Randy Couture Will Return to UFC

It appears Randy Couture and the UFC are finally coming to their collective senses. Rumors of Couture's return to the octagon are picking up steam.  The he-said-they-said finger pointing is apparently behind them and they're moving forward.  It's about time.

Rumor has it that Couture will sign a new contract with the UFC and his first fight may come as soon as UFC 91 on Nov. 15 of this year.  Couture's opponent?  None other than Brock Lesnar.  Also rumored is a fight between Couture and Fedor Emelianenko sometime in early 2009.

Suddenly the desert that is the UFC Heavy Weight division is filled with a bunch of possible oases, all made possible by bringing Couture back.  Here's why it makes sense for the UFC to co-promote in delivering Couture-Fedor.

Cheick Kongo's camp has been holding back signing the proposed fight with Brock Lesnar.  They feel Kongo should be fighting either a title match or a No. 1 contender match rather than Lesnar.  Kongo's hold-out removes the main event for UFC 91.

Couture-Lesnar will outdraw Lesnar-Kongo for PPV buys.  If Couture wins he will suddenly be on the comeback path and this would set up the rumored Fedor fight nicely.  If Couture loses then Lesnar will suddenly become legit and the UFC can have him challenge for the HW title, which is their long-term plan for him.

Couture said in previous interviews that he wasn't concerned with being champion anymore and would rather just fight the best fights available.  At 45 years old it doesn't make sense for him to take on interim champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and then a No. 1 contender if he wins.

Couture doesn't need the UFC HW belt to be remembered or secure his place in MMA history at this stage in his career.  He is more valuable to the UFC fighting marquee fights rather than title fights.  I expect that at 3:00 PM today Dana White will announce just this.