Best of 2007—Randy Couture Dominates Tim Sylvia with the Overhand Right

This is the battle of David and Goliath.

The battle took place on March 3rd at the Nationwide Arena in Ohio. It was decided in the first six seconds of a 25 minute war. Given the circumstances, the battle could redefine the term "underdog."

Of course I'm talking about UFC 68, where Randy “The Natural” Couture decisively beat the bigger and younger title holder, Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia.

This fighter knew what was in front of him. One man wearing a belt with the letters UFC. Its not the belt he was after, but what the belt stood for.

Couture has proven he is the ultimate fighter time and time again. When it is time for one player to define a sport, to define competition—he is there. It's as if Nike herself spoke for him: “ I am victory.”

What other sports figure, aside from Roy Hobbs, has the nickname “The Natural”?

There were no games, no best of five, no Superbowl. Just an overhand right that crumpled the 6'8", 255 pound, thirteen year younger title holder to the canvas bed of the UFC octogon.

The first round showed that Randy did come out of retirement to win...not see how he could fair against the giant title holder, not to see what he had left at the tender age of 43.

He showed up to win.

Randy opened with a combo that ended with an overhand right that started the swelling over Tim's eye. From there, “The Natural” took control.

In the second round, Tim looks to push the fight where he wants—but Randy is having none of it. Randy scores the takedown to have Tim push him off. That "never say die" attitude is ingrained in Randy, and he is right back on him, constantly peppering Tim's face with punches and elbows. Tim is wobbly on his feet, and the round ends just as it began—with Tim asking what the hell hit him.

The third round proved that "The Natural" can beat "The Maine-iac" on his feet. It seems that the old man is just too much for the young giant. Randy shows fakes and head movement like a professional boxer, whereas Tim is looking like he needs an extra pair of arms. The crowd is in Randy's corner, as if the building was chanting along with the fans: "Randy, Randy, Randy, Randy!"

In the fourth round we saw more of the same. Randy completely dominated Tim both standing and on the ground.

It seems like Randy has a renewed sense of determination this late in the game. Tim has no answer for the multiple overhand rights and takedowns Randy is putting on him.

The fifth round starts, and at this point "The Natural" is manhandling the giant, taking him down and holding him down, controlling his every move and imposing his will. A full mount again by Randy, and Tim is being smothered with elbows and chokes. Tim pushes Randy away, only for Randy to get right back on top of him.

Tim's face is beaten and frustrated—questions of “how” are flying through his head. The round, the fight, the war has ended.

Randy Couture came out of retirement not to win the belt, but to win—and win he did.

The judges scorecards showed Randy winning all five rounds. Randy Couture took 2007 and made a statement out of a year, coming out of retirement to beat the younger, fresher fighters in Tim Sylvia, and then Gabriel Gonzaga in only three rounds five months later in defense of his title.

Randy Couture has overcome adversity twice this year, all the while having critics saying that he is too old to compete at this level. With his performance against these two competitors, Randy's reply was essentially: “Not to bad for an old man.”

Thank you Randy—you truly are an inspiration to sports fans everywhere.