“That’s it for me. I’m ready to do something else.”
Apparently, the “something else” Randy mentioned back on February 4, 2006, just couldn’t keep him away from the fight game.
Less than a year after announcing his retirement, “The Natural” tonight announced his return to mixed martial arts on “Inside the UFC.”
According to Couture, he inked a two-year, four-fight deal that will keep him in the UFC until he turns 45.
The 43-year-old legend will challenge Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight championship title on March 3 at UFC 68 in Columbus, Ohio.
We’ve speculated all week that this news was coming, but now it is official.
It’s a bold move for the former champion, who has seemingly nothing left to prove. His storied career has already created a lasting legacy inside and outside the Octagon that most fans covet.
In his first test since losing to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57, Couture — aka “Captain America” — will go up against a giant. Sylvia stands a debatable 6′8″ tall and cuts weight to make the 265-pound heavyweight limit.
He hits hard and can defend takedowns, which Couture will have to do if he has any chance of winning this fight.
Couture mentioned during the interview with host Joe Rogan that Sylvia cherishes his belt too much, and ultimately his cautious approach to fighting will be the “Maine-iacs” undoing.
I’m really looking forward to Randy’s return, but I’m thrown off with this match up. It just doesn’t seem like a fight he has a good chance of winning. And, even if he does win, is he going to face Cro Cop, Arlovski, Herring, or Sylvia again?
If anyone can do it, I suppose, it’s Couture.
(Note: I just want to say thanks. It’s not even mid-January and Zuffa has already delivered half the requests on my 2006 Christmas Wish List. I didn’t think I had so much pull.)
On the flip side, what if Sylvia wins and knocks out one of the most revered fighters in UFC history. It’s not the best PR move for a guy who many fans already can’t stand.
There’s a thousand different ways to look at this fight and the reasons behind it. Just check out the poll in the sidebar for some of them (and vote if you haven’t already, dammit!).
All I’m going to say is that I certainly won’t miss this fight — along with the rest of the countless Couture fans.
And, maybe that’s the primary reason it’s happening in the first place.
Regardless, we get to see four more Couture fights — and I can’t wait. He’s made a living out of proving people wrong.
I just hope he’s still got it.
18 Comments »
i thimk ur right if anyone can do it its the natural. hes the man and eventhough its a really difficult fight i think he can pull it off. i just cant believe its actually happening. and three more fights??????? i just hope he’s not another shamrock or severn. but i have faith in randy!
great, randy just signed away an amazing career. does anyone not remember the tow ko’s from liddell at the end of his first career??? how quickly we all forget. it feels good now, but it wont come march 4…..trustme!
RANDY IS A GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HES GOING TO TAKE SYLVIA DOWN AND POUND ON HIS TUBBY ASS. HES RIGHT, SYLVIA IS TO CAREFUL AND RANDY WILL MAKE HIM PAY FOR BEING SUCH A GOON. I CANT WAIT FOR UFC 68. DANA REALLY KNOWS HOW TO SPICE THINGS UP, ILL GIVE HIM THAT.
I agrree with Warrior. Randy is not cut out for the heavies, making a big mistake. He should atleast fight a softee before going up against Tim. Tim sucks bad but he can still hit hard. Hell drop Couture a bunch of times until he goes night-night.
I dont understand this fight. Yhea I think that randy is gonna pull it out, but to have a 43 year old fight the number 2 fighter in the world (if he beats sylvia) I don’t think would be a contest. I could see sylvia throwing the match just to not face cro cop.
Why would Sylvia throw the match? I don’t think anyone should feel sorry for Randy…..he hasn’t even stepped in the cage yet. If he loses no big deal, he’s not supposed to win. I’ll take the underdog Couture any day of the week and twice on Sunday. All the pressure is on Silvia to win this fight and I think he’ll crack. It’ll be just another day at the office for Randy.
It’s sweet that Randy is coming back to fight and I’m very excited and I hope he wins. However, just because knowbody likes Tim because he sleeps w/his belt every night doesn’t mean he’s going to lose the fight. This is really awesome, but I’m almost affraid that when all the smoke clears, Tim’s going to keep his belt. I don’t know. It really depends on what kind of training and conditioning Randy has done since retirement, we’ll see. On a different note, it’s too bad UFC couldn’t have brought Fedor in…that would’ve been case closed for Tim.
Randy! Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy??????????
This pisses me off. So far ufc 68 looked like a joke. Instead of Rich fighting Quick for the number 1 contender hes fighting a gimmie. Instead of Sanchez fighting Hughes or even Karo fighting Hughes, they put Hughes against Lytle? Come on!! Then when know people don’t wanna pay to see Silvia they put him in with Couture!?! They know we will pay to see Randy come outta retirement. This is marketing and not great matchmaking. Assholes!!!!
yes fedor is the top hw in the world and is the only one who can dethrone sylvia…that includes mirko too…but that doesn’t mean fedor would just kill the champ, it would be a good fight i think, but you are right fedor would win
good luck to randy though, i hope he doesn’t get embarressed by the champ
The Maine-iac just doesnt have the tools to remain champ for long so I really hope with every bone in my body that its Randy that takes his belt, Sylvia is a goon who relies on his size and you can only get away with that for so long, if its not Randy who beats him its def gonna be Mirko or Fedor, Sylvia would be way outta his depth with either one of them. Randy for the fairytale ending though.
… RANDY WILL BEAT ALL YOUR ASSES
…did you say Fador? Fador would wreck Tim’s face, without a doubt.
As much as I would like to see the natural win,
it just will not happen. There is no chance
he will survive one round with the maniac!!!
Hate to say it but the natural should have stayed retired..
While Im not a Tim Sylvia fan, the only reason I always hope he losses is cause he trains with Hughes(thanx GSP for beating that jerk in a humiliating fashion) But I think he learned a lot from his lose to Arlovski, he seems like a new fighter now, and I think he deserves some respect. I dont think Randy has whats needed to beat him, and his history of losses to guys similar to Tim make me wunder what it is he sees that makes him think he can win. I hope he does though.Spida- I disagree, cro-cop would pick Sylvia apart, and probably will