Randy Couture
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| Randy Couture | |
|---|---|
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname | The Natural, Captain America |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (186 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Born | June 22, 1963 |
| Fighting out of | Las Vegas, Nevada. |
| Town of birth | Lynnwood, Washington |
| Fighting style | Greco-Roman Wrestling |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 6 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 0 |
Randy Duane Couture (born June 22, 1963, Lynnwood, Washington, U.S.) is a retired Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial arts competitor, and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is the only athlete to have held championship titles in both the Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, earning him the nicknames "The Natural" and, later, "Captain America". He, along with Robert Follis, also once headed Team Quest, a stable of fighters based out of Portland, Oregon. In 2005, Couture moved to Las Vegas, where he still resides.
Couture lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout most of his professional career. He also served as an assistant wrestling coach and strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University. Couture's preferred method of offense in mixed martial arts competition was what is commonly referred to as 'Ground and Pound', in which a fighter utilizes his wrestling ability by taking his opponent down to the mat, establishing top position, and launching down a series of blows upon his opponent. However, in addition to his wrestling background, Couture has displayed a variety of skills in both boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has submitted two opponents using different chokeholds.
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[edit] Biography
Before entering the UFC, Randy Couture served in the U.S. Army from 1982–1988. Upon discharge, he was a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996); a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials; a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association D-I All-American; and a two-time NCAA finalist.[1]
Randy Couture debuted in the UFC on May 30, 1997 as part of UFC 13: The Ultimate Force. At the time, the event consisted of two four-man tournaments: one in the lightweight (under 200 lb) division and one in the heavyweight (200 lb and over) division. Couture fought in the heavyweight tournament, defeating Tony Halme and Steven Graham to win it. His next match was an elimination bout for the heavyweight title against the young Brazilian "Phenom", Vitor Belfort. Randy scored a TKO victory.
Couture won his first Heavyweight title via decision in a 1997 match against kickboxer Maurice Smith. Couture was afterwards stripped of the title when he could not come to contractual terms with the UFC and its parent company at the time, Semaphore Entertainment Group. After leaving the UFC, Couture signed with the RINGS organization, a fightsport promotion primarily based out of Japan. His tenure with RINGS would prove to be short-lived. He returned to the UFC in 2000, where he recaptured the Heavyweight title from Kevin Randleman at UFC 28 on November 17 of that year.
After two consecutive losses in the heavyweight division to larger opponents, including a title loss to Josh Barnett, Couture moved down a weight class to fight at 205 lbs in the UFC's light-heavyweight division where he stayed for the remainder of his fighting career. In his light-heavyweight debut, Couture took on long-time number one contender Chuck Liddell for the Interim Light-Heavyweight Championship. Couture emerged victorious by TKO in the third round, and became the only competitor to win championship titles in two weight classes. His next bout was billed as a "Champion Vs. Champion" fight in order to settle who was the rightful, undisputed champion of the division; Couture faced the five-time defending champion Tito Ortiz for the Undisputed Light-Heavyweight title. He controlled the younger Ortiz throughout the five rounds of the fight, scoring a unanimous decision and becoming UFC's Undisputed Light-Heavyweight Champion at age 40.
On April 16, 2005, Couture lost his title and suffered the first knockout-loss of his career in a rematch with Chuck Liddell. Couture came back in August with a win over Mike van Arsdale to reestablish himself as a top contender. He faced Liddell again for the third and final time in a title match on February 4, 2006 at UFC 57; he did not succeed, however, and once again suffered a knockout-loss. Immediately after the match, he announced his retirement from the sport.
On June 24, 2006, during the Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale broadcast on Spike TV, Couture became the fourth fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, joining Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, and Ken Shamrock.
Couture, now retired from "the Octagon", has embarked on a variety of activities, including appearing at UFC events as a broadcast commentator. He will also appear in the upcoming Rob Schneider comedy Big Stan, along with MMA fighters Don Frye and Bob Sapp. He still competes athletically, although not in mixed martial arts. Couture competed in a submission wrestling match with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza on November 17, 2006. The bout ended in a draw.[2]
[edit] MMA record
| Professional MMA: 22 fights, 14 Wins (6 TKOs, 2 submissions, 4 decisions), 8 Losses (2 KOs, 2 TKOs, 4 submissions). | ||||||||
| Fight Number | Date | Result | Round, Time | Method | Opponent | Nationality | Event | Notes |
| 22 | February 4, 2006 | Loss | R2 1:28 | KO | Chuck Liddell | USA | UFC 57 | For UFC Light Heavyweight Title Couture announces retirement after this match. |
| 21 | August 20, 2005 | Win | R3 0:52 | Submission (Anaconda Choke) | Mike Van Arsdale | USA | UFC 54 | |
| 20 | April 16, 2005 | Loss | R1 2: 06 | KO | Chuck Liddell | USA | UFC 52 | Loses UFC Light Heavyweight Title |
| 19 | August 21, 2004 | Win | R3 | TKO | Vitor Belfort | Brazil | UFC 49 | Wins UFC Light Heavyweight Title |
| 18 | January 31, 2004 | Loss | R1 0:49 | TKO (cut) | Vitor Belfort | Brazil | UFC 46 | Loses UFC Light heavyweight Title |
| 17 | September 26, 2003 | Win | R5 | Decision | Tito Ortiz | USA | UFC 44 | Win unifies UFC Light Heavyweight Title |
| 16 | June 6, 2003 | Win | R3 2:40 | TKO | Chuck Liddell | USA | UFC 43 | Wins UFC Light heavyweight Interim Title |
| 15 | September 27, 2002 | Loss | R5 3:04 | Submission (strikes) | Ricco Rodriguez | USA | UFC 39 | For the vacant UFC Heavyweight Title |
| 14 | March 22, 2002 | Loss | R2 4:35 | TKO | Josh Barnett | USA | UFC 36 | Loses UFC Heavyweight Title |
| 13 | November 2, 2001 | Win | R3 1:38 | TKO | Pedro Rizzo | Brazil | UFC 34 | Defends UFC Heavyweight Title |
| 12 | May 4, 2001 | Win | R5 | Decision | Pedro Rizzo | Brazil | UFC 31 | Defends UFC Heavyweight Title |
| 11 | February 24, 2001 | Loss | R1 0:56 | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Valentijn Overeem | Netherland | RINGS-King of Kings 2000 Final | |
| 10 | February 24, 2001 | Win | R2 | Decision | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | Japan | RINGS-King of Kings 2000 Final | |
| 9 | November 17, 2001 | Win | R3 4:13 | TKO | Kevin Randleman | USA | UFC 28 | Wins UFC Heavyweight Title |
| 8 | October 9, 2000 | Win | R2 | 2-0 Decision | Ryushi Yanagisawa | Japan | RINGS-King of Kings 2000 Block A 2nd match | |
| 7 | October 9, 2000 | Win | R3 5:00 | 3-0 Decision | Jeremy Horn | USA | RINGS-King of Kings 2000 Block A 1st match | |
| 6 | March 20, 1999 | Loss | R1 7:43 | Submission (kimura) | Mikhail Illoukhine | Russia | RINGS-Rise 1st | |
| 5 | October 25, 1998 | Loss | R1 1:39 | Submission (armbar) | Enson Inoue | USA | Vale Tudo Japan’98 | |
| 4 | December 21, 1997 | Win | R1 21:00 | Decision | Maurice Smith | USA | UFC Japan | Wins UFC Heavyweight Title, but leaves over a contract dispute |
| 3 | October 17, 1997 | Win | R1 8:17 | TKO | Vitor Belfort | Brazil | UFC 15 | |
| 2 | May 30, 1997 | Win | R1 3:13 | TKO | Steven Graham | USA | UFC 13 | Wins UFC Heavyweight tournament |
| 1 | May 30, 1997 | Win | R1 0:57 | Submission (rear naked choke) | Tony Halme | Finland | UFC 13 | Pro MMA fighter debut in UFC Heavyweight tournament |
[edit] Honors
- Amateur
- Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg 2nd place (June 13, 1990)
- Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg winner (January 1, 1991)
- Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg 2nd place (January 1, 1992)
- Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97kg 3rd place (May 21, 1997)
- Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97kg 2nd place (March 24, 1998)
- Pan American Games Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg winner (August 6, 1991)
- FILA test tournament Greco-Roman Seniors 97kg 3rd place (March 14, 1998)
- FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg 3rd place (November 9, 1991)
- FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90kg 3rd palce (November 21, 1992)
- Professional
- UFC 13 Heavyweight tournament winner
- Two Time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
- Two Time UFC Heavyweight Champion
- Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame
[edit] See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
- List of UFC champions
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Mixed martial arts
[edit] External links
- Official website
- Team Quest
- Professional MMA record
- The Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Highlight Video
- Randy Couture after announcing his retirement
- Randy Couture training with Kevin James from King of Queens
- Randy Couture at the Internet Movie Database
| Previous winner Vitor Belfort |
UFC 13 Heavyweight tournament winner |
Next winner Mark Kerr |
| Previous champion Maurice Smith |
3rd UFC Heavyweight Champion December 21, 1997 - unknown |
Next champion Bas Rutten |
| Previous champion Kevin Randleman |
6th UFC Heavyweight Champion November 17, 2000 - March 22, 2002 |
Next champion Josh Barnett |
| Previous champion Tito Ortiz |
4th UFC Light Heavyweight Champion June 6, 2003 – September 26, 2003 as Interim |
Next champion Vitor Belfort |
| Previous champion Vitor Belfort |
6th UFC Light Heavyweight Champion |
Next champion Chuck Liddell |
| The Ultimate Fighter - Season 1 | |
|---|---|
| Fighters: Stephan Bonnar | Kenny Florian | Forrest Griffin | Sam Hoger | Alex Karalexis | Josh Koscheck | Chris Leben | Nathan Quarry | Josh Rafferty | Diego Sánchez | Christopher Sanford | Alex Schoenauer | Lodune Sincaid | Bobby Southworth | Mike Swick | Jason Thacker
Coaches: Randy Couture | Chuck Liddell |
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| The Ultimate Fighter - Season 4 | |
|---|---|
| Mikey Burnett | Shonie Carter | Rich Clementi | Patrick Côté | Edwin Dewees | Jeremy Jackson | Travis Lutter | Chris Lytle | Charles McCarthy | Gideon Ray | Jorge Rivera | Pete Sell | Matt Serra | Scott Smith | Pete Spratt | Din Thomas
Trainers: Randy Couture | Georges St. Pierre | Mark DellaGrotte |
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