Tag: Randy Couture

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture Teams with Bellator and Spike for Reality Series

Bellator MMA and SPIKE have just fired a massive shot at the UFC in their continuing war for television ratings and viewers.Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday that UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has signed a deal with the Viacom cable company to a…

Bellator MMA and SPIKE have just fired a massive shot at the UFC in their continuing war for television ratings and viewers.

Sports Illustrated reported on Tuesday that UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture has signed a deal with the Viacom cable company to appear in several projects, including a high-profile coaching stint on Bellator’s upcoming reality series:

Spike TV will unveil this industry-shifting announcement on Feb. 5 during a press conference in Los Angeles, where Couture and Spike TV president Kevin Kay will discuss details of the agreement and what the 49-year-old retired fighter’s role will be on the Bellator series and possibly other Spike-broadcasted projects. The series is expected to feature a number of current and up-and-coming Bellator fighters.

According to SI reporter Loretta Hunt, the deal was made back in December 2012. UFC president Dana White apparently knew about it and expressed “disapproval” over the issue.

With a historic career in MMA that covered over 13 years since UFC 13 in 1997, Randy “The Natural” Couture is one of the most prominent faces in the sport, as well as one of its most recognizable figures.

However, Couture has also had past issues with the UFC, including an infamous contract dispute (via Yahoo Sports) that led to his early (but temporary) retirement.

According to MMA Weekly, the UFC’s failure to arrange a bout with Fedor Emelianenko contributed to his split from the company in 2007, with additional spats including his pay:

I was offered to fight Fedor over a year ago when I wanted to come out of retirement for thee million dollars in Bodog. It’s more than I’ve ever been paid for a fight…The UFC has stated time and again that I’m the number two athlete on their books as far as my contract, what my base pay says on that bout agreement, but what happens is they pay you a visit in your locker room after your fight and give you a bonus check. It’s not on the books anywhere… [The UFC] offered [Emelianenko] more in a signing bonus than I had ever been paid in a fight. That was like the final slap in the face.

Couture did eventually return to the fold in the UFC, where he finished out his fighting career with matches against marquee opponents like Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and notable boxing champion James Toney.

Couture’s last bout ended in defeat at UFC 129, where he was knocked out in the second round by former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

As a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, the 49-year-old Couture was also the promotion’s first two-division title-holder with a record 15 title fights.

Couture isn’t the first former UFC fighter to sign a deal with Bellator, as other former Zuffa employees such as Paul Daley, Ben Saunders and Roger Huerta have also left or been dropped from the UFC to join their rival.

Bellator has also recruited high-profile signees from the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion, with the most lucrative contract going to light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal.

Still, arguably no Bellator or Strikeforce fighter is anywhere near as famous as Couture.

As “The Natural” makes appearances on SPIKE, he should provide some critical fuel to the network’s aggressive MMA plan. With Bellator tournaments now airing on SPIKE and following TNA Impact Wrestling in a solid ratings block, the UFC’s top competitor has a sizable weapon in their growing arsenal.

UPDATE: Dana White has commented on the announcement via Twitter, simply stating that he “loves” the news of Couture’s deal with Bellator MMA and SPIKE.

 

McKinley Noble is an MMA conspiracy theorist and FightFans Radio writer. His work has appeared in GamePro, Macworld and PC World. Talk with him on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Boxers Need to Stop Calling out MMA Fighters

Perhaps it is the curse of growth, but the rivalry between MMA and professional boxing is not going away. One would have thought that after James Toney was dispatched in short order by Randy Couture that boxers would stop calling out MMA fighters, cont…

Perhaps it is the curse of growth, but the rivalry between MMA and professional boxing is not going away.

One would have thought that after James Toney was dispatched in short order by Randy Couture that boxers would stop calling out MMA fighters, content in the knowing their sports were finally proven—with no shame—to be vastly different.

But if anything, such a “merger” has begun to whet the appetite of certain boxers who want to get more exposure for their name; if they lose they can simply attribute it to being strangers in a strange land, and if they win then suddenly more people than ever know their name and they are welcomed back to the boxing community as conquering heroes.

Case in point: the challenge Cain Velasquez had thrown at his feet by heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury, via Twitter, who claimed he would crush Velasquez inside the UFC octagon.

“I challenge u to fight all in in a cage or ring! It could be billed as the man vs midget lets get it on!”

For his part, Velasquez handled the challenge like he should have. He stated that if Fury wants to fight him, he needs to join the UFC and work his way up the ladder like everyone else.

It is unknown if Fury will let the topic die or try to keep on fanning the flames in the hopes of making a fire so big everyone will know his name, but it still speaks to the idea that more pro boxers, tired of being unknown, may use this tactic in order to get their name spoken aloud in front of the cameras that follow and report on both sports.

The question is a tired one, but if professional boxers are going to keep trying to cash this lottery ticket, then it needs to be pressed hard.

The question is: “Are you going to follow through?”

Most know they will not, so pressing the issue in a manner that is unapologetic and uncompromising is perhaps the only way to silence them. I am not saying defeating another boxer in the octagon is the answer, because even then, they lose little to no face.

Unless they lose a lot of face in the actual fight, which is really the only way that the sport of MMA can draw a hard line in the sand.

Dana White and the UFC shouldn’t reward every boxer that decides to run his mouth with the exposure and money that is expected from such a clash in the octagon. He did it once with James Toney, and once was enough.

So it seems like the only things left are in the hands of Dana White, because when men like Fury begin throwing out challenges to fighters, they are really talking to White.

One option he has is to make it quite clear that professional boxers are welcome into the UFC, but they have to fight for the spot, on a season of The Ultimate Fighter. It would give these boxers a great deal of exposure and would also perhaps uncover new talent, as that is what the show is all about.

Hardly any of them would take it, but should White continue to return to that option as their own chance, eventually those boxers will either get on board and take the shot on the show or return their focus to where it belongs: in the boxing ring.

The second option is to simply declare that no pro boxer will ever step foot into the octagon again without becoming an MMA fighter and establishing a record as such, no questions asked.

Of course, there are problems with both of those solutions, but they seem to be the most direct and sensible choices that serve the sport no matter what said boxers chose to do.

The more I think about it, a season of The Ultimate Fighter that had some professional boxers included would probably do fairly well and it would also serve as a tool to teach other boxers just how demanding the sport of MMA really is.

Either way, it would provide an education for men like Fury who are assuming much and knowing little, and education is never a bad thing.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Strikeforce Results: What We Learned from Ryan Couture vs. KJ Noons

On a night of predictable prelims, Showtime Extreme concluded their final Strikeforce broadcast with a lightweight battle between former title contender KJ Noons and Ryan Couture.This fight was the biggest in the career of Couture, who had previously s…

On a night of predictable prelims, Showtime Extreme concluded their final Strikeforce broadcast with a lightweight battle between former title contender KJ Noons and Ryan Couture.

This fight was the biggest in the career of Couture, who had previously squared off against other lower-tier fighters. 

This was a war! Although there was quality action in Round 1, the second round was five minutes of highlights, as these lightweights battled in hopes of securing a UFC contract. The final round continued the exciting action before going to the judges’ scorecards.

In his first fight against a former champion, Couture was awarded a split decision against Noons, although it was extremely controversial and immediately debunked by Pat Miletich and Frank Shamrock.

 

What we’ll remember about this fight

The poor decision. KJ Noons deserved the win in this battle, and that should be the take-home lesson from this fight. 

 

What we learned about KJ Noons

Not much. This fight was pretty standard for Noons. He controlled the action and showed exemplary head movement while boxing his way toward a win. Unfortunately, the decision robbed him of a hard-earned victory.

 

What we learned about Ryan Couture

That he is wickedly tough. Couture withstood the onslaught of Noons in the second round. After being rocked, Couture remained upright as the former EliteXC champion delivered unanswered combinations in a fight that appeared to be only seconds away from being stopped.

Aside from the controversy, Couture proved that he is worthy of a UFC contract. With big heart and creative striking, the 30-year-old fared well against a seasoned veteran and former champion. 

 

What’s next for KJ Noons

Undoubtedly, this fight was sink or swim for Noons, who lost three of his last four fights heading into the event. Prior to the skid, Noons had won six straight, which includes wins over Nick Diaz, Yves Edwards and Jorge Gurgel.

It is clear that Noons should have come out with the decision victory, although I’m not sure that the UFC will sign him with only one win in five fights. Hopefully Dana White was watching this closely and awards Noons a contract.

A match against a fellow boxer like Sam Stout would make for an incredible matchup. 

 

What’s next for Ryan Couture

The son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, Ryan made his professional debut under the Strikeforce banner, which has been the home of all of his fights. The win tonight gives him a four-fight winning streak heading into the UFC, even though he didn’t deserve the win tonight.

Couture will likely enter the Octagon sometime this summer, and the UFC should take its time and allow Ryan more time to develop. Perhaps a bout with Mac Danzig or Danny Castillo is in the cards.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The 10 Greatest Trilogies in MMA History

When I think of great trilogies in any combative sport, for me there has to be several ingredients that come together to create an epic story where the fighters, acting as co-authors, give us all they can and it’s simply not enough for a single s…

When I think of great trilogies in any combative sport, for me there has to be several ingredients that come together to create an epic story where the fighters, acting as co-authors, give us all they can and it’s simply not enough for a single sitting.

Thus, because it was so good the first time, we need more.

A great trilogy needs action (and back-and-forth action is the best), some doubt as to who is going to win each bout (and the more doubt, the better), drama as a result of serious conflict, and above all, there needs to be a reason why two fighters would need to meet a second time, let alone a third.

Some notable trilogies that didn’t make this list based on this criteria are Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock, Wanderlei Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba, Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort, and so on.

It’s not that those trilogies weren’t good; it’s that I didn’t think they were great.

Ortiz ran all over Shamrock in their first bout and from there it just got worse, and we got a trilogy lacking any real drama, doubt as to who would win, and no clear reasons why they should fight two times, let alone three.

Well, there was money, of course; can’t forget about that.

The same could be said about Silva vs. Sakuraba (to some extent), and as far as Couture vs. Belfort, the only reason why we got a third fight is because Couture didn’t slip that punch as well as he thought in the second bout.

Of course, not all great trilogies meet every standard, but they meet most of them, and for the purpose of this list, the majority rules. 

Enjoy.

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Junior Dos Santos and the 8 Greatest Heavyweights in History

While the general perception is that the big man is the greatest competitor when it comes to combat sports, that’s not necessarily a fact. If you really take a gander at some of the lighter weight classes, particularly in mixed martial arts, the …

While the general perception is that the big man is the greatest competitor when it comes to combat sports, that’s not necessarily a fact. If you really take a gander at some of the lighter weight classes, particularly in mixed martial arts, the depth of talent appears drastically deeper. That said, the heavyweight division has always played host to the rare phenomenon.

Examining today’s MMA landscape, one big man in particular truly stands out: UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. Junior’s still a young buck in a brutal game, and his future career trajectory remains a mystery. For the time being however, it’s safe to label the man the baddest SOB north of 205 pounds.

At 28 years old, JDS has 16 professional bouts on his ledger. He’s years distanced from his fighting prime, he’s lost just a single match (in his sixth professional fight, against Joaquim Ferreira, who he’d beaten roughly seven months prior), and he’s risen to and above every challenge deposited in his path.

With a UFC record of 9-0, the Brazilian has already disposed of worthy opposition. He made his promotional debut at UFC 90, a virtual unknown, where he knocked well-respected Pride veteran Fabricio Werdum unconscious in 81 seconds. Mirko Cro Cop, Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Carwin were all recognized as genuine threats to the blossoming prospect. He battered all three in a rather one-sided fashion.

And then, the night arrived in which JDS would cement his place as the division’s finest competitor. November 12, 2011, JDS entered the octagon to challenge newly-minted champion Cain Velasquez. Pundits praised Velasquez to High Heaven, declaring the man the uncontested future of the division, but someone forgot to pass dos Santos that memo.

Sixty-four seconds into their highly anticipated tussle and Velasquez was sprawled on the canvas, semi-conscious, the massive JDS hammering away at his foe’s cranium, forcing referee intervention.

Cain’s days as the division’s kingpin met a quick and cruel end.

Since that match Junior dos Santos has defended his belt against Alistair Overeem fill-in, Frank Mir. Mir, ever the gutsy man, accepted a fairly short notice fight with the champ and paid dearly for it. “Cigano” battered the former champion for a round and a half, seemingly toying with the outclassed Mir. Dos Santos’ dominance looked amazing, plain and simple, and few hurdles remain in his path.

Dos Santos is scheduled to rematch Velasquez in roughly one week. Should he duplicate the first fight’s outcome, only one legitimate threat looms: the controversial Alistair Overeem, who seems to have a penchant for horse meat.

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Randy Couture vs. Steven Seagal: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

If Randy Couture comes looking for a fight, Steven Seagal guarantees that only one man will walk out.The growing feud between the martial arts legends stems from a joke Couture made during an appearance on G4TV’s “Attack of Show” (via MMAWeekly.com).Ac…

If Randy Couture comes looking for a fight, Steven Seagal guarantees that only one man will walk out.

The growing feud between the martial arts legends stems from a joke Couture made during an appearance on G4TV’s “Attack of Show” (via MMAWeekly.com).

According to Couture, a bout against Seagal is the only fight that would intrigue him enough to come out of retirement. Seagal didn’t take the challenge lightly, and he accepted the fight during a phone interview with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.

Unfortunately, the proposed bout would have strict conditions.

According to Seagal, the fight would be no-holds barred and take place in a location where there are no witnesses.

This is a complete bummer for MMA fans hoping to see Sensei Seagal suck in the gut and throw on a pair of four-ounce gloves for his UFC debut.

In all seriousness, Seagal comes from a legitimate martial arts background. As a seventh-degree black belt in Aikido, he serves as a personal mentor to MMA legends Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.

If the dream fight came to fruition, is there a chance Seagal does the unthinkable and upsets Couture?

Yes, we are actually going there.

Here is the head-to-toe breakdown of the proposed dream fight between UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture and Hollywood action star Steven Seagal.

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