When: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena; Las Vegas, NV
Watch: Pay-Per-View

Here’s the latest on the UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar event:

• Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture @ HW (official) - (UFC Heavyweight Title)
• Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson @ LW (official)
• Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone @ MW
• Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks @ HW

Card subject to change. All matchups are rumored unless stated otherwise.

Check out more UFC 91 content on 5 Oz. of Pain.

I don’t know why they’re calling this the UFC 88 video blog because nothing related to UFC 88 has happened yet. Almost the whole thing has been related to UFC 91 and the upcoming fight between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. Oh well. This video details their trip to Bristol, Connecticut to do a bunch of promotional stuff for ESPN for the Lesnar vs. Couture fight as well as their trip to the premiere of the new season of the HBO series Entourage.

Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture get together on ESPN to talk about their upcoming fight at UFC 91. Good on ESPN for recognizing the importance of this fight for the UFC and not just mentioning on their program but actually bringing the fighters involved on their program and having them talk about the bout.

Here is the second part of Dana White’s UFC 88 video blog featuring the conference call with Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. This video also features the now famous Brock Lesnar line “Who gives a s– about Fedor?” Oh, and apparently Couture and Dana White are buddy-buddy now. Look at that smile on Randy’s face. Money talks, right?

Earlier today we were treated to the announcement from Dana White that Randy Couture would be returning to the UFC. Not only will he be returning to the UFC but he will be fighting Brock Lesnar in a bout that White himself called “the biggest fight in UFC history.” And while it may not be the most meaningful fight in UFC history, he’s very correct in calling it the biggest fight in UFC history. Why? Because this fight and the fighters involved all revolve around one thing: money.

It’s not about whether or not Lesnar is legitimate enough to deserve a title shot. It’s not about what’s going on with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, TUF 8, and the interim title situation. It’s not about where Fabricio Werdum, who was told he would get a title shot sooner than later, goes from here. And it’s almost certainly not about the fight that Randy supposedly left the UFC for, which is the fight with Fedor. It’s about money.

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While reported rumors had been running rampant in recent days, UFC President Dana White made it official on Tuesday afternoon that the promotion’s estrange heavyweight champion Randy Couture has re-signed with the promotion.

Calling it the “biggest fight in UFC history,” White also announced that Couture will be defending his heavyweight title vs. Brock Lesnar in his return at UFC 91 on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Both Couture and White confirmed that all legal issues between all parties have been resolved and Couture is returning to the UFC under terms of a new agreement. Couture revealed that the new contract was for three fights.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will remain the UFC interim heavyweight champion and will defend his title vs. Frank Mir in December. According to White, the winner of Nogueira vs. Mir will fight the winner of Couture vs. Lesnar to determine an undisputed heavyweight champion in what he dubbed as a tournament.

White was asked about a possible fight for Couture against Fedor Emelianenko but White indicated that while the promotion was interested in making it happen, Emelianenko already has an existing contract that they will not attempt to interfere with.

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Saturday, November 19, 2005 is a date I will always remember quite well. It was the date of UFC 56 and the night that UFC President Dana White made a trio of Earth-shattering announcements.

First, White announced that B.J. Penn would be returning to the UFC. It was a shock at the time because Penn had been stripped of the welterweight title and taken to court the year prior after going to Japan to fight for K-1, which the UFC considered a violation of his contract. Right before the announcement was made at UFC 56, Penn and the UFC were set to go to trial a month later and the concept of Penn ever fighting in the UFC again appeared like a long shot.

That same night it was also revealed that Tito Ortiz had not only re-signed with the UFC but would be one of the coaches for the third season “The Ultimate Fighter” and that the opposing coach would be long-time rival Ken Shamrock. Furthermore, it was announced that the two would reprise their classic 2002 showdown at UFC 40 in a pay-per-view rematch following the airing of TUF 3.

Lost in the shuffle was the fact that White also announced a mega-rematch between Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell during the company’s year end show on New Year’s Eve weekend. Two months later the UFC promised another announcement to be made during UFC Fight Night 3 and it delivered when White told the world that Royce Gracie would be returning to the UFC and would fight Matt Hughes at UFC 60 in May later that year.

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Steve Cofield of Yahoo! Sports and ESPN Radio in Las Vegas is reporting that the UFC has called a press conference to take place at 3 p.m. ET. At that time the UFC is expected to announce that it has ended its impasse with UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and that he has agreed to terms on a new three-fight contract with the promotion.

The UFC has confirmed on its website that it will be holding a conference call later today to make a “major announcement” but no reference was made to the subject matter.

The UFC could also announce at the press conference that Couture’s first fight back with the promotion will take place at UFC 91 on Nov. 15 in Portland, Oregon against former NCAA and WWE heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

The new accord ends months of public sniping and litigation between the two parties. The feud between Couture and the UFC became public last October when Couture’s camp announced to the media that he had resigned from the company with two fights remaining on his contract.

At the time, Couture cited the reasons for his departure having to do with the fact that the promotion showed him an overall lack of respect and that it was unable to make a fight happen between he and Fedor Emelianenko.

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Things are moving quite fast with the Randy Couture situation these days. MMA Junkie has a scoop on possible negotiations for Couture to face Fedor Emelianenko in early 2009 contingent upon a victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 91:

The long-rumored heavyweight superfight between UFC champion Randy Couture (16-8 MMA, 8-5 UFC) and WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko (28-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is currently being discussed for an as-yet-unspecified date in January or February of 2009.

Sources inside Couture’s Xtreme Couture camp today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and both fighters.

Adding to previous speculation that Couture’s return may be on Nov. 15 at UFC 91 against Brock Lesnar, Xtreme Couture is also reportedly making travel arrangements to bring in several “larger heavyweights” as sparring partners for Couture.

Sources indicate the Emelianenko bout is contingent upon Couture defeating Lesnar in November.

Things are certainly heating up ladies and gentlemen. Couture vs. Lesnar could perhaps be one of the biggest UFC pay-per-views of all time and should he get past Lesnar then he’d be facing the man that he’s wanted to fight for the longest time, Fedor Emelianenko. Getting past Lesnar will be no easy task, however, as Lesnar is younger, quicker, and much bigger than Couture. A win over Lesnar is not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination.

Various online reports in recent days have surfaced claiming that disgruntled UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has been involved in negotiations with Zuffa about a possible return to the promotion.

Adding additional fuel to those reports is Michael Rome of BloodyElbow.com, who reported Friday that he had confirmed negotiations are indeed taking place between Couture and the UFC. And as first mentioned by FiveOuncesOfPain.com on Thursday, Rome also adds that Couture’s first fight back with the company could take place at UFC 91 on November 15 in Portland, Oregon against Brock Lesnar. It is unclear whether the Couture vs. Lesnar fight would have a title at stake.

According to Rome, the deal currently on the table would not be a settlement that would bring Couture back under the terms of his old deal, but an entirely new deal that would offer an increase in compensation over his old agreement.

Five Ounces of Pain was first informed of the possibility of a Couture return earlier this week but was unable to report the story with complete confidence. However, it is obvious at this point that Couture’s return is more than just a rumor and at some point soon it could become a reality.

In addition to Bloody Elbow, MMAjunkie.com was the first to report earlier this week about the possibility of a Couture return. And after Bloody Elbow published its report last night, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer issued a report of his own as well.

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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.

The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior was released this past Tues, 8/19, on DVD and Blu-ray. Randy Couture plays the big bad guy in the flick, Sargon.

This clip is a behind the scenes look at one of the fight sequences in the movie. Enjoy.

I have read a lot of articles in recent days discussing the not-so-secret secret meeting between Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko in Los Angeles this past Monday. When Couture’s camp leaked the pictures, it was unclear just exactly what the two parties were meeting about. However, recent reports confirmed the two did discuss a potential mega-fight involving the two heavyweight champion fighters. It just so happens that Affliction held several small press gatherings in LA around the same time.

The renewed Couture vs. Fedor talk has prompted some to speculate that a settlement that would allow Couture out of his contract with the UFC could be near. Others have even speculated that the UFC could now be open to a co-promotion that would allow the Fedor vs. Couture fight to happen.

To be honest, it all sounds like wishful thinking to me. While I have read quite a few articles with writers trying to get our hopes up, nobody has reported in any sort of definitive fashion that the UFC’s stance has changed. Until we have proof that the UFC is either open to the idea of letting Couture walk or the possibility of a co-promotion, we have no reason to be any less pessimistic about a Couture vs. Fedor fight than we were three months ago.

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The above is one of several photos being distributed by UFC heavyweight champion (that’s right, he’s still their heavyweight champ) Randy Couture’s camp depicting Couture and WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko socializing Monday night at Los Angeles-area hot spot “STK.”

In the release of the photos there was no mention of business being discussed between either men. Couture has recently been quoted as being less optimistic about a much-anticipated “dream” fight between the two men and there is no word whether the two met regarding a possible fight last night or if the photos are being distributed simply to grab some headlines (in which case, mission accomplished).

Reports indicate that Couture and the UFC have entered into arbitration in recent weeks in an attempt to resolve their long-standing contractual feud. Is there light at the end of the tunnel, or is this just a tease?

Sherdog.com is reporting that current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has suffered another legal setback in his quest to win his contractual freedom from the parent company of the UFC, Zuffa.

Dallas Mavericks and HDNet owner Mark Cuban, acting on Couture’s behalf, had been trying to arrange for a motion for a summary judgment declaring Couture’s contractual status and for it to be heard in a Texas court and away from Zuffa’s home state of Nevada.

Zuffa had filed for a motion to be granted a stay from having the matter ruled on outside of Nevada, which is where the contract had been executed. On Friday, that motion was granted and pending an appeal, Cuban will not be able to have a ruling made on Couture’s current status decided by a Texas court.

The matter is still not closed though, as Cuban is expected to appeal the court’s decision to the Texas Supreme Court.

According to Sherdog, the legal dispute between Zuffa and Couture will now shift back to Las Vegas. The site indicates that arbitration hearings have commenced to try and bring forth a resolution that will end the nine months of contentious relations between the two parties. It is unclear if a settlement of some kind could be a realistic possibility.

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Part 2 after the jump.

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Randy Couture’s autobiography Becoming the Natural is scheduled to debut August 10 on the New York Times expanded best-seller list at 33.

The book, which was co-authored by Sherdog’s Loretta Hunt, was released on July 22 through Simon Spotlight Entertainment and is 304 pages long.

Couture’s life from an early age through present day is chronicled. Specifically addressed is Couture’s search of an elusive father figure, his early days in wrestling, his early days in mixed martial arts, as well as his amazing 2006 comeback in which he defeated Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight title.

The book sales for Couture’s book continue a strong period of sales for autobiographies from MMA athletes such as Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, and Tito Ortiz.

Randy Couture plays Sargon, the main bad guy in the The Scorpion King 2: Rise of A Warrior. The movie will be released on DVD and Blu-ray August 19th. The official website is not yet launched, but the teaser site is here.

EliteXC is slated to return to CBS this Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. While drawing a strong rating in the dead of summer on a Saturday night is not easy, all indications are that the promotion will return to the Tiffany network in September or October, regardless of the ratings.

This Saturday’s show will be headlined by a EliteXC middleweight title rematch between incumbent Robbie Lawler and challenger Scott Smith, but the fall show is expected to have additional star power with the anticipated return of both Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Gina Carano.

Since defeating James Thompson via TKO in the main event of EliteXC’s inaugural telecast on CBS on May 31, Slice has kept a relatively low profile. However, ProElite chairman Doug DeLuca offered an update on the former Internet street fighting sensation during a conference call last week. He also used the opportunity to defend him against some of his critics.

“He’s training hard,” said DeLuca. “Kimbo is flying back and forth between Miami and California; he’s training with his team. The thing I will say about Kimbo is that I really don’t understand likes to give him a hard time…

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