Issue 078

August 2011

With a rugged down-to-earth style that echoes the man himself, ‘The Natural’ has a versatile appearance that could have you the best looking guy both at cage side and in the gym.

Military caps

In theme with his casual-rugged style, Randy has taken to wearing short-brimmed squared-off military-style caps in recent years. A former serviceman himself, Couture will usually opt for one from his own Xtreme Couture line – always in a dark gray or black with muted embellishments for a powerful statement. Not to be confused with the black army ‘digger’ hat his Toll Road character wore in 2010 blockbuster The Expendables.

Kangol beret

For a time, Randy was inseparable from his Samuel L Jackson-esque black Kangol beret. Usually donning it for red-carpet events, ‘The Natural’ would match it to his often-preferred suit and T-shirt combo.

Prayer bead bracelet

The Natural isn’t afraid to embrace enlightened living, as demonstrated by his penchant for prayer bead bracelets. Typically available in darker tones, which better-complement a man in his middle years, Randy will wear them for nearly all occasions: whether meeting fans on a promotional tour, or attending functions under the bright lights of Vegas town.

Checkered Scarves

Randy is a man who knows how to accessorize. Often employing the toned-down military ‘scrim net’ scarf, or going for a more civilian checkered number, is a simple yet effective way to break up his look and keep the cold out when he’s visiting away from the Nevada desert warmth.

Xtreme Couture T-shirts

Although he’ll switch it up from time to time, around the gym you’ll usually find Randy in one of his Xtreme Couture line’s T-shirts. Never one for flash, the multi-time champ will nearly always opt for earthy tones and relatively few graphics.

Beard trimmer

Keeping facial hair as neat as The Natural takes a multi-tooled trimmer, such as the Wahl Chromado 56160 which retails at a hefty $140. Barely without at least a five o’clock shadow throughout his entire fight career, Couture has allowed his facial hair to grow out over the past year complementing his elder statesman stature. Using a longer setting to settle the body of his beard before perfecting the lines with the shaver’s fine-detail blades, allows for a rugged action-hero look.

Watch

He might not have to worry about pinching the pennies with five UFC title reigns under his belt, but that doesn’t mean Couture overspends on a timepiece. While his peers (not least wrist-clock obsessed Xtreme Couture fighter Jay Hieron) might think nothing of dropping a few grand on a high-flyer ticker, Couture usually steps out with the Affliction Armor Watch Sil on the end of his arm. At a very reasonable $190, this brushed steel, double chain-banded time-teller has a price tag as understated as the quiet filigree that lines the encasement.

Jeans

Couture’s pants of choice are always jeans. Whether in near-black tones or a brighter blue, they’re very often lightly distressed. Randy is one man pushing 50 that you won’t see in beige, elasticated, easy-iron slacks.

Shirts

Though he may go for a relaxed T-shirt when he’s taking care of business at the gym, if he’s sitting cage side Randy will always go for an informal button-up shirt. Occasionally paired with a crucifix pendant, Couture prefers solid colors over flamboyant embroidered designs and will often forgo the top few buttons for a relaxed look.

Suits

Randy is never afraid to dress up for formal occasions. Relishing the opportunity, he has donned a variety of suits for red-carpet events, such as the sandy-colored number he wore to the Tribeca Film Festival several years ago, the sleek black two-piece he took to the 2009 FO World MMA Awards, or even the velvet and sky blue set-up he hosted the 2010 ceremony in. But, whatever his choice he never opts for the double-breasted button-up, only the slim-lining single. 

KNOCKOUT THREADS

The Natural’s in-ring style

Randy’s kept up with mixed martial arts’ fight-gear clothing trends just as much as he’s evolved his fight night skills to stay level with his competitors. Just as so many of MMA’s progenitors during the underground days of the sport, Couture’s early fights had him sporting the simple, black vale tudo-style spandex shorts. 

Back when scrappers were lucky to have a pre-printed TapouT logo on their tighties, Couture always chose the unrestrictive trunks such as when he took on Vitor Belfort in 1997 and Josh Barnett five years later.

As the sport developed so did fighter fashion. Around the pre and post-2005 UFC boom, Randy switched to the now-standard MMA board short. And though he dabbled with darker colors (as for Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74, and Brandon Vera at UFC 105) he trod the canvas in red for many of his bouts (such as Tito Ortiz at UFC 44 and twice against Chuck Liddell).

Ironically it was those two mainstays that Couture closed up with. For his penultimate outing, Couture went retro and looked every inch the athlete in black vale tudo shorts against James Toney (UFC 118), before facing Lyoto Machida this April in his trademark red trunks.

COUTURE ICON ISSUE / DAN HARDY

“After losing the Carlos Condit fight at UFC 120 I was in the hotel bar feeling pretty pissed off. Randy came over and said, ‘Hey, it happens to us all!’ Hearing that from a guy as legendary as him can’t help but make you feel a little better”