Issue 078
August 2011
During Randy Couture’s 14-year UFC career, he took part in fights that helped define the sport, and clashed with some of the biggest names in the business.
Vitor Belfort
WHO
UFC 1997 heavyweight tournament winner and former 205lb champ.
KNOWN FOR
Top-class boxing and muscular Christianity.
FOUGHT RANDY
October 17th 1997 at UFC 15 in Bay St Louis, Mississippi.
OUTCOME
In a huge upset, Randy wore down the highly-rated ‘Phenom’ in the clinch before battering him on the deck.
AFTERMATH
The pair would clash twice more, winning one fight each.
Pedro Rizzo
WHO
Challenged for the UFC heavyweight title three times.
KNOWN FOR
Hard-hitting Brazilian Muay Thai specialist.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC 31 on May 4th 2001 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
OUTCOME
Randy and Pedro beat the hell out of each other over five of the most bruising rounds you’ll ever see. Not everyone agreed when Couture got the nod from the judges.
AFTERMATH
The controversial decision meant a rematch was inevitable. Second time round, Randy took care of business, winning by TKO in the third.
Ricco Rodriguez
WHO
Former UFC heavyweight champion.
KNOWN FOR
Ace grappler with a BJJ black belt and an Abu Dhabi submission wrestling gold medal.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC 39 in September 27th 2002 in Uncasville, Connecticut for the heavyweight championship.
OUTCOME
In the fifth round, Ricco claimed the heavyweight belt when his ground ‘n’ pound assault was just too much for Randy.
AFTERMATH
Many felt this was the end of the road for the ageing Couture. Instead of hanging up the gloves, he opted to drop a weight division.
Chuck Liddell
WHO
Former UFC 205lb champion.
KNOWN FOR
Sprawl and brawl KO artist. Arguably played a bigger role in popularizing the UFC than any other fighter.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC interim light heavyweight title match at UFC 43 on June 6th 2003 in Vegas.
OUTCOME
Randy shocked the world by standing in the pocket and trading on the way to a TKO win over the Iceman.
AFTERMATH
In the most famous trilogy in UFC history, Chuck prevailed in the other two contests - battering Randy into retirement at UFC 57 in February 2006.
Tito Ortiz
WHO
Former UFC light heavyweight champion.
KNOWN FOR
Peroxide blonde hair, obscene T-shirts, losing friends and alienating people.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC 44 at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas on September 26th 2003.
OUTCOME
The 40-year-old Randy dominated Ortiz to take the undisputed 205lb title – famously spanking Tito like a naughty boy mid bout.
AFTERMATH
Tito rebuilt his career by reheating his feud with Ken Shamrock. He remains a high-profile fighter to this day despite a woeful run of results.
Brock Lesnar
WHO
Former UFC heavyweight champion
KNOWN FOR
Colossal physique, supreme athleticism and A-grade wrestling ability.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC 91 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas on November 15th 2008.
OUTCOME
After using his guile to survive the first, Randy found himself on the end of one of Brock’s monstrous punches and was stopped in his tracks.
AFTERMATH
Signaled the end of Randy as a player in the heavyweight division. Brock was heralded as the future, but his reign would last just two fights.
James Toney
WHO
One of the great boxers of the last two decades. Multi-weight world champion and twice Ring magazine ‘Fighter of the Year’.
KNOWN FOR
His KO power earned him the nickname ‘Lights Out,’ but Toney was also a smart tactician who often outthought his opponents to claim decision wins.
FOUGHT RANDY
UFC 118 in Boston on August 28th 2010.
OUTCOME
It was even easier than expected. Randy took his man down and applied an arm triangle to complete his most straightforward win. Not one standing punch was thrown.
AFTERMATH
Both fighters reacted in their own way. Randy was gracious, Toney whined and tried to trash talk his way to a pay day against ‘Rampage’ – to no avail.
