Hell hasn’t frozen over just yet, but the temperature is definitely dropping.
What started as an ugly rumor is now snowballing into the biggest news story of 2008: Randy Couture’s return to the UFC.
Say what?
Dave Meltzer is reporting that exiled UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture is not only negotiating a new contract, but that his return could come as early as November at UFC 91 against the albino gorilla known as Brock Lesnar.
That means an end to his nine-month legal battle with Zuffa, but does it mean an end to his desired dream match against Fedor Emelianenko?
Not so, according to Ariel Helwani. MMA Rated says the UFC is also considering a proposal from M-1 Global to co-promote a Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko bout following the Lesnar fight in November and a possible third fight against current interim champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira sometime after that.
That of course begs the question: What happens to Minotauro’s belt if Couture returns? And what happens to Couture’s?
Since Randy is reportedly negotiating a new three-fight contract and not a repair of his old one, the landscape of the UFC heavyweight division could change significantly upon his return.
In fact, an announcement could come as early as next week.
But let us proceed with caution, because contracts are an ugly business. A verbal offer is worth as much as the paper it’s printed on. And “negotiations” are worth even less.
Am I to believe that Randy Couture would stand on ceremony for the past year, hemming and hawing about fighter poverty and a dream match with Emelianenko, only to be reinstated with the promise of a fat paycheck and a pasty ex-wrestler?
That means Randy is like a junk bond, easily bought and sold at the mercy of the market. I’m not ready to go from “Captain America” to “Corporate America” just yet.
And how could the UFC bag the Russian Regulator from M-1 for just one fight? Why would UFC President Dana White grant Fedor a one-shot deal to face “The Natural”? It doesn’t make sense, unless Randy relinquishes his title.
Forget about the 6-10 million Couture wants to fight “The Cyborg”. Dana isn’t going to forfeit the credibility of his heavyweight division by letting Fedor come in for one fight, because if he wins it’s not just egg on the face of the UFC, it’s the whole chicken.
Not to mention the UFC heavyweight division is a much different place than it was when Randy went AWOL. The UFC has a very worthy champion in Nogueira and fans who haven’t warmed up to Nog yet will certainly get their chance when he appears on The Ultimate Fighter 8 opposite Frank Mir later this year.
And is anyone not excited to see more of up-and-coming superstars like Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin?
What prompted all of this? Who really needs who? Does Randy need the UFC or vice-versa?
I guess the answers to these questions will be very telling as they’re revealed over the next few days.
Of course none of us our privy to the negotiations that are rumored to be taking place, and I’m not looking to make anyone the villain.
But after a year of mud-slinging it just seems unlikely that Couture’s return can happen without someone looking like a money-grubbing liar.
I hope for legacy’s sake it isn’t Randy.
173 Comments »
oh snapppppppp!
Ohhhhhhhh Snap! even.
Wow didn’t see this coming!!!! Great for fans….good fight…Randy just looks stupid coming back to the UFC but hey as long as we get good fights why not.
Well if this one happens, we can clearly see what Randy is made of nowadays. LEsnar will be an ACID TEST!!!
WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!
Won’t believe it til I see it, but at least it will be some resolve and no more bickering. So long as both Randy and Dana could swallow their pride, and make things happen for everyone as a win-win-win situation, Dana, Randy, and the FANS. $$ shouldn’t be a problem, this will be the mega super-deal of the century, to actually co-promote with M-1 and get Fedor in there too…. Not holding my breath though. This could be MMA’s Superbowl!
Inter-f**king-resting. Look who’s been woken up by the smelling salts. Both Randy and Tito make me laugh. This would be genius if the UFC and the ego can make this happen, but like DirtbagHtr- I’ll believe it when I see it.
I think this will happen and I think if Randy can avoid a first punch by Brock, he will destroy him. Brocks power is no match for Randys balance and leverage. Once you get that big F’er on the ground he will be helpless. This is short work for the Natural.
well, well… Brock with his aggressiveness and power, randy is out for some beating, but randy is a fighter with a big heart,i just hope his punches, kicks and stamina is as strong as his will power
Randy has to prove himself to me again. It has been over a year since he has fought and his age has got to cave his abilities anytime now. If this fight were to happen a long time ago, I would be crazy for it, but my highest image of Randy has been torn and I just cant see him being able to control a monster like Lesnar. Lesnar is not only the future of the UFC heavy division but as MMA as well. His speed, power, and agility are only to be beat by flawless technique. Let’s hope Couture, the master of technique and game plans, still has some left, otherwise this will be like watching your grandpa get a beat down.
I can give you that Randy has to prove himself but if you look at what will happen he will be doing that. I see know is issue with Randy giving up the title belt because one, he has been gone for a while and two to simply earn the respect back from UFC fans everywere. Now for fighting Lesnar this is not a stand up fight. Randy will run in and punch only to test if his power punch has any affact on Brock. Regardless of this, I think it will come down to who is the best wrestler. Brock is still young and simply still does not have the brain connection to understand that “hey, maybe I should submit this guy”. To many opportunities have been given up. Randy, on the other hand, will look to submit Brock by arm bar, triangle or choke. Randy just has to have enough strength to hang on once he gets Brock in the clinch. Brock will wear himself out trying to get out trouble and that is when Randy will win. Just my thoughts. We shall all see soon enough.
I agree that Randy needs to prove himself due to layoff and advanced age for a fighter. As for the stuff were randy just has to hang on not so much. Randy will be giving up about 50 pounds at fight time if this happens. That is 50 pounds to a guy who is also incredibly strong for his size. Randy will be tossed around like a rag doll. I know there are going to be a few people on here who will say “well tim was big” yes but he is also a slow oaf who cannot be compared with lesnar’s athleticism. I feel this is a bad match up for Randy. Brock will be able to control him on the ground and he is improving on all aspects of the fight game. The size and strength advantage will be huge. Even when randy fought bigger guys he was always as strong and normally much faster. With his age and going against brock this will not be the case. The two things I found most impressive in lesnar’s last outing were his punching power, and anyone who says different is an idiot he has knocked down two of the heavyweights best with single blows in both his fights, and his speed is incredible. I still feel there is nobody that can stop him from taking them down. Right now he has over a 90% take down percentage on his shoots and that is incredible. If he wants you down you will go down. As for him ending up in a triangle…..anyone else see randy getting thrown through the bottom of the cage. Arm bar is the best bet but still highly unlikely. Randy needs to run and pick his shots if this fight happens and hope he can unload first in the stand up game while doing whatever he needs to do the keep the 280 pounds lesnar will be off of him.
ok just so i get this right brock lesnar is 2-1 in the ufc (anyone know his first fight) one win against a “hired gun” in heath herring in which lesnar pretty much couldnt finish herring who was clearly crumpled. Plus the fight in where his (lesnar) inexperience was brought to light when mir nearly broke his (lesnar) leg. With all that said how the hell other than the simple fact this will draw a crowd like non other does dana white justify lesnar getting a fight against randy much less a title shot at that…Dont get me wrong i wont be surprised if lesnar takes randy but dont gimme that old fighter crap when lesnar in his own right has spent his time play fighting with vince mcmahon and is in his mid 30’s himself lesnar has just plain and simple not put the time and fights and dedication that other heavyweight fighters have to reach what has been GIVEN to brock…RANDY IN 2ND BY SUB.
Yeah he is 2-1 and his first fight was against Min Soo Kim. A judo guy that mounted and submitted via strikes. As far as some people commenting about Brock not submiting, who cares!!!! This is not Ju Jitsu+ punching, it is fucking M M A! The longest reigning champion in UFC history rarely submitted anyone, as a matter a fact Tito used Brock’s method of GnP. With that said Heath is hard to rear naked choke (recently anyways) he is VERY VERY good at getting mounted, giving up is back, getting wrist control and rolling back to guard. He does that shit all the time and Brock knows this so when Heath tried to do it Brock kept Heaths back. If Brock would have given up leverage Heath would have rolled. Watch his other recent fights he is good at it. You do not have to submit to win, it’s crazy that more people don’t know that.
I would say this is extremely unlikely to happen to say the least.
I mean think about it, if this WERE to be true, they would essentially be giving Lesnar a title shot right? And with TUF 8 happening I just don’t see this being more than an ugly rumor.
oH tHis IS happening and you better believe it! I have been telling you guys all week that this was happening! A FACT that can not be denied is that Randy is already back in the gym training for a FIGHT!!!!!!
Randy will give up his title. Its been over a year since he defended the title and the UFC usually strips you after a year if you dont defend it. The only reason he has not been stripped is because it works in the UFC’s favor during the Court cases to have Randy as the champ. I REALLY believe that Randy will fight Lesnar at UFC 91 in Portland. Randy has ties to the portland community and the ROSE Garden is a HUGE state of the art arena. With that fight as the headline Randy’s GREEDY ass will be able to make all the money he wants, but it wont be a title fight.
If Randy can beat Lesnar they will have some big ppv over Randy (Former UFC champ that relinquished the title) vs. UFC champ Nog, and it will sell Billions of ppv’s. I actually hope that Brock beats Randy SENSELESS! but down the road I also want to see Nog snap his arm. THe Fght with Fedor is actually the fight I want to see least because I dont even think it will be competitive.
Jesse, I think you called it…”Corporate America”!!
This is like when Hulk Hogan went HOllywood and joined the NWO! Sad day being a fan, but at least we may get to see his ASS kicked in the process by Lesnar!
Randy fighting in the UFC is better than him fighting No where, I guess!
“billions of ppv’s” LOL have they ever done 1.5 million? Good call john, mania said it would “never happen,” I’m glad he was wrong for once! I for one hope Lesner hospitalizes this greedy, contract bitching prick!!!
by the way…I got Randy!
i doubt that this will actually happen, but i want this fight to happen so bad.. hell i’ve got a semi just thinking about it
Kev, I am also read that the UFC is trying to negotiate with CBS to take EliteXC’s spot.
When you get the chance read Diaz’s response to KJ…Its too Funny yet too TRUE!
cagepotato
Man! The UFC is really putting the last nails in the coffins of other Orgs. Fedor/Randy would sell bigtime in any other Org. So why not do it in the UFC? And Randy/Brock! WOW! Its like Kevin said, it would kinda be a passing of the torch! Win or lose, Randy would still draw alot of PPV’s with fights against Brock, Nog, and Fedor! Oh, and I LMAO! at the “albino gorilla” comment!
The Gracie Fighter response to Noons was pretty funny. The best parts were the vasoline reference and the equation KJ = little bitch > KJ = real champion .
JOHN. i will go ahead and give props for this news, even though it isnt signed yet, just for karma’s sake. good job!
If I hear something interesting I pass it along. I dont know how truthful it is, then again how could I? I pass along what I hear because I would hope that you guys do the same in return!
I hope it’s not just wishful thinking… You think randy will get cheers or boo’s,if he does come back.
Idk, wierder things HAVE happened I suppose. What do I know.
Lesnar would have balls the size of mountains to fight Couture in his 4th fight ever.
or he is just high on him self for getting his first win in the ufc
Couture is overrated.
WHAT!!!!!! There are alot of stupid comments on this site, but that takes the cake! Idiot!
A little bit overrated as a heavyweight.
Lensar would SMASHHHHHHHH Couture
Easy
He would have 50+ lbs of muscle on Couture and would just GnP like he did to Herring
Randy doesn’t have KO power and Lesnar will be able to control him on the ground
You’re wrong Brandon, its close to being official…
and randy’s back training full time, thats also inside information.
All signs are pointing towards this being the truth! Announcement tuesday im told!
I can see lesnar winning by lay and pray (pretty much how he did his last fight) I mean lets face it if he gets the takedown randy is going to have a hard time getting up. look at his with barnett he only lost that fight because he was substanually smaller, dont get me wrong im for randy 100%
But needless to say, im glad The Natural is back!
I agree. If the odds are right I might be throwing some dough down on Lesnar, while rooting for Randy at the same time!
Did you watch that fight? After that first punch that knocked Herring across the ring he did nothing but turtle up. That wasn’t LnP, that was a guy who had no answer for getting pounded on other that to go into tornado drill mode.
I think The UFC actually really needs this fight to get signed because Kongo who brock was supposed to be fighting got hurt, and there is no one else to headline the event unless you get Rampage on the card!
how about Tito vs. Shogun & or Randy vs. Wand !!!!!!
“EliteXC — possibility. Affliction — possibility. UFC — a small chance of that happening,” said Ortiz. “The things between me and Dana White, I’m shoving it off and moving on with my life. - Tito on InsideMMA. I bet you anything, he’ll take the highest bidder. simple as that.
man, if brock beats him which is very possible.. randy couture’s entire career will be worth nothing.
are you serious?
randy’s career is etched in stone. and getting beat by brock, who just dominated top 10 heath herring, would not invalidate that.
Randy should fight the winner of Nog and mir, Im not a Lesner fan at all but it is possible he could beat Randy, im mean the guys a f#cking monster.
The simple fact is that UFC is the ONLY organization that can afford to pay Couture anything close to what he wants. Not Affliction, not Elite, nobody. And whether or not he fights Fedor, there are now plenty of compelling fights in the UFC HW division, starting with Lesnar.
nog should fight couture first. Then decide, don’t f your ufc heavy weight champ. I just want to see randy fight again.
just like news flash, kimbo vs randy
Is anyone else thinking Randy might get seriously hurt and not be the randy he once was? What kind of fight would he have left for fedor?
You guys have always dismissed Randy. He will embarrass Lesnar and show all of his weaknesses. Don’t forget Randy is one of the best. He rises to the occassion. He will win by strikes late in the 2nd. Then he will fight Fedor and I have no guess on that. Lesnar will be Kimbo’s first UFC fight. With Kimbo losing that one, he will become a homeless person and go to the Church of Rampage. They will become good friends and turn to Wrestling to continue their careers. Randy beats Big Nog Then fights one more and retires champ again. Lesnar wins a fight, then fights Big Nog for the vacant title. Lesnar wins. By that time Fedor is in the UFC. He fights Lesnar and destroys him. Fedor will then be champ. Lesnar and Big Nog fade away to be just PPV draws. Kimbo and Rampage go on to become cross-country 7-11 robbers. Randy becomes a commentator again. Fedor, with no HW to fight, goes back to Eastern Europe and becomes a Yetti tracker. Hoping to find one to fight. By the way, Chuck will still be LH champ!!!!
& Bisping will beat Anderson. HA!!
Would you mind giving me next weeks lottery numbers too?
Doesn’t sound as bad of a plot as another other recent MMA related movie…
Haha! Yeah, sounds like some plot is unfolding right now as we speak!!!
I was thinkin’ the exact same thing!
agree wit u. at first i was looking forward to the fight. but after giving it some thought, NOT ANYMORE. Stylisticly Randy is a smaller wrestler and that’ll just play into Brock’s strength. Brock is no Tim Sylvia, and there will be NOTHING Randy will be able to do after the first TD. No disrespect to Randy or his legacy. He had a great run but this fight is a BIG BIG MISMATCH and Brock could kill him (literally), and that wouldn’t be cool to see. I still think Kongo has the size and skills to have a chance at beating Brock standing. Randy’s next fight should be Fedor!
Well,This is interesting! I’m a HUGE Randy Couture fan.I would be so excited to see him back! A match with Lesnar though I think is a bad match for Randy.They both have the wrestling background but the size and power of Lesnar could be too much for Randy.Lets face it,Lesnar is a bull!I think Big Nog should be his first fight back.They have to settle the heavyweight belt.It leaves Frank Mir out though.Mir already said he would never fight Couture.Lets see Couture drop back to light heavyweight. I think there is so much more for him there.Now as far as Fedor.Its also a very tough fight for Randy,but I really want to see it.It would be a great fight.Make it happen Dana! I’m looking forward for the news ahead.It should be interesting!
You’re right Lesnar is as bad a matchup for Couture, but it will draw huge PPV numbers and it’s better for Couture to fight Lesnar now rather than later. Holland is right, all this stuff sounds pre-mature and off base. However, I do believe negotiations have been going on for sometime, with the case moving back to Las Vegas, Couture having to go through that legal process again, Couture’s October deadline is right around the corner, Couture n’ Fedor had dinner together recently to discuss what? Randy’s clock is ticking… White’s heavyweight division has been floundering and not until Brock and Nog’s recent wins has anything notable happened. But let’s not forget Dana White, I cant see him agreeing to the above scenerio, there would have to be a lot of twists n’ turns’ in a contract like that for White to see it through.
Don’t forget about the last “big announcement”, we got action figures!
I disagree with jesse holland saying that the UFC has a very worthy champion in Nogueira. Fedor beat him twice and he never beat the champion (randy) to get the belt. How can you say this when you are always so critical of griffin how did beat the champion (rampage)? Other than that I agree with most of what you wrote.
Nog is a worthy champion because he is 31-4-1, he has fought some of the best in the world and come on top, yes he lost to Fedor but that dosn’t mean he is not worthy of being a champion. And he’s ranked number 2 heavyweight in the world by most if not all people. Also he was suppose to fight Randy but Randy quit if you remember. So why disagree that he is not worthy. And when did Jesse Holland ever say Forrest wasn’t worthy of being a champion???
Excellent and also Nogueira has beaten every heavyweight that has defeated couture. Nog has stated many times that the reason he came to UFC is to face him since Couture couldn’t make it to the finals in the King of Kings tournaments.
He has been critical of forrest in some past articles. Maybe it wasn’t that good of point to bring it up in that case I was just tring to say something to back up my point. The fact is that no one can really say that Nogeria is the real champ with fedor and randy out there.
No need to respecfully disagree, just flat out tell him. He can take it. He may be shocked and curse your name, but he can take it…
He’s showing a little class…you should try it sometime…
Oh come on now, usually your insults are more veiled, your comments more pithy. I guess your brain is tired from the article, which was not bad by the way.
I enjoy seeing JH rumble with a blunt word for those that deserve it now n’ then… this site adopts a very small but steady stream of knuckleheads.
nice Holland, you moderate and don’t put my last comment, but let this newby’s comment through to make yourself look good.
theCloser, are you refering to me as a newbie?… if so u most only read your own threads… been around long time now.
why the hell would you come on someones website to talk trash? say something productive or informative or go to sherdog..
testing 1 2 3… testing… is this particular thread being moderated?
theCloser, ru refering to me as a newbie? If so, u must only focus on your own comments and oblivious to other postings… if u werent refering to me… ‘ooops’… my bad.
Thorazine first says:
why the hell would you come on someones website to talk trash? say something productive or informative or go to sherdog..
Then Thorazine says:
testing 1 2 3… testing… is this particular thread being moderated?
Sounds like someones contradicting themselves.
Fedor #1 p4p… ru smoking weed again?… I told u about that sh*t…I don’t know how u could confuse “MEDICINE BALLS” with “THORAZINE” name in the comments… look at the names knucklehead..lol
come on kids, it’s a thing we have dating way back, and he loves it (come on Holland, you know you love the attention), and was meant in jest, and between us. So everyone calm down…jeez , I remember in my day a few years ago when I started coming here…
theCloser,…calm, rational… hmmm… sounds like the impossible dream… btw “Thorazine” in top 20 all time commentators on this site… newbie? take it back! lol.
If he does come back, i dont think it make’s sense for him to fight brock lesnar. I mean the ufc doesnt have much to gain from this fight, if brock loses then another one of there upcoming heavyweights gets beaten down, and obviously brock doesnt deserve a title shot yet.
i dont think lesnar is a good matchup for couture, lesnar is a huge heavyweight while randy is a small heavyweight and i think brocks size will give him the advantage in the wrestling although randy is the more accomplished wreslter, i think this match up will be a huge success in with ppv buys but it will not help randy’s future at all i would like his first fight to be against nog for the title but nog is tied up with tuf and then frank mir, personally i dont wanna see brock as champion yet i think he has to beat one or two more top contenders atleast to make him a little more of a credible champ
Tim is just as large as Brock (but Tim has very little co-ordination…)
Tim has far more MMA training and MMA experience as well and Randy had no problem with him.
your right tim is big but lesnar is huge, tim is flabby brock is all muscle when brock and herring clinched up heath looked like a middle weight and heath is bigger then randy by a good 25 to 30 pounds, lesnar is faster than tim lesnar is stronger than tim and lesnar is a dominate wrestler who has the ability to overpower anybody in this game. Randy is the master of gameplanning and a great fighter but i think the size will be the determining factor and although randy might have better wrestling technique brock will be able to power out of it. I agree lesnar has only been doing mma for about 2 years but he is so athletically gifted i think he can learn quickly and his major weakness is submission and randy is not a submission wizard like mir and also i dont randy or any heavyweight for that matter can take a punch from brock, brock has landed two punches in his mma career and both of them have dropped his oppenent, to put it simply lesnar is a freak of nature and his huge size and strentgh give him a advantage over anybody in the world i am not a lesnar fan but i will not be suprise if lesnar becomes the best heavyweight mma fighter to ever step into the octagon.
matt, i didn’t mean to copy your post in my above comment. i didn’t read yours until now, but i agree with you 100%. this is not a fairy tale. Randy could get beaten retarded.
Lesnar would probably outweigh Randy by about 60 lbs come fight night.60 lbs weight diffrence is the like the equivalent of Randy facing a guy who fights at LW.Bad match-up for Randy,though i will be pulling for him all the way.
This is a tough match-up for Couture, but he’s fought big heavyweights before but not as strong or as skilled in takedowns as Lesnar. Couture is not going to stay in guard long, he’ll quickly and constantly look to stand back up. I think Couture will force Lesnar into his dirty boxing standup game.
Lesnar hasn’t been truly tested, with the exception of Mir’s ankle lock… and Lesnar quickly tapped. We all know Couture can handle a rough fight, but what will happen when Lesnar gets a buncha’ knees to the gut and elbows and punches to the face?…
I’d bet on Couture all the way, his experience and mental toughness prevails on a much less experienced Lesnar.
Simply put, Couture can’t impose his will on Brock and GNP his way to victory.
I see Brock by decision, Brock by TKO, or Randy by submission. Randy has had problems with bigger grapplers before.
Awesome as always Jesse. Plus they can make the Randy vs Fedor fight happen overseas later, where they are both loved. It will be huge. “Captain America” to “Corporate America” instant classic.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to have the Randy vs Fedor match first then Nog vs Randy to solidify the title. No disrespect to Randy or to Brock but if he losses to Brock he will lose credibilty for wanting to fight Fedor or Nog to solidify the title.
I’m a huge Randy fan, but I don’t see his style playing to good with Lesner. He would have to hold Lesner on the cage like he usaully does, Lesner is just to strong for that. Randy is good with game plans, he better have a good one here.
PLEASE GOD NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Randy, and i know that this is the worst match up for him.
This is by far not his WORST match up, not even top 10 of them.
Hey Belfort Fan This is Nate.
I think it is a horrible match up my self its like putting Randy in there with A bigger Stronger younger version of himself, but Randy has the speed and subs on him, but I just don’t see him utilizing it.
Stick and Move the whold 3 rounds, and Randy has this fight in th bag…Randy will win, and this is the firt time i’ll even say “I told you so”
War Randy FTW