Randy Couture has a knack for choosing underdogs in big fights, and the upcoming UFC light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Dan Henderson is no different.
The UFC Hall of Famer was recently a guest on “The MMA Show” with Mauro Ranallo, where he was asked to give a prediction for the UFC 151 main event.
“I like Dan in this fight,” Couture said.
Against the 41-year-old Henderson, Jones will enter as the overwhelming favorite. He is coming off dominant wins over light heavyweight elites Rashad Evans, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Lyoto Machida.
There is no hotter superstar in the UFC than Jones right now. Along with youth and charisma, he boasts an incredibly long reach, a world-class wrestling pedigree and unorthodox striking.
Outside of his famous right hand, there are few things working in Henderson’s favor, but the odds being stacked isn’t foreign territory for the former Pride middleweight champ.
These are the times when Henderson digs deep and shows the world that sometimes heart weighs more than talent.
Couture continues:
“Obviously, Jones is a tall order with a 96-inch reach and as athletic and dynamic of an athlete that he is, but I think Dan has two things going for him. One is that right hand, but two, at the end of the day it’s going to be that wrestling mentality — closing the distance, wading through Jon, taking him out of that long-range dynamic striking reach he likes and forcing him to wrestle.
Dan was a two-time Olympic wrestler, and I think if he makes Jones wrestle and does it for five rounds he has a real good chance of winning that fight. You may see an ‘H-bomb’ hit Jon Jones in the head at any time with Danny, so I really like that fight for him.”
Couture and Henderson are good friends and former teammates. Some will likely believe that played a major role in Couture’s prediction.
It will certainly be an uphill battle for Henderson. Jones is one of the best talents MMA has ever seen.
Will lightning strike for “Hendo,” or will “Bones” continue his march toward all-time greatness?
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