Fighter of the Month: April 2011 – Randy “The Natural” Couture
By Justin Bolduc
Fighter of the Month: Randy Couture
Event: UFC 129: GSP vs. Shields (April 30)
Opponent: Lyoto Machida
Result: Second round knockout loss
Despite losing just weeks ago only sixty-five seconds into the second round, Randy Couture has retired from mixed martial arts on his own terms, ending a fourteen year legacy. Couture’s final bout was against former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who used a kick similar to teammate Anderson Silva to finish Couture at UFC 129 on April 30.
Couture began his professional mixed martial arts career in 1997 by winning two bouts at UFC 13. He then stopped Vitor Belfort at UFC 15 before winning a decision over Maurice Smith at UFC 15.5. “The Natural” then suffered back to back losses to Enson Inoue and Mikhail Illoukhine outside of the UFC before picking up a pair of wins in Rings against Jeremy Horn and Ryushi Yanagisawa.
Returning to the UFC, Couture stopped former UFC champion Kevin Randleman with strikes before returning to Rings for two more appearances. There he defeated Japanese legend Tsuyoshi Kohsaka but was submitted by Valentijn Overeem.
Following his final stint in Rings, Couture returned to the UFC as his permanent home. Couture fought two wars with Pedro Rizzo before losing the promotion’s title to Josh Barnett. After losing his next bout against Ricco Rodriguez, Couture moved to light heavyweight where he earned wins over Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. Couture then lost a rematch with Belfort due to a cut forty-nine seconds into the bout, but in an immediate rubber match stopped the Brazilian.
Couture rematched Chuck Liddell at UFC 52, losing by knockout, but earned a submission win due to an anaconda choke over Mike Van Arsdale in a great rebound fight. In a rubber match with Liddell, Couture was once again knocked out and announced his retirement.
One year later Couture re-emerged in the heavyweight division where he won a lopsided decision against Tim Sylvia to claim the UFC’s championship. After a successful TKO defense against Gabriel Gonzaga, Couture lost back-to-back bouts against Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Returning to the light heavyweight division Couture edged out Brandon Vera before submitting Mark Coleman and boxer James Toney. Couture’s most recent bout was his loss to Lyoto Machida. Prior to the bout Couture announced that win or lose he would exit the sport.
Couture’s achievements in the sport, as well as beating the odds as an underdog and through age, and his championships in the UFC’s heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions have earned him PDG’s Fighter of the Month.
