“Randy Couture’s Return”
With the rumors swirling around like dust in a twister, I had to sit back and wait to hear it with my own two ears. Last Thursday, on “Inside the UFC” Randy Couture let those magical words escape his lips, telling the world that he was returning to active competition and his first fight would be to challenge UFC heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, for his belt. Suddenly, the UFC got a whole lot more interesting. Before I go further, please allow me to dive into the mud an utter a four-letter world masquerading in seven:
Randy Fucking Couture is coming back!
I know, any fool can rip off a vulgarity but I’ll be damned if that isn’t just about the best way possible to describe how cool is Couture’s return. Oh, I know, I know, this is horrible. He’s an old man. This is just like Sakuraba. Sylvia’s too big. This could be ugly. Do we really want to see our legends get destroyed? I get it. And I don’t care, because it’s Randy Couture and he’s signed a four-fight deal.
First, the notion that Couture is a “Sakuraba” is a misnomer. Randy isn’t someone physically beaten down by years of ridiculous punishment. When Randy last stepped in the cage, your average fans thoughts were more likely, “This old man is in great shape and is still tough as hell,” not, “Look at him. He’s a shell of his former self. It looks like he can barely walk.” Sure, he lost twice to Chuck Liddell, but how exactly is that an indictment of his skill? Younger fighters, in their clear prime, like Tito Ortiz and Renato Sobral have been summarily destroyed by Liddell, so forgive me if I don’t exactly think Couture’s two losses are proof positive that he’s done. Don’t get me wrong, Couture may be finished as an elite fighter, but I’m not going to write him off just yet.
I’m going to assume that Randy really wants to fight out his full contract, so how can the UFC maximize that? You’ve got to know that Couture wants to compete. I’m sure he saw these huge checks being handed out to Ortiz, Liddell, and Hughes, and knew that he paved the way for that to happen and wanted a piece of it, but Couture is a man driven to compete throughout his life. If there weren’t the possibility of a nice 7-figure paycheck would he do it? I don’t know. But I’ve seen an awful lot of professional athletes who can’t seem to hang it up. Ricky Henderson, maybe the greatest leadoff hitter of his generation, continually played baseball, well past his prime, for damn near any team that would take him. You and I may not understand why someone in their 40’s wants to put themselves through the physical abuse of training, but we’re not world-class athletes either. Since Randy wants to compete, he’s going to take on the biggest challenge he thinks he can. Tim Sylvia’s a nice sized fellow, in case you hadn’t noticed.
If Couture beats Sylvia, and there’s certainly a good chance that could happen, then the UFC wins big time. The UFC heavyweight title, easily the most disrespected belt in the sport, would have instant credibility. Plus, the story would be the most incredible in UFC history. I’m of the opinion that it was the rise of Randy Couture that really made the biggest difference, not the only difference but the biggest, in whatever mainstream acceptance the UFC has gained. I think that to your average sports writer, Couture was real. The UFC may have been a barbaric, glorified cockfight, but Randy was an Olympic caliber wrestler beating men a decade his junior. He was the real life Rocky, a true inspiration. When Joe Rogan famously said, “This man is my hero,” it was the perfect summation of what everyone watching was thinking. His first comeback was nothing short of incredible, but if he could do it again, I don’t even know what to think. I’m not sure if it would show up at the box office, and honestly I doubt it will too much because there’s a ceiling to how big the UFC is going go get right now. However, if Randy hoists that heavyweight title above his head for a third time, I cannot believe there will be a single person watching not saying again, either aloud or silently, “That man is my hero.”
And if Sylvia beats Randy, he’ll finally have that high profile victory he needs. Either way, the important thing is that a Sylvia having beaten Couture, or a Couture having just won the belt, is a great champion for Mirko CroCop to challenge. Yes, when it’s all said and done this is all about Mirko CroCop.
But back to Randy. A loss to Sylvia would probably convince Couture that he just can’t go at the top level anymore, and it would definitively signal that he should walk away. If that’s the case, then he should have one last fight. A big payday facing someone the world knows better than anyone else, that Couture should get an easy “W” against: Ken Shamrock. Actually, no matter what happens with his likely March title shot, I believe his follow-up fight needs to be against Ken Shamrock.
“Mike, Shamrock’s retired.”
Sure, and I’ve got a bridge to sell you. I don’t think Shamrock’s done until a commission stops him for good. Too much money is at stake, and it’s too much a part of his blood. Remember, Ken’s a pro wrestler at heart, and when was the last time you saw one of those retire? Unlike Couture, Shamrock is much closer to an American-Sakuraba, but I don’t think a fight with Randy would do too much damage to Shamrock. Mirko CroCop or Chuck Liddell would be criminal opponents for “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” but Randy Couture’s style has never been about that one hammer-from-the-heavens blow that leaves men out colder than a bald polar bear. Besides, both are close enough in age that, at least from the outside, it wouldn’t appear to be as much of a mismatch. Remember, to your average MMA fan, the guy who just started watching this past year, Ken Shamrock is still a badass human being. The same folks that believed Royce Gracie would tap Matt Hughes could easily be convinced into believe that Shamrock-Couture would be a 50/50 fight. Shamrock can verbally sell a fight better than anyone in the game, and I’m sure he could talk a few folks into watching him and Couture go at it. If Randy beats Sylvia, it also gives him one successful title defense. If he looks bad against the “Maine-iac”, it gives him a chance to go out on top and net one more mega payday.
If Randy has the belt, and he’s defeated Shamrock (I really can’t imagine Shamrock beating Couture under any circumstances), then you go ahead and match him with Mirko CroCop. By that time, CroCop should have a minimum of two nice little KO wins in the Octagon and will be as ready as ever for a title shot. If Randy beats the Croatian, I don’t know what you do. Maybe just retire the heavyweight division forever because how could you possibly have a champion follow that? Perhaps Couture could fight Arlovski, who should also have a long streak of wins by then, but if he beats Mirko, would the Russian fare better? More likely, CroCop would beat Randy and Couture could finally ride off into the sunset. He’d have returned to collect the big money, proved to everyone he could still go, and forever be one great color commentator.
Even if Randy loses to Sylvia, then beats Shamrock, a fight with CroCop is still a possibility. For the same reason that Tim needs a fight with Couture to make himself legit, CroCop might as well. While I fully expect that CroCop will get over to the UFC fans, one can never have too many high-profile knockouts on their record.
As for a trip back down to light heavyweight, it’s a risk. I don’t think people will buy him against Liddell. Ortiz and Rampage Jackson are certainly great matches, and I feel both would do big money (assuming that Jackson gets over like almost everyone assumes), but the problem is that Randy might beat them both. Unless Jackson is the light heavyweight champion, him facing Randy is too risky. A loss eliminates Rampage from immediate title contention and for what? Again, people aren’t going to believe that Couture can compete with Chuck, so what was gained? Ortiz is a better match, because for the foreseeable future he’s finished as a challenger to Chuck, so at least him and Couture fighting doesn’t hurt any future money matches. Plus, they have a history and are still two dynamic personalities that people will pay to see fight. And if Rampage loses to Liddell, then maybe you can match him against Couture. A win will serve to bolster Rampage’s credentials for another Liddell fight. A Couture win and maybe – MAYBE – you can get people to buy a fourth fight against Chuck. That’s a big maybe though.
The other possible money fight for Randy is against Forrest Griffin. Again, it’s probably too risky. Griffin can be a big star, and make very good money challenging anyone for the LHW title, IF HE’S PROTECTED! The UFC showed a complete lack of foresight in booking him against Keith Jardine. It was a tough fight that Griffin (obviously) had a chance to lose, and it wasn’t like Jardine was anyone the general public would care to see fight for the title. Until Forrest makes that first title challenge, he should be protected like an egg surrounded by swinging hammers. After he fights for the belt, assuming he gets beat, then maybe you can put him in there with Couture.
Ultimately (no pun intended), Couture’s return is delicate. Every fight he takes should be one where his winning or losing leads to bigger business. Zuffa has done a remarkable job of creating new stars out of the old. The UFC made Ortiz a star by having him beat the aged Ken Shamrock. Hughes got over by beating the legendary Royce Gracie. It’s sounds callous and cold, and is, but Couture should be treated in the same way. The time has come for him to be a building block for the future.
Make sure to listen to Mike Coughlin every week as he hosts Five Star Radio, found exclusively at f4wonline.com
For the most in-depth and detailed news and analysis on pro-wrestling and MMA, always turn to Figure Four Weekly Online! Become a member of F4Wonline.com and get the absolute latest insider news and commentary from WWE, TNA, UFC, PRIDE, CMLL, AAA, ROH, K-1, all the wrestling and MMA independents, Japan, and so much more, all for as little as $1.20 per week. Members get giant newsletter (250+ issues), radio show (150+ episodes of Figure Four Daily, The Bryan & Vinny Show, Mike Coughlin's Five Star Radio, and The Adam & Mike Big Audio Nightmare), Coughlin, Keith Lipinski, and Derek Burgan archives, the brand new VINNY'S BLOG~!, Bryan Alvarez's archived columns from Fighting Spirit Magazine and Penthouse, and complete access to our news, interview, and TV/DVD archives dating back to 2005. For your convenience, we offer secure online payments using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover card or PayPal account. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up now!
Want full access within one minute? QUICK AND EASY $6.95 PAYPAL SIGN-UP!
Send us a news tip: newstips@wrestlingobserver.com
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news from this site or from our newsletters, please include a link to www.wrestlingobserver.com
For the most in-depth and detailed news and analysis on pro-wrestling and MMA, always turn to Wrestlingobserver.com/Figure Four Weekly Online, the #1 website of its kind on the Internet. Members receive online access to both the Wrestling Observer and Figure Four Weekly newsletters and growing archives, Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer three times per week, the popular Bryan and Vinny Show twice per week, additional radio shows including Figure Four Daily with Alvarez, Mike Coughlin's Five Star Radio, the Dr. Keith Lipinski Show, The Adam and Mike Big Audio Nightmare, Tough Talk and the Karl Stern Wrestling History Show, the infamous BOARD, and more! Members also have full access to the thousands of hours of audio in our radio show archives which date back to 2005. For your convenience, we offer secure online payments using your VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover card or PayPal account. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up now! Don\'t miss out on the fun, sign up now!
Want full access? QUICK AND EASY $10.99 SIGNUP!
