UFC 129 Fight Card: Could a Loss to Machida Lead to Randy Couture vs. Fedor?

Nick CaronApr 26, 2011

With UFC 129 just a few days away, the buzz around Randy Couture’s fight with Lyoto Machida possibly being the last of his historic career. But win, lose or draw, there is still one fight remaining that fans want to see—the long-anticipated battle between Randy Couture and fellow MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko.

Couture himself has spoken about this likely being the last fight of his career; however he has been here before. He has actually retired twice already, only to return to the cage at a later date.

This time, the UFC Hall-of-Famer has announced his intentions to retire, but has also made sure to choose his words wisely, leaving open the possibility for him to continue fighting.

At the moment, Couture is listed as a fairly large underdog (+250) against his UFC 129 opponent, Lyoto Machida. This is nothing new for “Captain America” as he has spent much of his professional career being told that he’s not big enough, strong enough or young enough to compete with other top contenders.

If the experts are right, however, and Machida does best our hero, it’s just not going to feel right to see him end his career on a loss.

Like Fedor Emelianenko, who is now on a two-fight losing streak for the first time in his career, a loss to Machida could cause Couture to feel the need to redeem himself in one final fight.

What I’m proposing is a win-win-win situation for Zuffa, Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko... I suggest a win, lose or draw retirement match between these two MMA greats.

Randy Couture versus Fedor Emelianenko has been something that fans have talked about, literally, for years. Ask any MMA fan and they are likely to tell you that this is one of, if not the fight they would most like to see if each fighter could only have one more fight.

With Strikeforce having been purchased by Zuffa, it’s time to make this dream fight happen.

There has been some discussion from Fedor’s management that they do not believe that Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce will have any effect on his future. But realistically, he cannot fight for another organization, so it’s either fight for Zuffa or retire.

Couture actually tried to make the fight happen before, when he left the UFC in late 2007, but contract issues kept the bout from ever materializing. When asked about a fight now with Fedor, however, he did not seem too optimistic.

"I just don't see that happening,” Couture told ESPN. “I toiled over that fight for quite a while. I thought I had to get out of the UFC to make it happen, but wasn't successful. I've come to terms with it. I don't think it's going to happen."

This is very discouraging for fans who still want to see this fight happen, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen.

While the likelihood of Emelianenko coming over to the UFC is very low, from what Dana White has said, there really isn’t anything stopping Couture or other UFC fighters from fighting at Strikeforce events.

Certainly the UFC would be a much better brand to put on this event just due to it being a household name, but Zuffa has announced that it is looking to get the Strikeforce brand on pay-per view as early as July.

If it does happen, and there is no reason to believe that it won’t, what fight would be better to main event the very first Strikeforce pay-per-view event than perhaps the most anticipated MMA fight of all-time between Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko?

If both fighters come to the conclusion that this will be the final bout of their career, making it a double-retirement match, the ratings could be absolutely huge for this event. Can you imagine it being both Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko’s last fight—and it’s against each other?

Nostalgia is and always will be a huge one-time source of revenue, and with both fighters nearing the conclusion of their legendary careers, it’s time for Zuffa to strike while the iron is hot.

Randy Couture versus Fedor Emelianenko: Strikeforce Pay-Per-View in July.

Make it happen, Zuffa.