Randy Couture the Lion in Winter; Can He Slay the Dragon?

He has retired and returned to the Octagon twice.  In more ways than one, he defies time and never ceases to amaze fans with his resilience and skill.

Randy Couture, former light heavy and heavy weight champion, the lion in winter, returns to the octagon for one final bout before retiring officially.  

Few have seen a career as long and rich as Couture’s and at 47 years old he is taking on his final challenge in former light heavy weight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 129.

Couture is constantly growing evolving and adding to his repertoire as a mixed martial artist. Always striving for new heights as a fighter and seeking the next level of competition.

Perhaps it’s this very drive that has kept Couture going since his debut at UFC 13 in 1997; with a career spanning over 14 years and a record of 19-10-0 he has fought some of the greatest in MMA history.

Vitor Belfort, Chuck Lidell, Tito Ortiz, Brock Lesnar, Tim Sylvia, Maurice Smith, Brandon Vera, Jeremy Horn, Mark Coleman, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Josh Barnett and Rico Rodriguez.

Names that resonate in the minds of any MMA fan, most former champions, some have retired, others still compete, but Couture endures where younger men have retired.

Couture sought a challenge for his final bout and Machida presents a lot of factors that will test him. Both men are experienced fighters with very different, but well honed, skill sets. Machida has youth on his side at 32, while Couture will be almost 48 years old. A tactical fighter in his own right, Machida should present a very interesting match-up for Couture.

Machida needs to reestablish himself as a contender in the ever-evolving hierarchy of the light heavyweight division. A win over Couture, especially a finish via knock out or submission, would put him back on the path to the gold.

The Brazilian has suffered the only two losses of his career in his past two bouts. A brutal knock out in his rematch with Maurico “Shogun” Rua and a close decision loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

That being said, Machida is one of the most elusive fighters to ever grace the octagon and has proven to be nearly untouchable when he’s at his best. Fighting against a style like Machida’s is no easy feat but, Randy Couture has often lived up to the name “The Natural” by taking his experience and studying his opponent to formulate a masterful game plan. Even in defeat, few can argue the tactical approach and skill Couture brings to every fight makes him a threat to just about anyone.

Couture has to keep Machida from controlling the octagon and limit his mobility. He will need to keep pressure on Machida, use angles, and cut off the octagon to try and get him on the cage and work his dirty boxing skills.

By mauling Machida and wearing him down by working for the takedown's and mixing up his striking, Couture should be able to keep the Brazilian out of his element.

Machida needs to keep his distance and work Couture from the outside, pick his shots, and counter. One of his best abilities is his footwork, and he should use it to keep off the cage and control the range of the fight.

Should he be taken down, Machida may showcase his rarely seen BJJ skills and work for submissions, but the real threat on the ground would be Couture working the ground and pound. So his best bet is to patiently work Couture’s chin with his counter striking.

As Couture is known for saying, this fight will be more about who can impose their will.

While it’s hard to believe Couture will be retiring for the third time in his career, it would be even more difficult to believe he wouldn’t have just one more fight left in him should he win.

That too is part of his legacy as a legend; the belief we secretly harbor that he will never stop fighting.

Either way, Randy Couture is a legend of the sport, and one of the greatest champions to ever grace the octagon.

So, if he retires, we as fans can only wish him well for all the years of entertainment. The man has truly earned it.