In these days of dwindling fighters in the UFC heavyweight division, my mind takes me back to better days. Randy Couture had just lost to Chuck Liddell and was bidding a fond farewell to the sport he loved so dearly.
Well, we all the know the old story about fighters and how retirement doesn't always mean ...well ..retirement!.. Randy came back with a vengeance and dominated big Tim Sylvia to win the heavyweight belt (for a record third time).
Randy Couture is one of only two MMA fighters to have held a championship title in two different divisions (HW and LHW) both in the ufc!! Please allow me to venture back in history to the career beginnings of Randy Couture; one of the greatest mixed martial artists who ever lived. "The Natural" is truely a pioneer of the sport.
Couture served in the army from 1982–1988. Upon discharge, he was a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996); a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials; a three-time (NCAA) Division-I All-American and a two-time NCAA Division-I runner-up at Oklahoma State University. In 1992 he was the Division-1 runner up at 190 pounds.
Couture first appeared in the UFC in May 1997 as part of UFC 13:The Ultimate Force. The event consisted of two four-man tournaments: one in the lightweight (under 200 lb) division and one in the heavyweight (200 lb and over) division. Couture fought in the heavyweight tournament, and won it!!!
His next match was an elimination bout for the heavyweight title against the young "Phenom", Vitor Belfort, who at the time was on a four fight winning streak. Couture scored a victory in what UFC announcer Bruce Buffer called a stunning upset.
Couture won his first heavyweight title in a 1997 match against "Big Mo" Smith. Couture didn't keep the belt for long, shortly after he was stripped of the title when he could not come to contract terms with the UFC. After leaving the UFC, Couture signed with the Rings organization, based out of Japan.
In 2000, Couture returned to the UFC to recapture the heavyweight title from Kevin Randleman. Throughout 2001, Couture defended his heavyweight title twice, both times against the Brazilian heavyweight contender Pedro Rizzo.
After defeating Rizzo he went on to lose the UFC heavyweight title in a fight with Josh Barnett via TKO in the 2nd round at UFC 36 in 2002. After the fight, Barnett tested positive for anabolic steroids and was subsequently stripped of his title.
With the heavyweight title vacant, Couture fought Ricco Rodriguez at UFC 39 for the title. Couture initially controlled the fight and was arguably on his way to a decision win, but eventually suffered a TKO loss in the 5th round.
Couture had a few more fights at Heavyweight then dropped to LHW (205) and had a famous trilogy with "Iceman" Chuck Liddel, (205 champion at the time), where he lost two out of the three battles.
4 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Stoker Mac 11 months ago
(thank you to wiki for keeping me straight on the stats)/stoker
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George Mopay 11 months ago
Dude, I just got a sweet "Chuck Liddell for President" shirt from PantherTees.com. They've got tons of awesome stuff. And you get 10% off your order if you enter the promo code pts10. Check it out.
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Dorothy Willis 11 months ago
Doesn't everyone want to see Randy and Fedor fight, even if they have to use walkers to get to the ring?
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Stoker Mac 11 months ago
haha...well from the feedback i get, people have sort of lost interest in that fight..but i still havent!!
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