Randy Couture: Silva vs. Sonnen II features a reverse in strategy

Former UFC multi-class champion Randy “The Natural” Couture weighed in on next weekend’s blockbuster Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch. Couture obviously saw the effectiveness of Chael Sonnen‘s wrestling in their first title fight and knows that he must stick to this to win the rematch. He goes into detail by noting that the strategy in the fight will only be a reverse from their first outing, stating the following:

“It’s kind of odd. Normally I would say that the onus is on the guy who won the first fight to anticipate the changes the loser is going to make and get the same outcome. If you look at Anderson and Chael, Anderson won by triangle choke with two minutes left. He didn’t really win the fight. He got his ass whooped – literally – for four-plus rounds, but it’s almost like he was the guy that won. He wants it to go the same minus the triangle.” – via MMAFighting.com

Sonnen no doubt wants the epic rematch to play out the same as the first fight, minus the triangle. He is never bashful about his view that this will be a fistfight where the toughest man will win, but it remains to be seen if he can do so while avoiding his kryponite – submissions. Couture believes that Sonnen did not let up in the fifth round at UFC 117, but that he may have been fatigued. Couture sees the triangle as Sonnen’s Achilles heel, as he has been caught in it on numerous occasions. Sonnen is on his way to superstardom, perhaps he would have gotten there sooner by avoiding submissions while inside his opponent’s guard. Couture acknowledged this, but also noted how effective Sonnen has been as of late.

So, Couture thinks that Sonnen can win using a similar gameplan as UFC 117, only of course avoiding the last-minute submission this time around. Much time and talk has passed since their epic first meeting. Who will emerge victorious in Las Vegas on July 7th?

Further Reading: UFC Primetime: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Video Preview