Issue 078
August 2011
Well accustomed to proving the naysayers wrong, ‘The Natural’ has made a career out of beating the odds. Here’s your guide to Couture’s essentials
NEED TO KNOW
Name: Randy Couture
Age: 48
Started: 1997
Division: Light-heavyweight/heavyweight
Style: Greco-Roman, Boxing
Based: Las Vegas, Nevada
Record: 19-11, 7 (T)KOs (36.84%); 4 subs (21.05%); 8 decisions (42.11%)
Boasting one of the longest Bruce Buffer pre-fight announcements in the game (two-time UFC light heavyweight champion, three-time UFC heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer), Randy Couture booked his ticket to MMA immortality many years ago.
The oldest man to ever win a UFC belt (snatching the heavyweight title at 43 years of age from Tim Sylvia at UFC 68), Couture has improved his game in line with MMA’s evolution, while remaining more than aware of how to use his specific skills to his advantage. The Las Vegas resident won many fights, directly or indirectly, in the clinch against the cage where he used his Olympic-caliber Greco Roman wrestling to exhaust, damage and control opponents. A tactic finely honed at Team Quest with Dan Henderson and Matt Lindland during the mid-portion of his career.
Though wrestling is very much Randy’s base, he’s been willing to let fists fly with men taller, stronger and more skilled than himself – and had success doing so. His active head movement against Sylvia in 2007 prevented the six-foot-eight then-champion from finding any significant success on his feet, helping secure a historic title win despite a five-inch reach discrepancy.
In addition to his physical attributes, ‘The Natural’ also benefited from intangibles throughout his career, such as an unending work ethic and constant desire to learn. Randy’s grappling trainer, Neil Melanson, revealed to FO sister publication Train Hard Fight Easy earlier this year that despite being the Xtreme Couture gym patriarch Couture’s always willing to acquire new knowledge, no matter the source. A strong advocate of all-round healthy living and active rest (low-intensity exercise between training), it’s no wonder a fighting-fit Natural had cardio to put 21-year-olds to shame.
His glut of achievements and a 14-year career solidify Randy Couture’s rightful place as a mixed martial arts legend.
Experience
Not only does Randy possess near-infinite fight knowledge based on years in mixed martial arts and its associate disciplines, a career fighting the game’s greatest – often with a title belt on the line – meant few situations could faze the sport’s favorite elder statesman.
Greco-Roman wrestling
An Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team alternate, Couture used the upper-body grappling art masterfully during his MMA career. Not only did it help him decision Brandon Vera at UFC 105 in 2009, his strikes and takedowns from the clinch were the key components in his unlikely TKO win over Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74.
Gameplans
Randy’s keen sense for effective gameplans has ensured a long sequence of underdog triumphs against formidable opponents. Most recently against grappling-deficient champion boxer James Toney where ‘Captain America’ opted for the rarely seen low ankle-pick takedown as a safe way to drag Toney to the ground and out of his depth.
CAREER SNAPSHOT
1997
Makes his MMA and UFC debut on the same night, cutting through both Tony Halme and Steven Graham to win the one-night UFC 13 tournament.
2003
Goes 11-5 TKO’ing Chuck Liddell for the interim 205lb belt before confirming his ownership of the title with a decision win over Tito Ortiz at UFC 44.
2007
Comes out of retirement to challenge Tim Sylvia’s heavyweight title at UFC 68. Does the unthinkable by dropping and decisioning the six-foot-eight monster, then TKO’s the hefty Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74.
2008
After a legal battle with the UFC keeps Couture out of action for over a year, he puts his belt on the line against the gargantuan Brock Lesnar at UFC 91. He’s overpowered and TKO’d by the juggernaut midway through round two.
2011
Announces his last fight will be against the puzzle of elusive striker Lyoto Machida at UFC 129. Succumbs to the first crane kick knockout in UFC history.
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