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Tompkins training Coleman: Does he know Couture's secrets? | read this item

Tompkins training Coleman: Does he know Couture’s secrets?

January 28, 2010 � UFC Betting Staff � Jump to comments

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Coach has now become enemy. Shawn Tompkins worked for years at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and helped Randy Couture through many of his recent fights. Now he’s the mastermind on the other side as Mark Coleman preps for his fight against Couture next week at UFC 109.

Tompkins said at first he was apprehensive about facing Couture.

“In the beginning I didn’t know if I wanted to get involved,” said Tompkins. “Because the politics that seems to follow our sport. The way the fans are and the way some of the media covers the sport.”

Tompkins knew he had to put that aside and do his job. Now he has to find Coleman that edge.

“I think that I know a few things, but it’s a fight and Randy Couture is always more than prepared for a fight. Once we walk in that cage, we’ll roll the dice and hopefully we’ve just a little better gameplan.”

Tompkins said Couture’s last two fights, a win over Brandon Vera and a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, were interesting to study.

“Do I think there’s holes in Randy’s boxing? Absolutely. He can look at us the same way. I think Mark Coleman has one helluva chin though. And I think that Randy’s is a little bit questionable now.”

Having guys to run his training camp is a new experience for the veteran Coleman, who often trained on his own without a coach.

“He’s never had anybody who is his specific coach. Shogun fight he barely had a camp. I don’t think he had a day of training. We trust each other. Sky’s the limit for him,” said Tompkins.

Coleman’s stamina was definitely affected in the Rua fight. He could barely stand and defend himself when the Brazilian finished the fight in the third round. Tompkins says it won’t be an issue for this fight.

“There hasn’t be a day he missed of training and there hasn’t be a day that he’s left early.”

But there the day-to-day battling with Coleman in trying to break old, stubborn training habits.

“Mark has helped me as a coach. If I can deal with Mark I can deal with anybody in the sport. He’s got his certain way. He lets me know where he’s at. He’s obviously an older fighter. He’s got to listen to his body.”

Coleman is looked upon by many as an old fighter yet Couture, 46, is actually the older of the two by 18 months.

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