Randy Couture praises Francis Ngannou for UFC negotiation battle: “I’m proud of him for what he’s done.”

Randy Couture, Francis Ngannou, UFCUFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture commended Francis Ngannou for his fight with the UFC.  Earlier this month, Ngannou was stripped of the UFC heavyweight title and became a free agent after failed negotiations with the company. According to Ngannou, he asked for the right of sponsorships, health insurance, and an advocate that represented fighters […]

Randy Couture, Francis Ngannou, UFC

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture commended Francis Ngannou for his fight with the UFC. 

Earlier this month, Ngannou was stripped of the UFC heavyweight title and became a free agent after failed negotiations with the company. According to Ngannou, he asked for the right of sponsorships, health insurance, and an advocate that represented fighters at board meetings. He said the UFC was unwilling to accept his requests. 

Like Ngannou, Couture is no stranger to negotiating with the UFC. During his run as heavyweight champion, he had a rocky relationship with the company. In an attempt to leave the promotion, Couture took the UFC to court from 2006 to 2007 to be let go from his contract. He ended up settling the dispute and later returning to the UFC. 

Randy Couture and the UFC Have a Tough History

During an interview with MMA Fighting, Couture spoke about his past struggles dealing with his UFC and their negotiations. 

“The history is there,” Couture said. “When [Zuffa] bought the company, I took them to task over their ancillary rights and the crappy contract they were trying to force me to sign as their heavyweight champion. We asked and put some more clauses in there. The upside to that is I got a much better deal moving forward. The downside is they closed a bunch of the loopholes in those crappy contracts and made it more difficult for other fighters moving forward.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

The 59-year-old also shared his thoughts on Ngannou’s contract dispute and his fight for improved fighter benefits. He also admitted that he hasn’t spoken with Ngannou directly. 

The money they threw at Francis was pretty significant and probably as much as anybody’s gotten paid in our sport but it was the other things ­— health insurance, a fighter’s representative, some of those things that he asked for that were outside of that, that caused them to drop him,” Couture said. “They don’t want to give up that power.

They don’t want to give up those things. They want to be able to control the fighters the way they want to control them. They don’t like that transparency. They keep those numbers pretty close to their vest so they don’t have to negotiate with fighters who know what their value is in the market place, that’s how that shakes out.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Couture hopes to see more top fighters, like Ngannou, become the voice of change in mixed martial arts.

Francis is probably the closest to a top tier, marquee fighter that was literally holding the belt in the heavyweight division and put that on the line to make a statement. I’m proud of him for what he’s done. Hopefully, more fighters step up.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Randy Couture Advises Jake Paul On First MMA Opponent Choice

UFC Hall of Famer and PFL analyst Randy Couture thinks Jake Paul should pump the brakes when it comes to his MMA ambitions. Paul signed with the PFL earlier this year and is expected to make his MMA debut at a later date. He’ll also help launch t…

UFC Hall of Famer and PFL analyst Randy Couture thinks Jake Paul should pump the brakes when it comes to his MMA ambitions. Paul signed with the PFL earlier this year and is expected to make his MMA debut at a later date. He’ll also help launch the PFL’s ‘super fight’ division, which will split…

Continue Reading Randy Couture Advises Jake Paul On First MMA Opponent Choice at MMA News.

Randy Couture Clarifies Role In Francis Ngannou/UFC Standoff

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture feels Francis Ngannou handled himself admirably during his standoff with the UFC. Ngannou’s UFC tenure came to an end after the two sides couldn’t come to terms on a new contract. He was stripped of the heavy…

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture feels Francis Ngannou handled himself admirably during his standoff with the UFC. Ngannou’s UFC tenure came to an end after the two sides couldn’t come to terms on a new contract. He was stripped of the heavyweight title. Ngannou, despite being arguably one of the best UFC heavyweights of…

Continue Reading Randy Couture Clarifies Role In Francis Ngannou/UFC Standoff at MMA News.

Francis Ngannou Says UFC Used Randy Couture Example To Warn Against Leaving

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou spoke with Randy Couture prior to exiting the promotion after the MMA legend was used as a deterrent. The lengthy contractual dispute between Ngannou and mixed martial arts’ premier promotion reache…

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou spoke with Randy Couture prior to exiting the promotion after the MMA legend was used as a deterrent. The lengthy contractual dispute between Ngannou and mixed martial arts’ premier promotion reached its conclusion earlier this month, with the heavyweight gold becoming vacant and “The Predator” entering unregistered free agency….

Continue Reading Francis Ngannou Says UFC Used Randy Couture Example To Warn Against Leaving at MMA News.

Glover Teixeira Aims To Break UFC Record Before He Calls It Quits

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira wants to get his belt back and hold onto it long enough to break a UFC record. Teixeira was supposed to face Ji?í Procházka in the UFC 282 headliner before Procházka withdrew due to a shoulder injur…

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira wants to get his belt back and hold onto it long enough to break a UFC record. Teixeira was supposed to face Ji?í Procházka in the UFC 282 headliner before Procházka withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Jan Blachowicz would then face Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant light…

Continue Reading Glover Teixeira Aims To Break UFC Record Before He Calls It Quits at MMA News.

Exclusive | Randy Couture proclaims Kayla Harrison as the P4P No.1 in women’s MMA

Kayla HarrisonRandy Couture has shared his belief that the two-time Olympic gold medallist, Kayla Harrison, is the best female fighter in the sport. Harrison returns to action on the 25th of November to compete in the 2022 PFL World Championship, where she will attempt to emerge once again victorious as the Women’s lightweight champion. A tournament […]

Kayla Harrison

Randy Couture has shared his belief that the two-time Olympic gold medallist, Kayla Harrison, is the best female fighter in the sport.

Harrison returns to action on the 25th of November to compete in the 2022 PFL World Championship, where she will attempt to emerge once again victorious as the Women’s lightweight champion. A tournament that she has already won on two separate occasions previously.

Across all elite mixed martial arts organizations, Harrison is regarded as one of the best female fighters currently active within the sport.

Despite arguments that are made that Kayla Harrison has not faced the elite-level competition that she would find inside the UFC, her talent can simply not be questioned.

Mike Owens of LowKickMMA spoke to a man who knows exactly what it takes in order to become a world champion when he was joined by three-time UFC Heavyweight and two-time Light heavyweight world champion, Randy Couture, to preview the upcoming 2022 PFL World Championship.

Whilst breaking down the card, Couture revealed his thoughts on the Judoka world champion and where he places her in the Women’s Pound-for-Pound list.

Randy Couture Claims Kayla Harrison’s Ability Influenced Amanda Nunes To Leave American Top Team

“Honestly, I think she is the best female in our sport right now. I think you could have made a debate between her and (Amanda) Nunes and then Nunes just dropped a fight, and now has come back and gotten back in there and done a great job. I know they used to train together, and I think maybe Nunes saw the writing on the wall.”

“And potentially, she is going to have to fight this person, so she chose to create a little separation and go to a different gym for a while. Honestly, I believe she is the best female fighter in our sport right now.

Kayla Harrison, who will headline this year’s PFL championship, has already revealed she only has a singular fight remaining on her contract and does intend to explore her options at the conclusion of this PFL season. The UFC now needs to be the first one knocking when she does become a free agent to allow her to join the organization and prove just exactly how talented she is.

Should she sign for the promotion, given the sporting credentials she has, she could very well be put in a position to face Nunes after just a handful of fights.

Who would you favor in a matchup between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes?