplan in the world that will work for Couture.
I think Randy will be retiring for good after this one.If Gonzaga does win I would love for them to anounce Fedor to be his next fight coz I think Fedor will dispose of Gonzaga but it would be a very interesting fight.
I just hope Randy gets through the fight alive,It would kill the sport if it was Randy who was the first UFC death.I hope that honor goes to Josh Koshcheck lol

Awkwardly enough, I was thinking the other day about a matchup between Gonzaga and Fedor, and really, if anyone in the UFC stands a chance against Fedor, it’s Gonzaga, Gonzaga SUPPOSEDLY has BJJ better than Big Nog. If that’s the case, with his size, he might be a contender for Fedor.

by Matt on Jul 16, 2007 3:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

by the way, Vera is not overrated :-)

Of course he is not overated…he just have never beat anyone good…He pounds on C level fighters like there is no tommorow…truly the champion of C level fighters…maybe someday the UFC will move hime up to the B level fighters :) if he plays nice with the other kids

by vera is overated on Jul 16, 2007 4:04 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I think the only way Gonzaga will win this is by decision.
I think the only way Couture will win this is by decision.

I want to say I see Gonzagas size being a problem, but I retract my thoughts because Randy annihilated Sylvia. I really do believe though that if Gonzaga faced Mirko again, Mirko would win it. And if I had to choose a winer out of Randy and Cro Cop, I would choose Randy. There is just too many different ways you can look at this fight. I will have to go with my boy Randy, he is going to beat Gonzaga, but no matter who he faces next I think he will lose.

by c-war on Jul 17, 2007 4:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Gonzaga by Ground n Pound baby!

by DownUnder on Jul 17, 2007 4:34 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

any rumors on AA, haven’t seen anything about him…..thanks

by THE PITTSBURGH KID on Jul 17, 2007 12:21 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I think Randy will win but as things in this sport have been going anything is possible. When was the last time anyone seen Randy dominated on the ground???? If he loses it will come by KO. Either way should be entertaining!

by UFC_FAN on Jul 17, 2007 11:27 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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