Randy Couture – A Retired MMA legend
Randy Couture, nicknamed The Natural, is considered one of the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters that ever set foot inside the MMA ring. Since his debut fight in May 1997 at UFC 13, he was with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC). He won the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament on his debut. He was undefeated when he began his career. He won four consecutive bouts from May 1997 to December 1997. He defended his UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament title in his second ever fight which took
place on the same day when he made his debut at UFC 13. He was successful win beating Stevel Graham.
He then won the UFC Heavyweight title eliminator fight at UFC 15 in October 1997. In his fourth bout of his professional MMA career at UFC Japan, he won his debut UFC Heavyweight Championship by beating Maurice Smith in the first
round. Many MMA and UFC enthusiasts wonder if Couture retired at the right time or did he have some more fight left in him. Looking back on his career, one can safely assume that his title wins and non-title wins were more than he had dreamed of in his career.
Couture, who was considered one of the toughest MMA fighters in the UFC circuit, was also one who enjoyed a career filled with title wins. He won the UFC Heavyweight Championship back in November 2000 at UFC 28 when he defeated
Kevin Randleman through a technical knockout with his continuous elbow and knee strikes.
At UFC 31, he defeated Pedro Rizzo through a unanimous decision, successfully defending his UFC Heavyweight Championship. He won the bout through a unanimous decision. At UFC 3 he again Pedro Rizzo and defended his title once more.
The result was the same as Couture again defeated Rizzo by a technical knockout with his punches. Couture managed to successfully defend his title for the second time in a row against the same opponent.
The year 2002 began on a wrong foot for Couture as he lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship to Josh Barnett at UFC 36 in March 2002. Couture lost his second fight in a row for only the second time in his career to Ricco Rodriguez
at UFC 39 in September 2002. This bout was for the vacated UFC Heavyweight Championship, as Barnett was stripped from the title after he was tested positive for steroid intake.
In 2003, Couture decided to move down into the weight category. He entered the light heavyweight division in the UFC. In June 2003, he fought against Chuck Liddell at UFC 43 and won the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
He later won the UFC Light Heavyweight title at UFC 44 in September 2003 by beating Tito Ortiz.
In 2007, Couture turned over his decision and re-entered into the heavyweight division. He won the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 68 against Tim Sylvia, when the event was held in March 2007. The bout was considered as the
fight of the year by The Wrestling Observer. Later in his career, Couture lost his title and kept on fighting because he created a legacy, which became an integral part of the UFC. In August 2010, he faced James Toney at UFC 118.
The fight was one of the most amazing bouts in UFC and which gave Couture a definite legendary status. He defeated James Toney by a submission. Couture forced Toney to tap out when he applied his arm triangle choke. Couture received
his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt for he became the first ever fighter to make Toney tap out.
With such a decorated career, Couture contested in his last bout in April 2011 at UFC 129. He lost to Lyoto Machida when Machida defeated by a knockout. After winning nineteen fights in his MMA career, where all came inside the
UFC ring, Couture was at the prime of his career when he took part in his last fight.
One might wonder that Couture did the right decision and it seems that he certainly did the right step by leaving his MMA career. He earned respect from his peers and opponents along with the recognition of becoming UFC heavyweight
and light heavyweight champion at multiple times. He was a legend and will be one in the UFC for years to come.
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