He even held out against Yoda
We must have been watching a different movie. I thought that Yoda totally owned that duel from start to finish. Just because someone doesn't die in 1 minute, doesn't mean he held his own. Dooku fled that fight faster then any other duel in any of the movies. He tried a little lightning, didn't work. He tried some sword fighting, didn't work. Then he bailed like the ***** he is.
BTW: Windu would win this fight
2tidus, he invented vapaad. So it's not exactly like he is the only one to ever master it. And Dooku's one of the greatest swordsmen in the entire saga. His form is used SPECIFICALLY to defend himself against another blade.
And Vanquish, Dooku DID hold his own against yoda. He didn't die did he? He would have lost eventually but he didn't die at least. He was smart and lived to fight another day.
Mace can't beat Dooku. Now you will use 'But Mace defeated Sidious' or something like that. Sidious was faking to turn Anakin. And Dooku might have been able to defeat Sidious since he is a powerful Jedi and a more powerful Sith Lord. Sidious got rid of him because he was old and he needed someone younger (Anakin) so he could rule his empire.