Fighter Profile: Randy "The Natural" Couture

Overall Record: 17-10

UFC Record: 13-7

Hometown: Everett, WA

Height: 6’1” Weight: 225

Age: 46

Randy “The Natural” Couture is a former collegiate wrestler and coach who transitioned into a successful mixed martial artist. Although he has fought as a light heavyweight in the past, Couture is currently fighting out of the UFC heavyweight division. Shortly after beginning his fighting career he, along with Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson, formed Team Quest, a training center located in the Northwest part of the United States. In 2005 Couture became the owner and operator of the Las Vegas based Xtreme Couture, which now has affiliate centers all across the United States.

Before he became “The Natural,” Randy Couture was a very successful high school wrestler in the Washington area. He also wrestled competitively throughout his stay with the United States Army, made three Olympic teams, as an alternate, and then was an All-American at Oklahoma State University. He also stayed active as an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at Oregon State University.

Couture jumped right into the deep end of MMA, making his debut May 1997 in a four man tournament at UFC 13. He stopped both of his opponents in the 1st round to win the heavyweight bracket of the tourney. His work was not finished; hammering Vitor Belfort via TKO at UFC 15 then captured his first heavyweight title when he took a decision over kickboxer Maurice Smith at UFC: Ultimate Japan. He didn’t hold the belt long, getting stripped of his title when he became engaged in a contractual dispute.

Over the next three years Couture spent his time fighting in Japan between Vale Tudo Japan and the Rings organization. It was there that he suffered his first two losses, losing consecutive matches against Enson Inoue and Mikhail Illoukhine. He then entered into the Rings 2000 King of Kings tournament, winning his first two matches before coming to an agreement with the UFC.

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He returned by recapturing the UFC title in 2000 at UFC 28 with a TKO victory against Kevin Randleman. Before he defended his newly recaptured title he returned to Japan to try and win the highly competitive 2000 King of Kings tourney. He made it through to the final, losing to Valentijn Overeem via guillotine choke only 56 seconds in. Rings folded a short time after and Couture focused his time on defending his title in the UFC.

The first fighter to challenge for the heavyweight belt was heavy handed Brazilian striker Pedro Rizzo. He stopped Rizzo’s attempt to dethrone him as the champion at both UFC 31 and UFC 34. He wasn’t as lucky against Josh Barnett at UFC 36, losing when Barnett bombarded him with strikes. Barnett was stripped of his title shortly after UFC 36, due to steroids, thus leaving the heavyweight division vacant of a champion once again. At UFC 39 Couture controlled his opponent, Ricco Rodriguez for much of the fight but suffered the loss in the 5th round after Rodriguez caught him with a flurry of strikes.

After being manhandled by larger heavyweights, Couture made the drop to the light heavyweight division at UFC 43 in June of 2003. He took on Chuck Liddell for the vacant LHW title, and became the first to win a UFC title in two different weight classes, knocking Liddell out in the 3rd round. He would also defend the title against five time champion Tito Ortiz, winning by way of unanimous decision at UFC 44.

After coaching on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, he met Liddell again at UFC 52, losing his title when Liddell handed Couture his first ever KO loss. After a submission victory against Mike Van Arsdale at UFC 54, he would fight Liddell, who was then the champion, in a rubber match. He wasn’t able to execute his game plan, losing via 2nd round KO. That wasn’t the only surprise on that particular night, Couture announced his retirement in the ring saying that it would be the last time he would enter the octagon as a fighter.

Four months after losing to Liddell for the second time and announcing his retirement, Couture became the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He wasn’t retired even a year before signing a two-year, four-fight contract to return to the UFC. At UFC 68, “The Natural” demonstrated that he still had world class stamina, by controlling Tim Sylvia for all three rounds and winning a unanimous decision to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship. At 44 years old, Couture became the first person to win five separate titles in the UFC. He dominated Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74, winning via TKO, despite fighting with a broken arm to defend his heavyweight title.

From October 11th, 2007 through September 2nd, 2008 Couture left the UFC, stating that a failed bout with Fedor Emelianenko as a factor, although it was believed he was unhappy with compensation from the UFC. After legal battles and back and forth bantering, the UFC and Couture came to an agreement for a three fight deal. His first fight back was a tough task, losing his title to mammoth former professional wrestler, Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 via 2nd round TKO.

Although he is not as quick as he once was, Couture is now known as a master planner, executioner and technician. He next will test his skills at UFC 102 near his hometown in Portland, Oregon against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. With a victory Couture will likely vault back towards the top of a crowded heavyweight division and get closer to yet, another title opportunity.

Recent Randy Couture MMA News:

• Defeated Brandon Vera by Unanimous Decision at UFC 105 on November 14, 2009 - UFC 105 results

• Defeated Mark Coleman in the main event at UFC 109 on February 6, 2010 - UFC 109 results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Published July 2009

Photo courtesy of UFC