Forget both of those fights mentioned, the real fight will be Jose Aldo vs Mark Hominick.
If anyone hasn't seen Aldo fight, you are in for a treat. Quick reminder of what Aldo did to Urijah Faber's leg ..
GSP vs Shields - I actually think this fight is closer than people, especially the folks in Vegas, are thinking it is. Shields is someone who is hardly ever given the respect he does as he steps up in competition in every fight, but somehow he always prevails.
The Hendo fight he was an overwhelming underdog, but yet he took a HARD punch from Hendo, and recovered. He went on to take down the former Olympian time, after time, after time, and just dominate him on the mat.
GSP on the other hand is one of the most complete fighters in the sport. If GSP had the one punch stopping power, he would without question be a complete fighter. But for now, GSP is a good striker, with great wrestling, and a grind-it-out mentality.
Can GSP keep this fight off the mat? Shields has taken down bigger and stronger wrestlers than GSP before. But GSP's athleticism is unmatched by anyone Shields has faced before.
Big
IFs to this fight -
IF Shields comes to the fight in-shape and can take GSP down, he will win this fight.
IF GSP keeps the fight standing, he will brutalize Shields on the feet. Saying that Shields has horrible standup would be an understatement. It's sad watching someone who has been in the sport as long as Shields be so deficient as a striker.
Couture vs Machida - This fight is a matter of my heart vs my head.
My head tells me that Couture will be the classic Randy. He will close the distance, push Machida against the cage, and just grind on him like he has done to so many people in his career.
One thing I noticed from a Randy training video is that he sparred against someone who mimicked Machida's backing away style when someone tries to close the distance. From that clip, you saw Randy never tried to chase his partner. If he couldn't get in immediately, he stopped, reset and went back to his gameplan.
But my heart tells me Machida. The fighter who once looked untouchable may literally have his back against the wall tonight. Coming off 2 defeats, looking bad in both fights, and he's given another opportunity to prove he is still the same fighter who dominated guys like Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans.
The one thing I am sure of more than anything - Team Black House will absolutely have Machida mentally and physically ready for what Randy wants to do.
I'm going with my heart and will say Machida will somehow find a way like the Machida of old.