Randy Couture Returns
Los Angeles - With a pair of basic black boots and trunks, Brock Lesnar needed no gimmick when he burst upon the pro wrestling scene in 2002. Plain and simple, he looked and acted the part of a legitimate badass and had the credentials to back it up, having been a former NCAA champion.
With a long road ahead still left in the courtroom, Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer and current heavyweight champion Randy Couture needed no further time away from the fighting arena. With seemingly nothing left to prove and more to fight for behind the scenes than in the octagon, “The Natural” had resigned from the UFC, citing contract issues among others as the reasoning, in October. But long enough was long enough.
On Tuesday, the formerly disgruntled Couture was next to UFC President Dana White and Lesnar, announcing a main event on Nov. 15 between the two heavyweight warriors that will, no doubt, have the world watching.
Lesnar has only three mixed martial arts fights and is but 1-1 inside the UFC. But the 6-foot-3, 265-pound mastodon has too much power, agility, raw ability and drawing power to look past. Never mind the fact that when he fights for the title it will be roughly 10 months removed from his first bout in the UFC - culminating a run to a championship bout rivaled only by his meteoric rise in the predetermined world of World Wrestling Entertainment.
It wasn’t that long ago that Couture emerged from retirement and was granted a heavyweight title shot. Many scoffed at the legitimacy of his opportunity and the chances of his victory. But he shocked the world and dominated then-titlist Tim Sylvia to win the belt.
With a size and age disadvantage that he’s accustomed too, Couture’s biggest advantage against Lesnar will be his experience. Following his demolition of the well-regarded Heath Herring, however, don’t bet on many betting against Lesnar, though. He is the picture of unrelenting potential, a physically-gifted force whose future appears as bright as it will be ferocious.
If the UFC has proven anything, it’s that anything can happen. And, as has been written on this very site before, Couture is the king of anything can happen. The ultimate underdog, he’s defied logic for a decade now. Fact is, if the 45-year-old champion wins, many will think the underdog prevailed, just as many will see a victory by the physical marvel, but inexperienced Lesnar as a possible upset. Indeed, this fight is one nobody could’ve predicted, so why change that?
As 2007 ended, Brock Lesnar was yet to fight in the UFC and many doubted if one of the sport’s most beloved stars of all-time, Randy Couture, would ever fight outside of the courtroom again.
This is a fight no one saw coming, but, most monumentally, is a fight nobody will miss.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2fe59650-4e6e-4a56-92b8-a65a0767ced2)
Thanks for the update. Go Randy!
Comment by Delmartian — September 3, 2008 @ 7:14 pm
I’ve written about Randy on my blog as well. It was great to watch UFC Unleashed last night and here Mike Goldberg speaking of Randy so highly. I hated that they wouldn’t show his face, and would blur our Extreme Couture for signs and trunks. I’m so glad they’ve patched things up.
Comment by Anonymous — September 4, 2008 @ 8:41 am
What’s the fascination with the UFC? A bit brutal, don’t you think?
Comment by GMAN88 — September 4, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
I enjoy looking at them, but watching them fight is very disturbing. I guess it’s a guy thing.
Comment by SoCaGirl — September 5, 2008 @ 6:50 am
Hi SoCaGirl,
It’s actually the expression – and culturally justifiied – of the angry, white man looking for a place to vent the oppression of political correctness. In the octagon, the only thing that matters is achievement. You beat the other guy – quite literally – and you win. You don’t get extra points for skin color, the ring of an ethnic sounding last name, your choice of bed partner, or any other foolery.
The octagon is the last place in this country where a fight is fair, and the media
have no place to influence the outcome. That’s why mixed martial arts has taken hold with such ferocity.
Comment by Bostonian — September 5, 2008 @ 8:55 am
Why do you write about these sissy boys……syncro swimming baby !!!!
Comment by Lou Costello — September 7, 2008 @ 8:09 am
Talk about angry white men…Bostonian fits the bill!
Comment by Delmartian — September 8, 2008 @ 11:36 am
No, Bostonian is just sick and tired..of it all…how political correctness has taken a once great nation to its knees.
Comment by Bostonian — September 8, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
This is an epic fight for all MMA fans. No one expected Brock Lesnar to be placed in contention with Randy Couture so soon.
The hope is that Randy Couture wins and then moves on to fight the winner of the coaches on TUF / The Ultimate Fighter Frank Mir and Antonio Minotauro Nogueira.
If Randy defeats the winner of that matchup then hopefully Dana White will give Randy what he somewhat promised to do: setup a fight between him and Fedor Emelianenko.
We may see Brock Lesnar fight Fedor in the future as well. From his WWE attitude coming to the MMA world he needs to be humbled.
Comment by MMA Videos Fan — November 4, 2008 @ 2:04 pm