The Natural's Future: Randy Couture Re-Signs With The UFC

Randy Couture is a legend in the UFC and the sport of MMA at large. He is 46 years old and intends to continue fighting for as long as he still breathes. Coming off of two straight losses, Couture needs all the time he can get to put himself back in the limelight of the UFC.

He gave himself that time by signing a six fight/28 month deal with the UFC.

His previous contract had only one fight remaining, but the new deal replaces it. So with six fights to further cement himself in UFC history, "The Natural" has plenty of options to choose from.

The obvious possibilities are in Heavyweight division where he has fought his last four fights. He has recently fought Brock Lesnar and Antonio Minotauro Nogueira, ruling immediate rematches with them out.

But the UFC is not without its fair share of opponents for the living legend.

If Couture were to remain in the Heavyweight division, he would most likely be matched up against the likes of Frank Mir, Shane Carwin, Gabriel Gonzaga, Brandon Vera and Antoni Hardonk. Each potential fight holds a different storyline for Couture and the opposition.

Fighting Frank Mir would bring together the last two men to lose to Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, a sort of redemption. Frank Mir, well-versed in BJJ, would pose a threat that Couture has often fought in his UFC career.

Couture is a spectacular wrestler with underrated striking in the stand-up. He can turn a disadvantage into an advantage in an instant with his experience alone.

Fighting Shane Carwin would be a ways off no matter how probable or not the fight would be because he is set to fight Brock Lesnar for the title at UFC 106. Win or lose, there is definite potential for matches coming from the title fight.

Lesnar loses, he might be matched up with Nogueira, or find his way back to Randy Couture. If Carwin loses, he would most likely be destined to fight Mir if Mir wins his next fight, or Couture.

No matter the case, it would be great to see Carwin in the cage with Couture.

A fight with Gabriel Gonzaga would be a rematch for Couture from UFC 74, where Couture successfully defended to Heavyweight title.

Gonzaga has been on a bit of a comeback trail since losing to Couture and Fabricio Werdum consecutively. He has won three out of his last four, his lone loss coming to Shane Carwin.

Fights against Brandon Vera or Antoni Hardonk are less likely because they aren't in the immediate chase for a title shot. A more likely match up would be against the UFC's rising Heavyweight prodigy Todd Duffee.

Duffee made his UFC debut at UFC 102 in spectacular fashion, knocking Tim Hague out in 7 seconds. Duffee may be a few fights away from facing Couture, but there is definite potential for a collision course.

The most intriguing fights for Couture involve him returning to the Light Heavyweight division where he fought in sometimes dominating fashion against the top competitors at the time.

A drop down to 205 wouldn't be out of the question, and would make one superfight an even greater possibility:

Randy Couture versus Anderson Silva.

The likelihood of the fight is dicey at best, but Couture was asked if he would fight Silva and he had no problem with the idea. I don't know how much has been talked about the fight in legitimate terms, but the very idea is enough to generate PPV buys.

In more real terms, the Light Heavyweight division holds a few rematches and plenty of challenges for Couture.

Recently re-signed Vitor Belfort is between divisions to start his UFC return, fighting Rich Franklin at 195. Belfort's tweener status puts him in between challenging Anderson Silva's title in the Middleweight division or heading back to the Light Heavyweight division to challenge champion Lyoto Machida.

If Belfort moves back to 205, there is a good chance Dana White would want him and Randy to fight in a rubber match hearkening back to UFC 46 and 49. Both fights were for the Light Heavyweight championship, the first going Belfort's way via TKO, the second going Couture's way via TKO.

Rich Franklin would be a potential opponent for Couture at 205 since he is looking to make a new name for himself in the division after having conquered all but Anderson Silva at 185.

Couture could find himself in the octagon with Wanderlei Silva who has to get his career back on track after two consecutive losses and losing three out of his last four fights in the UFC.

The more interesting bouts come against the growing list of former champions in the division.

Forrest Griffin is an Xtreme Couture veteran and would pose a great match up. The legend and the (former?) fan favorite who trained him. The potential for fireworks is there based on both fighters' no quit attitude and history for going for broke for better or for worse.

Couture could fight Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the future, which would serve to give Jackson plenty of opportunity to throw verbal pre-fight jabs about Couture's age. Randy Couture is no-nonsense and Jackson is an entertainer as much as he is a fighter.

"Sugar" Rashad Evans is another potential opponent for Couture if he did in fact drop down to 205. Evans is scheduled to face Rampage after the two men finish coaching the 10th season ot The Ultimate Fighter.

That fight has been moved beyond UFC 107 since Rampage will be filming the A-Team movie during that time.

A fight with either Rampage or Evans would be intriguing to say the least. A fight with Couture would test the ground game of Evans or Rampage, though Evans is a more accomplished wrestler than Rampage.

Another rematch possibility for Couture would be against the returning Tito Ortiz. Ortiz lost their first meeting and lost the Light Heavyweight title in the process. Ortiz is scheduled to fight Mark Coleman at UFC 106 in his first match since May 2008.

The word 'possibilities' is the most applicable word for the Randy Couture's future. He is one of the toughest competitors to ever step foot in the octagon and he is always puts on a show, win or lose.

Couture is not one to decline a challenge so he may end up having to beat the odds yet again in his career. If he stays at Heavyweight, he is going to be fighting guys much larger than he is, though he has a speed and experience advantage.

If he drops down to Light Heavyweight he would have a strength advantage but lose the edge in speed.

There are so many dangerous opponents on the horizon for Randy Couture and I for one cannot wait to see who Dana White puts in front of "The Natural" first.