The MMA world was dealt a harsh blow two weeks ago when the UFC announced the split between their organization and one of the sport's most beloved superstars—Randy Couture.
As a result, the coveted UFC Heavyweight Championship was vacated.
It wasn't long before both sides—Dana White and Couture's agent—started firing back and forth about the reasons behind Couture's sudden departure.
Dana claimed it was due to the UFC's inability to sign heavyweight superstar Fedor Emelianenko.
Couture's agent, however, had a much different story to tell—he said the split was due to the fact that Randy wasn't getting enough respect from management, or as much money as notable fighters like Chuck Liddell.
He also stated that Couture wasn't retiring from the sport, but simply taking a break to film a Scorpion King prequel in Southern Africa.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Dana responded that these allegations were unfounded and untrue. Reports also state that a "bitch slap" ensued between the two.
Superstars such as Ken Shamrock have flocked to Couture's defense, claiming they'd received the same treatment.
Allegations and rumors aside, I can't help but be disgusted with both Randy Couture and UFC management. It's a sad truth that money makes the world go round...but when does it become more about the money than the fighting?
Randy Couture said he wasn't getting enough respect—which of course implies that the respect of millions of fans across the world and hundreds of other fighters wasn't sufficient enough for him.
Instead, Couture needed the approval of a fat, bald, ex-boxer and two money-grubbing brothers. I don't see how money could have been such a huge problem—Couture was making at least $100,000 a fight.
Is Couture's head so big that he couldn't bring himself to fight the likes of Minotauro Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Andrei Arlovski, Cheick Kongo, or Brandon Vera?
He didn't seem to have a problem fighting Gabriel Gonzaga, a relative unknown who had less than 10 fights under his belt.
Fedor is a big loss to the organization, but he's not the only fish in the sea.
Some may say that Couture has earned the right to be more selective about his opponents. This is completely valid—but why did he agree to fight for the title only to vacate it so quickly?
Surely he could have fought Sylvia in a non-title bout if he simply had something to prove.
Couture had it all—he was at the top of the heavyweight food chain and commanded the respect of everyone in MMA.
Then he gave it up...and for what?
A phony movie career, like pro-wrestler Duane "The Rock" Johnson?
Couture went from one of MMA's biggest legends to a soon-to-be punchline in a joke about the Scorpion King prequel. It pains me to see a hero fall from grace in such fashion.
Couture plans to hold a press conference this Thursday on HDnet (check local listings) to addres the issue further. I urge my fellow MMA fans to watch and listen to Couture's side of the story.
Until then...
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about 1 year ago
You do realize that fighting is Couture's job and as such he like any other employee should be compensated fairly.
He felt he was not being paid what he was worth and as such he quit working....I certainly would not work for what I felt was unfair compensation...
"A phony movie career, staring in cheesy movies like pro-wrestler Duane "The Rock" Johnson?"
Yea, what a loser...
A quick check reveals the Rock made over $40 million from 2002 to 2005, his current film has currently grossed something like $70 million without going internationally and he has movies lined up into 2008.
I have news for you, Couture is aging and as such his career in MMA is fading.
He could either keep getting paid a couple hundred grand a year, maybe hope to make a million annually while risking injury both to his body and his reputation(which would effect his movie career) or he could make movies which will certainly pay him more money, have much less injury risk and a better future...
from about 1 year ago
very well said... i agree 100% big breath of fresh air to finnally see that an mma fan actually has a brain! haha... i just have to say that couture and fedor will not be the fight of the century... i think fedor is just too good for any veteran heavyweights in the ufc... and couture is just not good enough to stop fedor's snowball effect on the mma world... but i do think that the fedor couture fight will happen in the future... it has to ya know! peace!
about 1 year ago
The gap in time between him arranging and starting to train to fight Sylvia and then defending the belt against Gonzaga is huge, plenty of time for him to reassess so you can't give out to him for vacating the belt especially considering Dana had probably told him, like he told everyone, that signing Fedor was just a matter of time.
With a long rest because of his broken arm and Fedor taken out of the equation its easy to understand why he'd give it up. I'm sure lots of us were excited about the possible fights with Big Nog and Cro Cop signing but if at his age (or any age) there's only one fight he really wants then that's for him to decide.
about 1 year ago
Mr. Ellis, where di I begin. Lets me start by saying Randy Couture will be fighting in the biggest fight in MMA history in less than 12 months. You say that Randy threw it all away? You need to do some homework. OH, and that crappy movie he's filming, paid him more money than he's made in his last four fights. FEDOR vs. COUTURE in 2008, who needs the UFC!
about 1 year ago
Randy didn't choose to fight Gonzaga....Gonzaga put a kink in the UFC's plan of a fight between him and Cro Cop by knocking out the big Croation.
about 1 year ago
Your all entitled to your opinions but mine still stands. You say those cheesy movies give him lots of money..then I say he's a sell out. When does it become more about money than fighting? I'll be here watching the real fighters. And as I stated before goo, Couture certainly has earned the right to pick his last remaining fights, but then why did he decide to fight for the belt, only to leave so soon. I would of liked to see how far he could of gone with it.
And Mr.H, as I need to be doing my homework, if your referring to Couture vs Fedor in another organization, such as M-1, thats simply speculation at this point. Not to mention like Dana said, he still owns Couture for two more fights, whenever he decides to fight again. Coutures going to have to pay alot of money to get out of that.
about 1 year ago
Corey, you're being a little too strident about this issue. Give me a break! Do you really think ANYONE wants to get punched, kicked or submitted for free? It's a job. Some fighters genuinely love to fight as well, but that doesn't mean you don't look out for your financial (and other) interests. I don't like how Randy handled himself either. The financial matters should have been handled privately with the Fertittas and Dana. But, you know what? He's a grown man and can handle his business when he wants to, and how he wants to. You sound a little petulant in your article. The truth of the matter is that Randy doesn't have much time left anyway. Ideally, he'll get that fight with Fedor in M-1 (after all this mess (legal issues) is over) and then retire. Why fight several other UFC HWs and get beat down like every other 40-ish competitor in combat sports? Do we really want to see MMA's version of Evander Holyfield? Or another Ray Mercer getting pounded out by Kimbo?
Frankly, Corey, you sound more butt-hurt and betrayed than a healthy guy should. Randy is one fighter. He's not the personification of MMA as so many apparently thought. He's one guy--warts and all. I hope he gets his fight with Fedor; doesn't get killed; and then retires and moves on. Randy has given a lot to the UFC, but the UFC will do fine without him.
about 1 year ago
Sell out?
Why pay anyone for fighting then?
Fighters do this as a career, if Liddell could not make enough money he would retire and be an accountant..
This is not high school sports where people play for the love or the passion of the game.
In regards to Couture getting out of his contract, there may be a time limit on the contract and Couture just has to wait it out. Or he could just go overseas where his contract would be irrelevant.
I doubt he would resign as opposed to retire if he thought there was no way he could fight again
about 1 year ago
You guys make it sound like the UFC was paying Couture nothing. Surely getting paid a million a year for something you love to do, while commanding the respect of many? As opposed to working a desk job you hate for bum pay.
Maybe I am a little bum hurt about the whole fiasco, but I can't help that. I just want to make perfectly clear the validity of my arguement. Money does make the world go around, but often you will hear fighters talk about a "warrior class" and a "fighting spirit", something deep within fighters that seperate them from other people. What are these words worth if fighters are willing to sell themselves short to go fight for WWE (like Ken Shamrock or Sylvestar Turkay), or go live a hollywood career? I want to believe this sport is built on something more than how big your swedish bank account is or if you can only afford 2 ferraris this year, instead of 4. I compete in jj tournaments surely for the joy of the sport, I don't get paid a single cent. And I don't care if I ever do. Perhaps I am the last of a dying breed.
about 1 year ago
You can't even write in proper English and you call Couture a joke?
"Your all entitled", "I would of liked"...
At least Couture is good at what he does.
about 1 year ago
He's good at selling out?
about 1 year ago
You're an idiot. How is doing what you want selling out?
Selling out implys doing something that goes against your personal beliefs for the sake of money. Coture did this how?
about 1 year ago
First: It is written "implies" not "implys" and his name is Couture, not Coture. :)
Second: Maybe I am an idiot. Although, I do have the common intelligence to respect other people's opinions and not resort to childish name calling.
Third: By your definition, I feel Couture went against his personal belief of coveting and defending the belt with integrity infront of all his fans for the sake of money. Despite all the money he was making, he took his ball and went home because it wasn't enough for him. You ought to read my arguments before responding.
about 1 year ago
"I don't see how money could have been such a huge problem Couture was making at least $100,000 a fight."
Although there are many other comments I could have chosen, this one is able to capture your incompetence in just one sentence. This article sounds more like something a 12 year old troll would post on sherdog.
Also after reading your replies to other comments I can't help but think that you have no idea what you are talking about (when it comes to economics and the real world). Here is a word for you "relative". In short, was randy being compensated fairly relative to his contribution? Would you like to do all the work for your boss and make 7 dollars an hour(doing a job that no one else can do) while he makes $200,000 a year off of you? Its called sharing the pie, something the UFC is not very good at. Saying that someone should just be happy with what they get paid because it seems like a lot to you, without looking at how much money they bring in to the owners is an ignorant statement.
I know I am personally attacking you somewhat, but I think its deserved. My advice is for you to do a little research first before writing such a silly article calling someone like Randy Couture a sellout.(what does randy actually make per fight, what does the UFC make per event(revenue) with him headlining, How much does the UFC make in profit per event (revenue-overhead), How does randy's compensation compare with other sports stars "relative" to their contribution to their respective sports) Check out Adam Swifts blog, www.mmapayout.com
about 1 year ago
very well said... i agree 100% big breath of fresh air to finnally see that an mma fan actually has a brain! haha... i just have to say that couture and fedor will not be the fight of the century... i think fedor is just too good for any veteran heavyweights in the ufc... and couture is just not good enough to stop fedor's snowball effect on the mma world... but i do think that the fedor couture fight will happen in the future... it has to ya know! peace!
about 1 year ago
I don't think my article is silly or my views incompetent. While you make several good, valid points, it still comes back to the same thing: money outweighing the desire to compete. Has the spirit of mma died, sold off to corporate fat cats like Dana White? Has our desire for money extinguished our desire for the thrill of the fight? or the desire to be the best in the world? I don't feel your relation between Dana-Couture to an office setting is valid when you consider how much money both Couture and Dana are getting. So what if Dana is getting more than fair off him? Dana and the Fertitas (Fertatas?) made the sport what it is today. They made it so fighters like Couture could earn a living in this sport. Before them, the sport was looked down on like an underground fight club. I'm sure Couture isn't begging for change on any city corners. Couture is not content to simply compete for us?
I am not a corporate man. I am a moral man, which may lead you to view me as a stupid man. I just can't justify Couture's reasons for walking away. In anycase, I am resolved to yield to your point of view. I hope Randy makes 5 billion dollars per movie. Like I said before, I will be here watching the real fighters.
about 1 year ago
"They made it so fighters like Couture could earn a living in this sport. Before them, the sport was looked down on like an underground fight club."
You still don't get it. They made it so fighters like Couture could earn a living? How about fighters like Couture made it so "they" could advance the sport. Randy has been there from the beginning making this sport what it is today. This isn't a guy in his 20's who is making big money all of sudden, this is someone who was fighting around the world before dana white had even been to his first mma show. You sound like you prescribe to the "zuffa myth". Dana's contributions to this sport have been vastly overstated. For as much as he has helped the sport, he has also hindered it.
"Couture is not content to simply compete for us?"
Are you kidding? I looked at your profile and see that you are a college kid so I am going to take it easy on you. But I am really mystified by your logic. Do you know what competing in this sport entails? This isn't golf, this is a sport where you put your health on the line every time you fight. Randy is 44 years old, going up against some very dangerous guys who could really hurt him in a hurry. So I think you should be compensated fairly when you put your physical well being on the line to entertain people. The guy has maybe 1 more fight in him and he just wants to get paid what he thinks he is worth. Re read that last sentence because I think it's one of the main points you have been missing. He probably has nothing but respect for those heavyweights you mentioned in your article, just like he has had nothing but respect for any of his opponents over his long career, but the fact is the guy is aging, and he just wants to prove he can beat the best fighter out there.
"I am not a corporate man. I am a moral man, ..."
"So what if Dana is getting more than fair off him?"
You are a conflicted man. Saying that you don't care that Dana is getting more than his fair share, while saying that you are a moral man is contradictory. Fairness goes hand in hand with morality. You sound like a fan who is upset that one of your favorite fighters may never fight again, and you can't understand why. You take a mental shortcut and blame greed, you don't ever take a look at the situation and realize how complex it is. That maybe a guy who has done nothing but fight his ass off every time he competed, doesn't want to be taken advantage of by some Billionaires. Just ask yourself this: what has been randy's reputation in this sport? And how does that compare to dana whites reputation in this sport.
about 1 year ago
First: Yeah, I can't type. At all. Especially at work, when I have to go fast in order to do work.
Second: You're right, calling you an idiot was a bit harsh. I just HATE the "He's a sellout" thing., especially when it doens't apply. Sorry.
Third: Why woud you defend the belt of a company that you feel is cheating you? Randy, when talking about "Respect" isn't talking about the fans, of which he has a ton, he's talking about respect from the company he puts his butt on the line for. Do you honestly think Randy is working the movie because he NEEDS money? Do you think that Randy left ONLY because of money? I don't agree with Randy 100%, but to call him a sellout and act like he's a whiner is just wrong.
There is ONE good point against Couture, and you failed to make it. Randy signed a contract. If he was unwilling to work for the money he agreed to work for, when did he accept it in the first place? A contract should mean something, rather than be a "I'm doing good now, pay me more" type deal.
P.S. I don't wanna sign up, but I'll sign my posts with "Dan" just so you don't htink I'm some spinless "I'm gonna unsult you and never return" internet guy.
-Dan
about 1 year ago
Corey, you keep on coming back to the money but I think it is about his competitive spirit. I think he wants to fight Fedor, who is recognized as the best heavyweight in the world. Fedor did not sign to UFC so Couture can not fight him in the UFC, and maybe thats why he left. And as for you saying, he "sold out" for doing a movie? I think people can do what they want. Couture has his own life and interests and he owes nothing to critics like yourself to keep on fighting and such an old age. Maybe he is trying to think about life after fighting? A few years after he retires you will have forgotten about him, and he will need to make a living. These people have the right to make their own decisions for their own reasons without some person calling them a sellout for what they choose to do. When you have no idea what the real reason is. Maybe he is old and sick of fighting? How stupid you would feel for saying that it is all about the money. The point is that you are an outsider looking in, and as that it is hard to have an accurate opinion. (althought I know opinions are like assholes, everybody has one)
about 1 year ago
at such an old age*
about 1 year ago
I was just wondering where you received your information. Who are your sources? You imply that you have direct quotations by saying Randy's agent said, in which case, you should site your sources. I have nothing against your opinion, it is yours. You should just be careful throwing around what people said without attributing the thoughts, feelings, opinions, and remarks.
about 1 year ago
I was just wondering where you received your information. Who are your sources? You imply that you have direct quotations by saying Randy's agent said, in which case, you should site your sources. I have nothing against your opinion, it is yours. You should just be careful throwing around what people said without attributing the thoughts, feelings, opinions, and remarks.
about 1 year ago
I think Corey is right and wrong on two different fronts.
1) Corey is right that UFC has pretty much made Randy into a huge name. Even if he got paid NOTHING for his fights, the endorsement deals and licensing fees would make him very very rich. Had it not been for UFC, he would be NOBODY.
2) Now that the sport has evolved, and both the league and the fighters have benefited mutually in a win-win scenario, the time has come for the league to start paying 'market' rates to the fighters. I mean, who are we kidding? Forty years ago, baseball players were making $100,000/year. Those days are gone, will not come back, and can't be replicated in any sport.
about 1 year ago
Not really much of an article. Seems more like some child pouting and needed someone to vent at. not much fact and a very biased opinion from someone who doesn't seem to know much about business or the sport of MMA. I think this would have been better suited for a facebook or msn conversation between a couple of teens before breaking into their parents liquor cabinet for the weekend.
about 1 year ago
"disgusted with both Randy Couture and UFC management. It's a sad truth that money makes the world go round...but when does it become more about the money than the fighting?"
that is a ridiculous comment. wise up
about 1 year ago
Corey, I really don't understand how or why you've been writing about MMA. It's something you know very little about, and it would be really great if you could write about something else. I don't even want to challenge your statements, because everything you wrote only showed your ignorance. For start, I warmly recommend that you visit some MMA training camp, and just watch what fighters are doing there, and how they prepare themselves for fights. Then you talk to fighters and their trainers (maybe you should do a little workout yourself), and maybe you'll get an idea what it takes to prepare a fighter for a match, let alone a title bout. Those people earn every cent they get.
about 1 year ago
Thanks Trolls.
about 1 year ago
Trolls? What happened to that opinion thing you were talking about?
Just admit you were shooting off the hip when you wrote this article.
It's nothing more than what you were feeling when you heard the news. Like a Myspace blog.
-Dan
about 1 year ago
has anyone been in a fight? these people get kicked and punched, and LIKE it. no liddell would NOT get another job, he would just not fight professionally. and randy IS doing something great for the sport, he is breaking away from the "house-hold names" of the ufc, and showing people that he is a normal person going after opportunity's that are in front of him. getting kicked in the head or make a movie, hmmmm.....
11 months ago
i am a huge randy couture fan, but him complaining about money is stupid. he knew what the other guys were getting paid, and he signed a contract saying he wouldn't get paid as much. don't sign a contract if you're not happy with it.
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