Report: Couture willing to fight one more time for UFC
MMA Junkie is reporting that sources close to Randy Couture are saying that the current UFC heavyweight champion is willing to fight in the UFC one more time:
Multiple sources close to the fighter, speaking exclusively to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), today said that Couture is willing to fight once more for the UFC, possibly before the end of the year, as a potential resolution to his ongoing legal battles with the fight promotion.
However, Couture himself could not be reached for comment, and it’s unknown if the UFC is even considering the offer at this point.
According to one source, as part of Couture’s concession to return the octagon, the 45-year-old UFC hall-of-famer would want to walk away “clear and free” from the organization after the bout.
There have been some rumors going around the past few days that Couture will be booked on a show before year’s end. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir are set to face off for the interim championship in December so it’s hard to tell who Couture would face. However, industry sources have informed FiveOuncesOfPain.com in recent days that one idea that might have been put on the table by the UFC was a headlining match between Couture and Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 on Nov. 15 in Portland, Ore.
I know it’s silly to still think of Couture as the champion but that’s legitimately what he is. If a match between Couture and Lesnar was signed — and right now it the matchup should be viewed as nothing more than speculation — it’s unclear whether Lesnar would be allowed to compete for a title with just one win in the UFC. Nogueira is still considered the interim champion so how would they handle Couture’s return? Would they bring him back as champion? Or would they just automatically regard the title that Nogueira holds as the real championship?
If they do bring him back as champion then what if he wins? Then they’re stuck in a situation where he vacates the true title while Nog and Mir fight for an interim title. Couture returning would most certainly muddy up the division and the title picture but it sure would be great to see him get in the cage again and show the world that at 45 years old that he still has what it takes to hang with today’s heavyweights.
Adam Morgan is
| All posts by Adam Morgan
Rece Rock
edub
Dufresne
hindsightufuk
JabCrossHook
Jstew3785
3OAM
Angry Mike
cocoonofhorror
crane_style
While I agree that giving Lesnar a title shot after only one victory in the UFC would be strange, I think Dana could book this fight for the following reasons: 1) it gives him a huge headliner fight on a currently lackluster card and 2) Lesnar is the only heavyweight in the UFC right now who could not simply defeat Randy, but he could do it in devastating, dominating fashion.
I think it’s safe to assume that Randy wants to get this last fight out of the way so he can move on and fight Fedor outside the UFC, and it’s also safe to assume that Dana will do everything in his power to send him out with a loss, preferably one that will damage Randy’s aura as much as possible. Regardless of whether you think Randy would win a fight against Lesnar or not, Lesnar is the best candidate for that.
Lesnar holding the UFC strap after only 2 wins in the Octagon is a better scenario for Dana than Randy winning his last UFC fight and (theoretically) leaving the promotion with their belt in his hand.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I love Randy, but if he hadn’t decided that the only opponent worthy of him was Fedor and broken his contract, we could have have seen Randy vs. Nog earlier this year and Randy would be out of his contract and we’d get to see him fight Fedor this fall (if affliction hadn’t made it happen in July) If he had re-signed with the UFC we could see Randy vs Mir and then Randy vs Lesnar this year.
The longer this goes on the worse Randy looks.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
There is no clean way to deal with this and it will be impossile to please everyone but I can’t see them allowing him back for one fight. What does the UFC gain if he leaves on a win?
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I don’t understand what UFC has to gain by letting Couture out in this manner (one fight rather than two). To me, it seems like this is the worst option for the UFC, unless Couture gets slaughtered.
Possible UFC courses of action…:
They could let this drag out in the courts for so long that Couture is either too old to fight or has to return to the UFC for 2 more fights. At which point , he’d likely to be too old to be viable for another org. It’s hardball, but the benefits are obvious.
-or-
They could be magnanimous and let him out. But if they were of the mindset to do that, they’d've done it by now. This would benefit the UFC in PR, and by letting them legitimize Nogueira’s interim-reign.
It sure seems that if the UFC allows him one fight and out, it provides them with the worst of both scenarios.
I’m sure I’m missing about a gazillion factors here. I sure would like to read something from someone who knows more about this than I (a very large group of people).
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Couture has a lot riding on this fight too. Say he loses, is the Fedor fight still going to be on, or will it have as much stigma??
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Just go back to the old tournament format and have Nog. Vs Mir and Randy Vs Brock at the start of the show give us 5-6 other fights and let the 2 winners come back and fight for the title at the end of the night. Randy could possibly fulfill his 2 remaining fights in one night or could be one and done either way it would be great.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Couture and Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 on Nov. 15?
BOOK MY FLIGHT NOW!
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
No way this is going to happen. Both possible outcomes are bad. If Couture loses he may cost himself the fight with Fedor (his man crush). If Couture wins the UFC is still in the same position……the recognized champ is fighting Fedor in six months. I cant see this working out.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
My guess would be, if he comes back, he will be stripped of the title as part of the deal.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I think Fedor should just stick to his guns and ride the court thing out until the end and if he loses then just retire with honor. I want to see the fedor fight happen but if the UFC has no respect for him then whats the point of fighting for them anymore. I don’t see why he should have to work somewhere that he hates, and is mistreated by the company. I’m behind Randy all the way because he truely is captain america after his last two fights. The UFC pisses me off and I have lost respect for them, Elite XC seems to have some good fighters as does affliction, I hope they can do well and the UFC can just wither away.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I live close to Portland and i’m going to this ufc reguardless who is on the card but Lesner-Couture I would die to see live.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Randy at 205 solves the belt issue. Opponent is muddy, though.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Couture is still trying to break his contract with this offer and the UFC would only allow one legitmate way out of this for him. He faces Lesnar, if Randy loses they cut him free but if Randy wins he has to go on and face the winner or Mir/Nog. I think its safe to say the only reason Randy wants a one fight deal is because he’s avoiding the loss. I don’t care what anyone thinks Randy would beat Lesnar, there is no doubt in my mind about this but Randy would not beat Nog I don’t even think he’d beat Mir. By doing this the UFC looks better because Randy will lose a fight regardless.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
This isn’t news. Compromises offered from the weaker position are empty. Continue to look at the facts when talking about Randy – The UFC won’t let him leave without 2 fights and a loss. If he wins, the Champion’s clause continues to lock him in until he loses. The loss obviously makes a non-UFC fight with Fedor substantially less interesting and financially less rewarding.
It’s my understanding that he’ll have to wait until 2010 to be free and clear.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Couture and Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 on Nov. 15 in Portland, Ore.?
Book my flight!
- Vince
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I don’t believe this garbage for one second. Would the fight with Lesnar be for the title then, Big Nog and Mir for the #1 contender spot. It might be a little bit more believeable if he were to fight Nog but I am not buying this shit that he is going to fight Lesnar and the UFC will let him walk out so he can plan the biggest fight in MMA history without them.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
“If he wins, the Champion’s clause continues to lock him in until he loses.”
Why do people continue to bring up the champion’s clause like it hasn’t been struck down before (BJ Penn)?
If this scenerio were to unfold, I see Couture being stripped of the title and Nog becoming the undisputed champion followed by a Couture/Lesnar headlining bout.
Then we’ll all see why Randy didn’t want to fight anyone but Fedor: Lesnar will brutalize him and prove Randy is NOT anywhere close to being the second or third best heavyweight in the world.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Yea Batman
UFC is just going to wither away while Elite XC explodes with Ken Shamrock and Kimbo fights! If Lesner Couture happens it could hit 1 million PPV potentially. Do the math- We all wanted to see Fedor vs randy happen, but why would the UFC co promote- they offered fedor over a million signing bonus and another million plus for the fight for a 1 fight deal. You can have Kimbo if that is what you want. It is just a matter of time before Jake Shields is in the ufc and Elite XC goes under. Stating that is like saying you are supporting the XFL while waiting for the NFL to go down. Not going to happin
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Well, Sergio, its certainly relevant as the UFC intends on enforcing it as far as it will go. Its also why Randy wasn’t willing to just take two more fights and move on – he didn’t want to risk having his contract rolled over. Its also one of the main sticking point in the Fedor negotiations.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Great idea on the Tournament JBAR. Its would be fantastic to see the old Pride at its best. Let Brock fight Randy, I would make a killing on the fight betting on Lesnar!
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I cant believe I am saying this after only three mma fights but I think Lesner would beat Randy after him taking so much time off- Randy Is awesome, but I just cant see how he would stuff lesnor shots or deal with his ground and pound. He sure as hell wont KO Lesner. Can you believe the hype Lesner would get if he did beat Randy- UFC is giving him no favors at all if this happens- I mean Nog and Mir are terrible matchups for Brock but if he beats randy who knows what would happen
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Bill Lumberg…what ground and pound does Brock have? He sat on herring for the whole fight?
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Mike… What ground and pound does Lesnar have? Watch what he did to Min Soo Kim… It was hard for Lesnar to GP Herring, because Herring was turtled up the whole time.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I just want to see Randy “Captain America” Couture fight again. If he fought Brock Lesnar in his home state of Oregon, that would be awesome. Zuffa and Mr. Couture should come to agreement that win or lose, Randy can leave on his own accord. If Randy wins that bout, personally, I’d prefer if he fought the winner of Minotauro Nogueira/Frank Mir.
The dream bout for me would be Nogueira vs. Couture. I really, really want that fight to happen. My money would be on Nogueira because I don’t think Randy could take him inside 5 rounds or by decision. Seeing what would actually transpire would be a unbelievable.
Emelianenko vs. Couture still sounds good as well but Fedor isn’t embattled with Zuffa so…he can wait longer. It’s not like he doesn’t have his mind on other fighter’s in other various promotion’s either. If the Fedor/Randy event does happen. I’d prefer that it’d take place in the UFC some time next year but at this point, anywhere would do just fine.
Enjoy your weekend everyone. Cheers!!!
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I love to sit here and read all these comments about how Lesnar would beat Randy. Let all you nay-sayers bet on Lesnar. Randy would come out of that fight on top, no question in my min about it. I would even go so far as to say he could, if the fight ever happens, beat Fedor.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
It wouldn’t HAVE to screw up the HW division. Remember, Couture has fought at 205 in the past and could easily make that. IF he comes back by the end of the year, I’d be willing to bet they put him against Machida.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Sorry Mike your right- Lesner has no grond and pound what so ever. His automic knees from the ground did nothing to herring either. I bet you think Frank Mir didnt shit himself either from the ground and pound he was getting. Look Mir caught him in a great move. But if you think Randy can handle Lesner on the ground you are crazy. I dont see how randy can win this fight, but if he does I respect him more then ever. He is a stud
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
I interviewed Brock Lesnar today on behalf of Harley-Davidson at Harley’s 105th Anniversary Gala in Milwaukee, for Harley’s web site. The purpose of the interview was to get Lesnar (and the other fighters in attendance) to talk about his bike and MMA in general. I made it a point to ask Lesnar about his next opponent and he immediately refused to comment. When I asked him about the rumors surrounding a Couture bout, he basically said: “I really can’t talk about that right now.” I pressed him more and asked him what he thought of a match-up against Couture in general and at that point, he asked to shift the focus of the interview back to his career and MMA in general.
Make of that what you will, but in my opinion, the fact that he immediately stonewalled all questions about his next opponent and specifically dropped a “no comment” about all Couture questions (as opposed to simply denying a fight was in the works) may mean that something is in the works by virtue of those very omissions.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
LOL to have herring on the ground like he was some baby and not be able to put him away means he has no ground and pound… he had full mount twice and couldnt do a thing…Who gives a shit what he did to Min soon Kim i would have put up a better fight and I’ve never done MMA. Dont get my wrong I like Lesnar and think he will be a force with some more training but when people talk about him like he has some amazing ground and pound game is ridiculous.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0
Wow. Just one word.
Agree or Disagree:
0 
0