Randy Couture

Randy Couture

Couture at the San Diego Comic-Con International, July 2010
Born Randy Duane Couture
(1963-06-22) June 22, 1963
Everett, Washington
Other names The Natural, The Handy, Captain America
Residence Las Vegas, Nevada
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Division Light heavyweight
Heavyweight
Reach 75 in (191 cm)
Style Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Boxing
Fighting out of Roseburg, Oregon
Team RAW (1997–1999)
Team Quest (1999–2006)
Xtreme Couture (2006–2011)
Rank Black belt in Neil Melanson's Submission wrestling System
Wrestling NCAA Division I Wrestling
Olympic Alternate Greco-Roman Wrestling
Years active 1997–2011 (MMA)
Mixed martial arts record
Total 30
Wins 19
By knockout 7
By submission 4
By decision 8
Losses 11
By knockout 6
By submission 4
By decision 1
Occupation UFC Spokesman, Actor
University Oklahoma State University
Children 3
Notable relatives Ryan Couture (son)
Notable school(s) Lynnwood High School
Website www.RandyCouture.tv
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: August 28, 2010
Randy Couture
Born Everett, Washington, U.S.
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1982-1988
Rank Sergeant
Unit 101st Airborne Division
Other work Professional mixed martial arts

Randall "Randy" Duane Couture (/koʊˈtʊər/; born June 22, 1963) is an American actor, retired mixed martial artist and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Couture became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Winner.[1] Couture is the first of only two fighters to hold two UFC championship titles in two different divisions (along with B.J. Penn).

Couture has competed in a record 15 title fights. He holds the most title reigns in the UFC with five. His last fight with Lyoto Machida marked his 24th fight in the UFC, the third largest number of fights in the UFC (Tito Ortiz is first with 27, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck are tied at second with 25). Couture is the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is the only person over the age of 40 to have won a UFC championship fight, having done so four times. Couture has also been one of the few MMA champions to have recovered a title he had previously lost, and is the only fighter to have achieved it three times (twice at Heavyweight, once at Light Heavyweight).

Couture was an Olympic wrestling alternate and has lived in Corvallis, Oregon, throughout much of his career, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University.[2] He established Team Quest with Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson, a training camp for fighters, based out of Gresham, Oregon, and headed by coach Robert Folis. In 2005, Couture moved to Las Vegas, where he opened his own extensive chain of gyms under the name Xtreme Couture. Couture partnered with Bas Rutten to open Legends Gym in Hollywood, California.

Couture is generally recognized as a clinch and ground-and-pound fighter who uses his wrestling ability to execute take downs, establish top position and successively strike the opponent on the bottom. Couture has displayed a variety of skills in boxing and catch wrestling and has submitted four opponents using different chokeholds. Couture is the only athlete in UFC history to win a championship after becoming a Hall of Fame member and is the oldest title holder ever in the UFC and MMA.

Background

Couture was born in Everett, Washington, the son of Sharan Amelia (née King) and Edward Lewis "Ed" Couture.[3][4] He wrestled at Alderwood Middle School in Lynnwood, Washington, then moved on to Lynnwood High School, where he won a State Championship during his senior year in wrestling. He served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1988, attaining the rank of Sergeant in the 101st Airborne, where he "wrestled and did a little boxing."[5][6] While he was in the Army he applied for tryouts with the U.S. Army Freestyle Wrestling team; however due to a clerical error his application was sent to the Greco-Roman tryouts and rather than wait until the next year he decided to pursue it. Despite never having competed in Greco-Roman he made the team.

Upon discharge, Couture became a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996), a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials, a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and a two-time NCAA Division I runner-up (1991 and 1992) at Oklahoma State University.[7] In 1992, he was the Division I runner-up at 190 pounds, coming in second after Mark Kerr.[8] He was working as a wrestling coach at Oregon State University when he decided to compete in MMA.

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship and RINGS

Being called to the tournament as an alternative on three weeks notice,[9] Couture made his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 13[10] in May 1997, as part of a four-man Heavyweight tournament. His first opponent was Tony Halme, who outweighed him by nearly 100 pounds (45 kg; 7.1 st). Couture immediately hit a double-leg takedown and, after some ground and pound, moved to back mount and secured a rear-naked choke submission to win in under a minute. In the tournament final, he defeated Steven Graham, another larger opponent (290 lb), by TKO at 3:13 into the first round.

On October 17, 1997, at UFC 15, Couture fought Vitor Belfort to determine the number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Couture was an underdog, as 19-year-old Belfort was the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion, winning all of his matches with devastating punches. After circling away from Belfort's left hand, Couture got the clinch. The fighters broke up and, when Belfort attempted a flurry of punches, Couture hit a takedown. He immediately gained side control and landed strikes. As Belfort scrambled to his feet, Couture landed knee strikes. He clinched again and wore Belfort down with dirty boxing. By the 7-minute mark, Belfort was exhausted. Couture again took him down, and finished him with punches from back mount, for one of the biggest upsets in MMA at the time.

At UFC Japan on December 21, Couture challenged the UFC Heavyweight Champion, Maurice Smith to his second title defense since winning the belt from Mark Coleman earlier that year. It was a slow-paced fight, and neither fighter significantly damaged the other, but Couture hit several takedowns and held positional control throughout the fight. After 21 minutes, he won a majority decision and became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion.

In 1998, UFC matchmakers wanted Couture to defend the belt against Bas Rutten, former King of Pancrase. Couture instead signed with Vale Tudo Japan, and was stripped of the title. He had his first and only match against Shooto veteran and grappling especialist Enson Inoue. After taking the fight to the ground, Couture tapped out to an armbar, just over 90 seconds into the bout.

Still in Japan, Couture was signed up with Fighting Network RINGS, debuting against Mikhail Illoukhine on March 20, 1999, in RINGS. Couture submitted to a kimura, though the loss was controversial due to Illoukhine locking the hold while they were being re-positioned on the center of the ring. After that loss, he took a break from MMA to focus on his amateur wrestling career.

Couture returned to MMA in October 2000, for the RINGS King of Kings Tournament 2000. He won a unanimous decision over UFC veteran Jeremy Horn in his first fight, and then another over Pancrase veteran Ryushi Yanagisawa. These two wins qualified him for the final event of the tournament, in March 2001. Before that, he was offered a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Kevin Randleman on Nov. 17, 2000. He was taken down in the first two rounds, but defended well from his back, negating most of Randleman's ground and pound attempts. In the third round, he tripped Randleman to the mat and landed several strikes from full mount for a TKO victory and his second UFC Heavyweight Championship.

In March 2001, Couture continued in the RINGS King of Kings Tournament 2000 Final. After winning an even decision over veteran Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in the first fight, he got caught in a guillotine choke by Valentijn Overeem after committing himself in a takedown and had to submit. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira won the tournament, and Couture returned to the UFC.

His first title defense was against Brazilian kickboxer Pedro Rizzo, at UFC 31. This was the first UFC event under Zuffa management, with Dana White as the new president. Both fighters inflicted substantial damage. After five 5-minute rounds, Couture won a close unanimous decision. Some fans felt Rizzo had won, so the UFC set up an immediate rematch for UFC 34, in November 2001. This time, Couture won decisively by TKO in the third round.

His third title defense was in March 2002, against up-and-comer Josh Barnett. In the second round, Barnett mounted Couture and landed several strikes to win the title by TKO. After the fight, it was revealed Barnett had tested positive for anabolic steroids. He was subsequently stripped of the title and cut from the UFC.

Couture then faced Ricco Rodriguez for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 39, in late 2002. After dominating the first three rounds, 39-year-old Couture became noticeably fatigued. In the fifth round, Rodriguez took him down and landed an elbow strike to his orbital bone, breaking it and making him submit. This was the first time a UFC fight had finished in the fifth round.

Move to light heavyweight and trilogy with Chuck Liddell

After two consecutive losses to larger opponents in the Heavyweight division, Couture moved down to the Light Heavyweight division. In his Light Heavyweight debut, he fought long-time number one contender Chuck Liddell for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship. He was again the underdog but, after outstriking Liddell for three rounds, took the fight to the ground and won by TKO via strikes from full mount,[11] becoming the first UFC fighter to win titles in two weight classes.[12]

His next match, against five-time defending champion Tito Ortiz, was billed as a "Champion vs. Champion" fight. 40-year-old Couture won a unanimous decision to become the undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

Couture's first title defense was against Vitor Belfort, whom he had previously defeated in 1997 at UFC 15. In the first round, as Couture closed the distance to attempt a clinch, Belfort grazed his right eye with a left hook. His glove opened a cut, and Belfort was declared the winner when the cageside doctor advised the fight be stopped. A rubber match took place later that year. Couture dominated all three rounds before winning by doctor stoppage due to a cut, and became a two-time UFCLight Heavyweight Champion.

On April 16, 2005, in a rematch with Liddell, Couture lost his title and suffered the first knockout loss of his career. He came back in August to defeat Mike Van Arsdale and reestablish himself as a top contender. He faced Liddell for the third and final time in a championship match at UFC 57, on February 4, 2006. He was knocked out in the second round and, immediately afterwards, announced his retirement from MMA.

Couture in 2005

On June 24, 2006, on The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale, Couture became the fourth inductee to the UFC Hall of Fame, joining Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, and Ken Shamrock.[13]

Retirement

After retiring from MMA, Couture became a regular broadcast commentator for UFC events and co-host of Before the Bell and After the Bell on The Fight Network. He appeared in the Rob Schneider movie Big Stan, with fellow mixed martial artists Don Frye and Bob Sapp.[14]

On November 17, 2006, Couture fought and drew with Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a submission wrestling contest.[15] After the match Couture invited Souza to train at his gym. Souza accepted and started training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.[16]

Couture was featured in the season two premiere episode of the Spike TV show Pros vs. Joes, which aired January 25, 2007. His teammates on the episode were Michael Irvin, Kevin Willis, and José Canseco. He returned for the finale, where he took part in a football-based round. His teammates were Willis, Randall Cunningham, Bruce Smith, Roy Jones Jr. and Tim Hardaway.

Reclaiming the Heavyweight Championship

Couture now trains at his own gym, Xtreme Couture.

On January 11, 2007, Couture announced his return from retirement in an interview on the Spike TV magazine show, "Inside the UFC".[17] In a conversation with Joe Rogan, he confirmed he would face Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 68, on March 3, 2007. He also announced he had signed a four-fight, two-year deal with the UFC.

At the age of 43, Couture defeated Sylvia by unanimous decision to become UFC Heavyweight Champion for a third time (a UFC record).[18][19] Couture's first punch, eight seconds into the fight, sent the 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Sylvia to the mat.[20] He controlled the pace of the fight for five rounds, smothering Sylvia with strikes and numerous takedowns. All three judges scored the bout 50–45 for Couture.[21]

At UFC 74 on August 25, 2007, Couture successfully defended the title against Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga,[22] defeating him via TKO by strikes. Couture suffered a broken left arm when he blocked one of Gonzaga's kicks.[23] The kick cleanly split his ulna, requiring him to wear a splint for six weeks.

Resignation and dispute with the UFC

On October 11, 2007, Couture announced he was severing all ties with the UFC, leaving two contracted fights, a position as an on-air analyst and the UFC Heavyweight Championship behind. He received $250,000 (plus $936,000 of PPV revenue) for his comeback fight with Tim Sylvia. He received a $250,000 purse for defeating Gabriel Gonzaga (plus a $35,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus and $787,000 in PPV revenue).[24] He complained Chuck Liddell was allegedly paid more than he was, despite losing his previous two fights.[25] Couture cited the UFC's failure to sign #1 ranked Heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko, as well as disputes with UFC management, for his decision.[26][27]

On October 18, 2007, UFC president Dana White said Couture remained the UFC Heavyweight Champion despite his plans to quit, and reiterated he would not release Couture from the final two fights on his contract.[28] Couture held a press conference on October 25, 2007, where he denied his departure from UFC was a "retirement", set forth his grievances about his pay, and reiterated his belief that he would be free from any contractual obligations to the UFC after nine months.[29] On October 30, 2007, White and Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta held another press conference, where White reiterated the UFC's position of twelve days prior,[30] and released documents refuting Couture's claims about the pay he received.[31]

White and Couture had a "good" conversation at UFC 78. They met again on Thanksgiving weekend to discuss a possible UFC return, but Couture said he had no desire to do so at the time.

Cornering some of his fighters from Xtreme Couture at HDNet Fights on December 15 in Dallas, Texas, Couture answered questions about Fedor Emilianenko, stating that he would like to fight him in October, once his UFC contract expired, if the UFC could not come to a co-promotion agreement with Russia's M-1 Global beforehand.[32]

On January 15, 2008, Zuffa filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court in Nevada, citing breach of contract and irreparable damage,[33] seeking over $10,000 in damages. This suit only concerned Couture's employment contract and not his promotional contract. On February 28, 2008, Judge Jennifer Togliatti handed down the first ruling in the case, issuing a preliminary injunction barring Couture from participating in an IFL event held the following day.

On August 2, 2008, a Texas appeals court granted Zuffa's request for a stay against a motion for a declaratory judgment in a suit filed by HDNet regarding Couture's contractual status with the UFC. The stay effectively ended the dispute in the state of Texas, and Zuffa was allowed to move forward with the Nevada suit.[34][35]

Return to the UFC

On September 2, 2008, the UFC announced it had signed Couture a new three-fight contract. On November 15, he returned at UFC 91 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship to Brock Lesnar.[36] At first a closely contested match, Lesnar knocked Couture down in the second round and struck him with hammerfists for a TKO victory at 3:07.[37] In a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Couture declared his desire to keep fighting and said he felt he was still becoming a better fighter, blaming the loss on his performance, not his age.

On August 29, 2009, Couture faced former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 in Portland, Oregon,[38] and lost a unanimous decision. After the bout, Couture stated he felt he was in the best shape of his life, and would wait and see what the UFC had in store for him. The fight received the "Fight of the Night" award.

Return to light heavyweight and retirement

After the Nogueira loss, Couture signed a new six-fight deal, which superseded his previous contract.[39]

On November 14, 2009, at UFC 105, Couture faced Brandon Vera. Vera landed effective strikes and scored a takedown, but Couture won a somewhat controversial unanimous decision.[40] The fight was his first at Light Heavyweight since losing to Chuck Liddell in 2006.[41][42] With the win, the 46-year-old Couture became the oldest fighter to win a UFC bout.

At the Arnold Sports Festival for WEC 47 on March 6, 2010.

Couture fought fellow UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman at UFC 109. The bout marked the first time UFC Hall of Famers fought each other in the UFC. They were scheduled to meet at UFC 17 in 1998, but an injury to Couture forced the cancellation of the bout. They wrestled each other in a freestyle match at the 1989 Olympic Festival at Oklahoma State University; Coleman won the match by one point. Couture modified his training for this bout, focusing on catch wrestling and refining his boxing under coach Gil Martinez.[43] The combined age of these fighters (91) is the highest in any UFC match.[44][45] Couture made Coleman pass out to a rear-naked choke submission in the second round, getting his first submission win in over four years.

Couture was scheduled to fight Rich Franklin at UFC 115, but Franklin instead fought Chuck Liddell, replacing Liddell's original opponent, Tito Ortiz. Couture instead faced three-time boxing world champion James Toney at UFC 118. Couture dominated Toney, taking him down and mounting him within seconds, and quickly making him submit to an arm triangle choke. Many felt that this fight had been made as an attempt to repair damage done to the credibility of MMA after Ray Mercer knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia.[46]

Couture had stated he was interested in fighting either Lyoto Machida or Maurício Rua (in a non-title bout). Since Rua had an upcoming title defense against Jon Jones, UFC matchmakers gave him Machida. They fought on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129, before 55,000 fans in Toronto.[47] Couture had stated before the bout it would be his final fight. Machida knocked him out in the second round with a jumping front kick.[48] After the fight, Couture announced he was "finally done fighting", at the age of 47.[49]

Bellator Fighting Championships

On January 29, 2013, Couture signed with Bellator to be a coach the first season of their reality show, Fight Master: Bellator MMA which debuted in June 2013.[50] Couture also did commentary for Bellator 96.

Acting

Couture made a cameo appearance on the season finale of the CBS show The Unit, as a military guard. He played fight commentator Terry Flynn in the film Redbelt. He appeared on an episode of The History Channel show Human Weapon on September 27, 2007, and starred in the 2008 film The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior.[51] He played Toll Road in the 2010 movie The Expendables and reprised the role in the 2012 and 2014 sequels. He did several public service announcements, one against crystal meth.[52] He starred alongside 50 Cent and Bruce Willis in the 2011 film, Setup, as an enforcer named Petey. In 2012, he played the leading role of hard-bitten cop Paul Ross in Brandon Nutt's action film Hijacked, alongside Dominic Purcell.

On September 4, 2014, it was announced that Couture would be one of the celebrities competing on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He paired with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff.[53] The couple was eliminated on the third week of competition finishing in eleventh place.[54]

Personal life

Couture was previously married to Sharon, Tricia, and Kim Couture (née Borrego).[55][56] He and Kim filed for divorce in May 2009. He continued to coach her and support her MMA career.[57] He has three children: sons Ryan and Caden, and daughter Aimee.[58] Asked if MMA could be improved, he suggested health insurance, retirement plans as well as more equal compensation regarding other athletes and sports.[59] He lives in Las Vegas.[60]

Championships and accomplishments

Randy Couture
Medal record
Men's Wrestling
Representing the  United States
Pan American Games
1991 Havana Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)
Pan American Championships
1990 Colorado Springs Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)
1991 Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)
1992 Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)
1997 Greco-Roman (– 97 kg)
1998 Greco-Roman (– 97 kg)
World Cup
1991 Thessaloniki Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)
1992 Besançon Greco-Roman (– 90 kg)

Greco-Roman wrestling

Collegiate wrestling

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 19–11 Lyoto Machida KO (jumping front kick) UFC 129 April 30, 2011 2 1:05 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Light Heavyweight bout
Win 19–10 James Toney Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 118 August 28, 2010 1 3:19 Boston, Massachusetts, United States Heavyweight bout
Win 18–10 Mark Coleman Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 109 February 6, 2010 2 1:09 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States First fight between two fighters already in the UFC Hall of Fame.
Win 17–10 Brandon Vera Decision (unanimous) UFC 105 November 14, 2009 3 5:00 Manchester, United Kingdom Return to Light Heavyweight. Became oldest fighter to win a fight in UFC history.
Loss 16–10 Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira Decision (unanimous) UFC 102 August 29, 2009 3 5:00 Portland, Oregon, United States Fight of the Night. 2009 Fight of the Year.
Loss 16–9 Brock Lesnar TKO (punches) UFC 91 November 15, 2008 2 3:07 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 16–8 Gabriel Gonzaga TKO (punches) UFC 74 August 25, 2007 3 1:37 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Defended the UFC Heavyweight Championship; Fight of the Night.
Win 15–8 Tim Sylvia Decision (unanimous) UFC 68 March 3, 2007 5 5:00 Columbus, Ohio, United States Return to Heavyweight; Won the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 14–8 Chuck Liddell KO (punches)[68][69] UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture 3 February 4, 2006 2 1:28 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 14–7 Mike van Arsdale Submission (anaconda choke) UFC 54 August 20, 2005 3 0:52 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 13–7 Chuck Liddell KO (punches) UFC 52 April 16, 2005 1 2:06 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 1 coaches fight, Lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 13–6 Vitor Belfort TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 49 August 21, 2004 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 12–6 Vitor Belfort TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC 46 January 31, 2004 1 0:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Doctor stoppage due to eye cut.
Win 12–5 Tito Ortiz Decision (unanimous) UFC 44 September 26, 2003 5 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Won and Unified the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 11–5 Chuck Liddell TKO (punches) UFC 43 June 6, 2003 3 2:40 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Won the Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 10–5 Ricco Rodriguez Submission (elbow) UFC 39 September 27, 2002 5 3:04 Montville, Connecticut, United States For the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 10–4 Josh Barnett TKO (punches) UFC 36 March 22, 2002 2 4:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 10–3 Pedro Rizzo TKO (punches) UFC 34 November 2, 2001 3 1:38 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Defended the UFC Heavyweight Championship
Win 9–3 Pedro Rizzo Decision (unanimous) UFC 31 May 4, 2001 5 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Defended the UFC Heavyweight Championship. 2001 Fight of the Year.
Loss 8–3 Valentijn Overeem Submission (guillotine choke) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final February 24, 2001 1 0:56 Tokyo, Japan
Win 8–2 Tsuyoshi Kohsaka Decision (unanimous) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final February 24, 2001 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 7–2 Kevin Randleman TKO (punches) UFC 28 November 17, 2000 3 4:13 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 6–2 Ryushi Yanagisawa Decision (majority) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A October 9, 2000 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5–2 Jeremy Horn Decision (unanimous) Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A October 9, 2000 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 4–2 Mikhail Ilyukhin Submission (kimura) Rings: Rise 1st March 20, 1999 1 7:43 Japan
Loss 4–1 Enson Inoue Submission (armbar) Vale Tudo Japan 1998 October 25, 1998 1 1:39 Japan
Win 4–0 Maurice Smith Decision (majority) UFC Japan December 21, 1997 1 21:00 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Won the UFC Heavyweight Championship; Later Vacated title.
Win 3–0 Vitor Belfort TKO (punches) UFC 15 October 17, 1997 1 8:17 Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States UFC Heavyweight title eliminator.
Win 2–0 Steven Graham TKO (punches) UFC 13 May 30, 1997 1 3:13 Augusta, Georgia, United States Won the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament.
Win 1–0 Tony Halme Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 13 May 30, 1997 1 1:00 Augusta, Georgia, United States UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2005 No Rules Mason Film
2005 Today You Die Vincent's Bodyguard Direct-to-Video
2006 Invincible 'Toruci' Player #1 Major Film
The King of Queens Priority Plus Driver TV series; uncredited
2007 Big Stan Carnahan Major Film
2008 Redbelt Dylan Flynn Major Film
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior Sargon Direct-to-Video
2010 The Expendables Toll Road Major Film
2011 Setup[70][71] Petey Major Film
2012 Hijacked Paul Ross Major Film
The Expendables 2[72][73] Toll Road Major Film
2013 Geezers![70][74] Randy Major Film
Ambushed Jack Reiley Direct-to-video
Distant Shore
2014 The Expendables 3 Toll Road Major Film
Stretch Jovi Direct-to-video
2015 Hawaii Five O Jason Duclair TV Series
2016 Range 15 Himself Indie Film
2016 Nine Legends Himself Documentary

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Commander Warren Fuller Real Time Strategy

References

  1. ↑ Poole, Gary Andrew (2007-10-31). "Ultimate Fighting's Ultimate Fight". time.com. Retrieved 2011-07-05.
  2. ↑ http://randycouture.proelite.com/
  3. ↑ Couture, Randy; Loretta Hunt (2008). Becoming the Natural: My Life in and Out of the Cage. Simon and Schuster. pp. 13, 20. ISBN 1-4169-5780-4.
  4. ↑ http://records.ancestry.com/randy_duane_couture_records.ashx?pid=116994968
  5. ↑ "Randy Couture". UFC. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  6. ↑ "TheNatural" (PDF). Veteran's Magazine Online. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  7. ↑ "Sherdog.com Preview: UFC 57 - Liddell-Couture 3". Sherdog. February 3, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
  8. ↑ http://www.cagetoday.com/ufc-officially-announces-randy-couture-vs-brock-lesnar-at-ufc-91/
  9. ↑ Brookhouse, Brent (May 25, 2015). "Randy Couture tells story of choosing to stay with UFC instead of signing with PRIDE".
  10. ↑ "UFC 13's Halme passes: Couture talks about his first UFC opponent". sports.yahoo.com. January 11, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Fight Finder - UFC 43 Meltdown". Sherdog.
  12. ↑ "The Natural.tv - Biography". TheNatural.tv.
  13. ↑ "MMA - 411 Fighter Profile: Randy Couture". 411mania.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  14. ↑ Big Stan at the Internet Movie Database
  15. ↑ Gross, Josh (2006-11-18). "Couture Draws with "Jacaré" and Garcia Wins Again". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  16. ↑ Martin, Denis. "BJJ Phenom ‘Jacaré’ Set for Toughest Test to Date". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  17. ↑ Couture returning to challenge Sylvia
  18. ↑ - UFC 68: Pure magic - UFC - Yahoo! sports
  19. ↑ - UFC 68: The Uprising - sportsnet.ca
  20. ↑ Brian Oswald. "UFC 91 Couture vs. Lesnar: Randy Has No Chance...or Does He?".
  21. ↑ "Fight Finder - UFC 68 Uprising". Sherdog.
  22. ↑ Archived August 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑ "UFC News: Couture Breaks Arm, SPIKE Releases The Ultimate Fighter Cast". August 27, 2007.
  24. ↑ Pugmire, Lance (October 30, 2007). "UFC officials give out Randy Couture salary information". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  25. ↑ Couture, Randy; Loretta Hunt (2008). Becoming the Natural: My Life in and Out of the Cage. Simon and Schuster. pp. 273–274. ISBN 1-4169-5780-4.
  26. ↑ Iole, Kevin (October 11, 2007). "Couture stuns MMA world with retirement". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  27. ↑ Gross, Josh (October 11, 2007). "Exclusive: Couture Talks UFC Resignation". Sherdog.
  28. ↑ FOX Sports on MSN - Boxing - UFC's White: Couture's still mine
  29. ↑ Cain, Jeff (October 25, 2007). "WHY RANDY COUTURE LEFT THE UFC". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  30. ↑ Cain, Jeff (October 30, 2007). "UFC disputes Couture's claims about his pay". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  31. ↑ Gerbasi, Thomas (October 30, 2007). "UFC releases payment receipts to Couture". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
  32. ↑ "Couture: Could Fight Fedor in October '08".
  33. ↑ ReviewJournal.com - Sports - Couture is target of UFC lawsuit
  34. ↑ "The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®". UFC. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  35. ↑ Steve Sievert. "In Randy Couture court case, latest round goes to UFC". MMAjunkie.
  36. ↑ "The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®". UFC. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  37. ↑ Joe Hall. "Lesnar Takes Couture's Title". Sherdog.
  38. ↑ Archived August 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  39. ↑ "MMA news, fighter profiles and events – Mixed Martial Arts". Cbssports.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  40. ↑ Mike Chiappetta. "Vera-Couture Decision Another in Long Line of Controversies". MMA Fighting.
  41. ↑ Michael David Smith. "UFC 105: Randy Couture Beats Brandon Vera in Surprising Decision". MMA Fighting.
  42. ↑ Steve Cofield. "Randy Couture edges Brandon Vera but not without controversy". Yahoo!.
  43. ↑ Michael David Smith. "Randy Couture 'Moving Away From a Jiu Jitsu Mentality'". MMA Fighting.
  44. ↑ Loretta Hunt. "Couture-Coleman Slated for UFC 109". Sherdog.
  45. ↑ "Report: Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman in the works for UFC 109". MMAjunkie.
  46. ↑ Oliver Saenz, Facing the Inevitable: James Toney Will Knock Out Randy Couture fighters.com
  47. ↑ "UFC 129 Sold Out; Shatters Records with 55,000 Tickets". MMAWeekly.com. February 12, 2011.
  48. ↑ Knapp, Brian (2011-05-01). "Bloodied GSP Decisions Shields". Sherdog. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
  49. ↑ "Couture finally done". mmajunkie.com. May 1, 2011.
  50. ↑ "Couture Inks MultiYear Deal with Spike TV". sherdog.com. January 29, 2013.
  51. ↑ The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior at the Internet Movie Database
  52. ↑ "Video Tribute: MMA’s Eight Greatest Public Service Announcements". CagePotato.com. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  53. ↑ http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/09/04/dancing-with-the-stars-season-19-cast-dwts-celebrities/
  54. ↑ http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/dancing_with_the_stars_season_19_week_3_scores_results-2014-09
  55. ↑ "Couture readies himself for climb up Mount Sylvia". UFC. January 3, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
  56. ↑ "Mentions his second wife Tricia". Archived from the original on February 5, 2002.
  57. ↑ "KIM COUTURE PLANS AUGUST RETURN TO FIGHTING". MMAWEEKLY.com. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
  58. ↑ "Mentions his children".
  59. ↑ "Q&A with Randy Couture". The Baltimore Sun.
  60. ↑ "24 Hours to Live". Maxim magazine. September 2010. page 112
  61. ↑ "National Wrestling Hall of Fame". Wrestlinghalloffame.org. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  62. ↑ "Randy Couture "The Natural" stats and profile". Fun-on.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  63. ↑ http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=81532
  64. ↑ "MMA Awards – Part 4". Inside Fights. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  65. ↑ "UFC 45: Revolution". Fighttimes.com. 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  66. ↑ Beltrán, William (2010-08-03). "Según el Wrestling Observer... ¿Quiénes son los mejores los mejores de la década?" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  67. ↑ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/2/Imagining-an-MMA-Hall-of-Fame-The-Inaugural-Class-71439
  68. ↑ "Top 10 Randy Couture Fights". United States: MMA Fighting. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  69. ↑ "UFC 57 "Liddell vs Couture" Live Play-by-Play". United States: Sherdog. 2006-02-04. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
  70. 1 2 Randy Couture – IMDb
  71. ↑ Setup at the Internet Movie Database
  72. ↑ Randy Couture at the Internet Movie Database
  73. ↑ The Expendables II at the Internet Movie Database
  74. ↑ 3 Geezers! (2013) IMDb

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Randy Couture.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Maurice Smith		 3rd UFC Heavyweight Champion
December 21, 1997 – October 1, 1998 		Vacant
Couture stripped of title
Title next held by
Bas Rutten
Preceded by
Kevin Randleman		 6th UFC Heavyweight Champion
November 17, 2000 – March 22, 2002 		Succeeded by
Josh Barnett
New championship 1st Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
June 6, 2003 – September 26, 2003 		Vacant
Preceded by
Tito Ortiz		 3rd UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
September 26, 2003 – January 31, 2004 		Succeeded by
Vitor Belfort
Preceded by
Vitor Belfort		 5th UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
August 21, 2004 – April 16, 2005 		Succeeded by
Chuck Liddell
Preceded by
Tim Sylvia		 13th UFC Heavyweight Champion
March 3, 2007 – November 15, 2008 		Succeeded by
Brock Lesnar
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, May 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.