Issue 002

April 2005

By Ken Pishna

RANDY COUTURE

LITTLE MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT IT WAS TIME FOR RANDY COUTURE TO RETIRE. NOW, HE HAS REVITALISED HIS CAREER BY DROPPING DOWN FROM HEAVYWEIGHT TO THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION AND DOMINATING NEARLY EVERYONE THAT HE HAS FOUGHT. THE CURRENT UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, COUTURE IS LOOKING TO KEEP THAT CAREER GOING IN A REMATCH WITH A MAN HE HAS ALREADY DEFEATED, CHUCK LIDDELL.

Ken Pishna: You're getting ready for another big fight Randy. How are preparations going?

Randy Couture: Everything is going great! I've got Bas Rutten helping me get ready for the fight. I've got all my usual guys: Nate Quarry, Chris Leben, Robert Follis, Matt Lindland and all the guys. We're working hard, getting ready.

KP: Is Bas Rutten the only guy out of the norm that's coming in to train with you for this one?

RC: I'm really excited that he's going to come up and put me through some different workouts. Don Frye is going to come up and do some training. Scott Smith and James Irvin from Sacramento are coming up to train as well. We've got a few guys coming through, but I think most notably Bas Rutten and his expertise will be really good.

KP: What is it about Bas Rutten that you wanted for this fight?

RC: I think that he's got a well-rounded game. I'm very interested in working on some striking-sharpening up some striking techniques and learning some new combinations with Bas. I'm going to try and focus on that piece of the puzzle with him.

KP: Striking is something that you were very successful within your first fight with Chuck and I think a lot of people were surprised by that. Because you were so successful the first time, is that why you're focusing on refining your striking this time?

RC: I think that coming from a wrestling background striking is something that I always try to focus on. As an area that I don't have much experience in, I try to make that a strength rather than leave it as a weakness. I certainly think that [when] facing strikers, the more effective that my striking is the better my wrestling skills will be.

KP: When you fought Chuck the first time it appeared that much of your game plan was to cut the ring off from him.

RC: Yeah. He tends to give ground a lot and kind of wants to control the tempo of the fight and I didn't want to allow him to do that. I wanted to stay in his face and make him work real hard, cut him off and get off first. I hit him before he had a chance to pause and use his long jab to set up a right hand.

KP: So the striking game that you employed was primarily to set up your takedowns?

RC: Definitely. The days of coming out and just shooting and taking somebody down are over. Guys have done the cross training, they know how to sprawl, they know how to counter takedowns. So, if you're not willing to engage them and strike with them to set them up, you are going to have a hard time taking anybody down.

KP: How do you think Chuck is going to change things in the rematch?

RC: I don't think a whole lot is going to change. I do think he's going to be more aggressive this time. He's going to come out and try to come to me a little more, which is good. I think that works well for me. It makes it easier to take him down and put him on the ground and attempt to hold him there and make him work hard.

KP: It seems that, at the level of competition that you are facing, you almost have to go out and impose your will and set the pace of the fight to win. Is that a fair statement?

RC: I think that's pretty fair. I'm not one that wants to sit around and wait for anybody and see what they're going to do. I generally have something in mind that I think is going to be effective and I go out and try to do that. If I'm wrong and it's not effective, then you try to make adjustments from there. But so far it has worked out pretty well for me.

KP: Being so successful in your first fight, do you plan on changing things much for this rematch?

RC: I've definitely learned some new skills. I have different things that I'm able to do now that I wasn't able to do back then. I'm continuing to refine and add to my striking capabilities, submission capabilities and overall ground game. Tactically, I think there'll be some different things. Him coming at me and being a little more aggressive is tactically a little different than having to hunt him down and cut him off. But it's a pretty easy adjustment to make. I think once he gets tired he kind of reverts back to what he always does anyway.

KP: With the success of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, of which you are one of the coaches, have there been a lot more demands placed on your time?

RC: There was a lot of craziness before UFC 51. I just said that I would do whatever they wanted me to do until that last UFC and then, at that point, I said I'm not doing any more. I'm staying at home, getting in the routine and preparing for the April fight. So, since UFC 51 I have not done anything other than a few radio interviews. I'm not doing any travelling. I'm staying at home, focused on the game plan, focused on the training regimen for the fight.

KP: This pay-per-view (UFC 52) is a big test of the success that the UFC hopes will carry over from The Ultimate Fighter series in the form of increased pay-per-view buys. Do you expect that there will be increased interest in the pay-per-view due to the reality series?

RC: I just got word that the MGM Grand sold out well ahead of the show. This is going to be the biggest fight we've ever had. I'm excited about it.

KP: How would you put this fight in perspective? Is this a huge fight for you or is this just more of what you do?

RC: Definitely, this is what I do. It's what I like to do. I enjoy the competition. I enjoy fighting. I enjoy the training. This fight is no different for me than any of the other fights that I've been in. That's the way I look at it.

KP: I'm not going to ask you the same old question about when you are going to retire. But say that you go in and defeat Chuck again. What's next for Randy Couture after that?

RC: I have no idea what is next. I look at this fight and... we'll see what happens. I don't know who they're going to want me to fight next; I don't really care. I'll fight whoever they want. But you know, first things first, got to get past Chuck.

KP: There has been a lot of talk about how Pride wants a couple of UFC fighters in their middleweight (205 pounds and under) tournament this year. You've expressed an interest in fighting Wanderlei Silva, but would you be interested in taking part in the tournament?

RC: I would do that. I would love to fight in that show and I'd love to fight in that tournament. I don't see that happening as long as I'm standing there holding the belt. I think right now the ball is in Pride's court. We sent Chuck last year and we've sent Ricco Rodriguez and other guys to Pride, and they've not reciprocated and sent anybody back to fight on a UFC card. I think that if the relationship is going to continue to grow between the two organisations they need to respond and send somebody to fight in the UFC. I'm hopeful that, in some way they can make the Wanderlei fight happen or that I can get involved in what's going on over there. We'll just have to wait and see.

KP: Since you've dropped down from heavyweight to light heavyweight you've been phenomenally successful. You've been branded a legend. How do you feel about being held in such high regard?

RC: In all honesty, as an athlete, it's nice to be thought of that way. But it's not something I give a lot of thought to. I just kind of do what I do. I don't know. It's all kind of weird. At the same time, it's definitely nice to be appreciated, especially by the other fighters. But it's really not something I give a lot of thought to. I just love what I do.

KP: As we finish up here, any predications for the fight at UFC 52?

RC: I think it's going to be a great fight. Chuck's a great competitor. He has hopes of knocking me out, so I hope he brings it on. I'm ready for him. I believe I can be successful and take him out again.

CHUCK LIDDELL

THE FIRST TIME CHUCK LIDDELL FOUGHT RANDY COUTURE HE WAS OUT STRUCK, TAKEN DOWN AND POUNDED OUT. ON APRIL 16 AT UFC 52 LIDDELL ONCE AGAIN STEPS INTO THE WORLD-FAMOUS OCTAGON WITH RANDY COUTURE TO TRY AND TAKE HIS UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Ken Pishna: Good to talk with you again, Chuck. How are things going?

Chuck Liddell: Everything is going good, real good.

KP: You've got a big fight coming up in your rematch with Randy Couture at UFC 52. How long do you train for a fight of this magnitude?

CL: Well, I train year-round, but I train specifically for a fight for about 3 months.

KP: Last time that you and Randy fought there were a lot of people trying to influence you to change your training regimen and have you work with some different people. Do you think that had any effect on you in that first fight?

CL: I don't really think so. It wasn't a good fight for me. It just wasn't my night. That's the way I look at it. I'll be ready to go this time. I'm in great shape. I'm looking for a much different result.

KP: Who are you training with for this fight?

CL: I train with a bunch of different people. John Hackelman is my main trainer. John Lewis has helped me out a little bit. He's helped me on my ground control. I have a lot of training partners that come in that have worked with me for a long time.

KP: Since you have fought Randy before and know a little more about what to expect from him, do you train for anything specifically with him in mind?

CL: I haven't really trained anything differently for this fight than I do for most wrestlers. I'm sticking to the basics.

KP: Obviously things didn't go your way in the first fight. It seemed like Randy was very successful at culling the ring off and not letting you get into a comfort zone.

CL: Yes. He's done that really well against most of his opponents. That's what he tries to do. He tries to cut off the ring or a portion of the cage and work his Greco and stuff. It works well for him.

KP: It seemed that he had you frustrated when he did that.

CL: I think the biggest thing pressuring me was my conditioning.

KP: So your conditioning going into that fight wasn't where you wanted it to be?

CL: No, not at all. I was pretty much gassing in the first round.

KP: Do you feel that had more to do with the actual training for the fight or all of the demands on your time promoting that fight?

CL: It had to do with my training for the fight. I mean, I had just changed strength and conditioning coaches because my strength and conditioning coach moved up to Montana. I had some trouble with my training. My training camp got a little screwed up for that fight, too. I think everything is going really good right now though. Everything is on track and things are looking real good this time.

KP: Do you think that is the biggest factor for you going into this rematch, to have your conditioning be where you expect it?

CL: Yeah. I need to be in a lot better shape than I was. I think I've improved in the last two years. I think I've gotten a lot sharper in the last couple of fights and I'm feeling better.

KP: I'm sure your opponents would agree you knocked out both of them. Getting back to Randy, do you feel like you had the right strategy the first time around?

CL: I feel like I had the right strategy, I just didn't execute well. He executed his game plan real well and I didn't. That made the difference in the fight.

KP: Randy is very good at putting his opponents on their back. He was able to get you there, but you were able to get up a few times. You just weren't able to put him away. You did hit him with a few pretty good shots though. Did it surprise you at all that he took those shots?

CL: I knew that I hit him with some good shots; I just didn't have the energy to follow up. I saw him hurt a couple of times but I just didn't have the gas to jump on him the way that I did Tito. When I hurt Tito a little bit, I think I threw unanswered punches by the time it was done.

KP: Both you and Randy have displayed respect for each other and have even seemed pretty friendly towards each other. Does that have any effect on you when you fight?

CL: It won't affect me at all. I mean, I think he's a great guy, but that really has nothing to do with us fighting each other. I'm still going to go out and try to hurt him.

KP: You both seem to bring that same attitude: that it's a competition inside of the ring and it doesn't really change things outside of the ring.

CL: Yeah. Me and him are going to try and beat each other. That's the game we play.

KP: This fight is for Randy's light heavyweight title. How important is it to you to get that title?

CL: Obviously, the main thing is for me to beat Randy, but getting the title is huge for me too. That's one thing that I haven't really gotten my whole career, that world title belt. This is my chance and I really need to capitalise on it. I'm not going to get too many more.

KP: Randy is up over 40 now and he's always asked how much longer he will fight. What about you, Chuck? You've been fighting for a long time now. Have you ever thought about how much longer you are going to keep fighting?

CL: I still enjoy it, and as long as I still enjoy it I'll keep fighting. My body can still react. I can still fire. I enjoy what I do.

KP: What happens if you lose this fight? Where does Chuck Liddell go from here?

CL: I haven't really thought about that. I will cross that bridge if I have to.

KP: At UFC 51 Tito Ortiz won his fight against Vitor Belfort in a split decision. Did you feel that Tito won that fight?

CL: You know, it was close enough that it could have gone either way, but I thought he lost the fight. But the judges obviously didn't.

KP: After the fight Tito called out Ken Shamrock and he called you out. Is a second fight with Tito a fight that you would take again?

CL: Of course, that's a fun fight for me. I'll knock him out again anytime he wants. I already knocked him out once. I don't know why he's calling me out. It's not like it was close.

KP: Is there anything about Tito that you think he has improved to come back and make that a more competitive fight?

CL: He hasn't changed anything at all. I would take the fight any time he wants, but I would be surprised if the UFC got him to get in the ring again. He'll talk, talk, talk. He'll say one thing in public, but what he really will do is something different.

KP: These past couple of years you've really grown in popularity. With the popularity of The Ultimate Fighter reality series a lot more people have gotten to see you. How has that affected you? Do you get recognised on the street a lot more now?

CL: It's kind of been more and more. It's been at a steady pace for me over the last couple of years. I really don't notice it that much. It's a little different. Even at home I'm getting more people coming up to me. It used to be that everyone knew me: "Aw, that's just Chuck." But now I'm not around as much, so more people at home want to talk to me. "Oh, you really live here?" they ask.

KP: Is that distracting at all for you?

CL: It's not really distracting. It's cool. It means the sport is getting bigger and more people know who we are. It has its ups and its downs. I guess, but the sport is getting more notice.

KP: So back to Randy Couture vs Chuck Liddell II, any predictions for April 16?

CL: You know me: I'm planning on knocking him out sometime in that fight. The biggest prediction that I've got is that it's going to be a good fight. We're both coming to fight.