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Randy Couture Slams UFC Treatment Of Francis Ngannou: ‘It’s A Disservice’

Randy Couture sides with Francis Ngannou in his ongoing feud with the UFC. The recently crowned heavyweight champion is currently at odds with the promotion and its president, Dana White after they booked an interim title fight between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane. In an interview with Submission Radio, Couture said tonight’s interim title fight […]

Randy Couture sides with Francis Ngannou in his ongoing feud with the UFC.

The recently crowned heavyweight champion is currently at odds with the promotion and its president, Dana White after they booked an interim title fight between Derrick Lewis and Ciryl Gane.

In an interview with Submission Radio, Couture said tonight’s interim title fight between Lewis and Gane is nothing more than a marketing ploy.

“It’s a ploy, in my opinion. I think they’re trying to find a way to use a title fight as a marketing tool, to get more eyeballs and more pay-per-views,” Couture said. “I think it’s a disservice to Francis, but it is what it is. Francis is an amazing guy, one of the most humble athletes and most talented athletes that I’ve been around. So, he’ll work it out, things are gonna be just fine. Pretty tough to overlook a guy that is that talented and that amazing. But yeah, I just think the interim championship that they’re creating, it’s kind of when they don’t get their way, they’re like, alright, we’ll make this interim title and then you can sort it out later.”

“I think that is part of the ploy, creating an interim title when Francis still holds the title. And now they’re gonna want to force and create that unification fight and have Francis fight Derrick,” Couture added. “I don’t think Francis is worried about fighting Derrick, but I think the Jon Jones fight would have been a much bigger fight for the fans and everybody involved.”

“I think when you start chirping about money, which both Jon Jones and Francis have done, and you have guys like Jake Paul, Logan Paul actually shining a flashlight on the disparaging difference between MMA and boxing as well, Dana’s one of those guys, he’s gonna dig his heels in and he’s gonna find a way to make it happen the way he wants it to happen.”

Do you agree with Randy Couture? Is the creation of an interim heavyweight title a disservice to Francis Ngannou?

Randy Couture Breaks Down What Should Happen For Better Fighter Pay

MMA legend Randy Couture doesn’t understand why Jake Paul is the one bringing the MMA fighter pay dispute to the forefront. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Couture straight up asked the question. (H/T MMA Fighting) “Why is Jake Paul the one to step up and poke Dana and shine a light on what’s going […]

MMA legend Randy Couture doesn’t understand why Jake Paul is the one bringing the MMA fighter pay dispute to the forefront.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Couture straight up asked the question. (H/T MMA Fighting)

“Why is Jake Paul the one to step up and poke Dana and shine a light on what’s going on and the difference between our sports?”

Couture continued, “If it takes Jake Paul to run his mouth and get that done, then great. As long as it gets done. It just seems kind of crazy to me that it’s coming from there. And we as athletes in mixed martial arts can’t come together and can’t hold these promoters to a higher standard and create the transparency that we need in the sport.”

Couture has never been shy about addressing issues that plague the sport that he helped make a global phenomenon. He’s also never shied away from criticizing other fighters. He feels that one, in particular, had the opportunity to make the fighter pay issue a hot topic.

“”The guy that really had a chance to shine a light on it was Conor McGregor,” Couture explained. “He got a boxing license. As soon as he got a boxing license, he rendered his UFC contract null and void. He had the protections of the Muhammad Ali Act when he became an official boxer. With that boxing number, and he chose to bring Dana White and company back into that fight when he could have done all that on his own. Kept all that money to himself and shined a light on the problem in mixed martial arts.”

The Muhammad Ali Act, commonly referred to as the Ali Act, is a U.S. federal law passed in 2000. It halted widespread abuse (i.e., exploitation, rigging of bouts, unfair mismatches) of licensed boxers by promoters.

The law (here in its entirety) covers various aspects of the boxing business, including protection from coercive contracts, disclosure of fighter payment/contracts, and conflict of interests.

Couture believes that either lobbying for a similar law or simply amending the Ali Act would provide MMA fighters more legal ground. But that is only part of what Couture believes will bring about change.

“I think there’s three things going on,” Couture said. “The first thing is obviously the class action lawsuit. That is the long play. It’s going to take a while to settle all of that. The affidavits are in, it’s been certified as a class. If they’re successful in proving their case, it’s going to force the biggest promotion in this sport anyways, the UFC, to do business differently. That’s the first scenario.”

“The second scenario is the MMAFA, the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association, and I’m part of that group, have been lobbying to see the Ali Act amended. Just change the definition from boxer to mixed martial arts or combative sports athlete. Then we enjoy the same transparency and restrictions on promotions and promoters that boxers have been enjoying since 1996. Now the UFC is lobbying very, very hard and spending a lot of money to keep that from being voted on. It’s gotten us tossed out of the Energy and Commerce Commission, where it was originally voted and voted in. They’re doing their thing to keep it from being a vote and being voted on.”

Lastly, Couture believes that better competition to the sports biggest promotion, the UFC, helps to level the playing field.

“The third thing is organizations like the PFL that have taken the sport and put it in a regular sports format, that are paying the athletes very well,” Couture stated. “A million-dollar purse at the end of each season with a new champion. I think that’s another avenue as well. They’re creating an athlete’s advisory board and doing some things some of the other promotions aren’t doing. I think that’s a third potential to see some change in the sport.”

“We’re obviously attracting a lot of big names and top names from the sport that want a shot at that money and want a chance to know when their fight is going to be and not have to worry about it. So I think those are all three things that are a positive change in our sport.”

Do you believe that Randy Couture has identified everything that needs to happen for fighters to see more money?

Randy Couture Cites Lack of Transparency In MMA Fighter Pay

Randy Couture gave his two cents on the state of fighter pay in the sport of MMA, believing there to be a lack of transparency. In a recent interview with Morning Kombat, the former two-division UFC champion was asked about the negotiations between Jon…

Continue Reading Randy Couture Cites Lack of Transparency In MMA Fighter Pay at MMA News.

Claressa Shields To Randy Couture: “I’m Not James Toney”

Fresh from claiming victory on her MMA debut, boxing GWOAT Claressa Shields is basking in the sweet satisfaction of sticking it to her perceived doubters—particularly Randy Couture. On June 10, Shields pulled off a sensational come-from-behind win over…

Continue Reading Claressa Shields To Randy Couture: “I’m Not James Toney” at MMA News.

Randy Couture Gives Jon Jones Advice Ahead Of Heavyweight Move

Jon Jones is preparing to make his debut in the heavyweight division and there’s no shortage of opinions about how he will perform. If anyone knows a thing or two about winning titles in two separate UFC divisions, it’s Randy Couture. The former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion was the first fighter to win titles in two weight classes in the promotion’s history. Couture sat down with Damon Martin to talk about his career and his new documentary, The Randy Couture Story.

Couture talked about some challenges he faced during his fourteen year career, overcoming a heart attack and how fighters promote themselves. He also talked about the challenges of fighting in different divisions. (H/T MMA Fighting on SBN)

“I felt like I was stuck between weight classes. I’m certainly not by any stretch of the imagination a big heavyweight. But when I started the sport, 15 or 20 pounds was a lot to cut because lightweight was anything under 200 [pounds]. So now we have as many weight classes as we do, it’s a little easier for guys to transition up or down and make weight in another weight and still compete and still be healthy and still perform to their ability. I don’t think it takes away from it that more guys have done it, more guys and gals. I think it’s still cool.”

Couture went on to share his thoughts on the latest champion to try this feat, Jon Jones. About Jones, Couture shared, “I’ll be interested to see. He’s a big guy, he’s a tall guy. I think he’s taller than I am. I think he’s 6-foot-3, I’m only 6-foot-1. He certainly has the frame to put on the mass, and technically, he’s as good as anybody.”

Jones has been hard at work preparing for his heavyweight debut. The former lightweight champion and consensus GOAT has packed on 40 pounds as he prepares to return to the octagon later this year. He has been incredibly active on social media and has no doubt that he will be on top of the heavyweight division.

The current champion is 38, I’m only 33, Mark my words eventually I will have that belt around my waist. There’s no rush. I’ll just keep building my body, I’ll focus on doing all the right things outside of the octagon, and hopefully one day the company will see more value in me. https://t.co/zAZQV7fE5b

— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 10, 2021

Couture, citing Adesanya’s loss to Blachowicz, wonders if adding the weight and preparation will translate to success for Jones.

“It’s always going to be a challenge. You know Adesanya is a perfect example. I mean coming in at, what was he 196 [pounds]? You know probably as big as he’s ever been, but he’s still dealing with a guy that’s cutting down from 215 to 220, probably, to make 205. And you know sometimes that, especially when all skill sets across the board are fairly equal, that that size and power can make a difference.”

Over the course of his UFC career, Jones has only suffered one loss and dominated the light heavyweight division. However, he has not secured a finish since 2018 and won a questionable decision against Dominick Reyes in his final title defense. Still, Jones is favored to excel in his new weight class.

“It will be interesting to see how he works around bigger, stronger guys, cause that is a challenge. You’ve got to approach them differently. You don’t want to go head up with a guy that’s that big and that strong,” Couture added.

Do you think that Jon Jones will be the next two division champion?

Randy Couture Recalls Spoiling The UFC’s Plans For Chuck Liddell

MMA legend Randy Couture has been reminiscing about the time he played spoiler by beating Chuck Liddell. The comments come one week on from Dustin Poirier doing something similar. ‘The Diamond’ stopped Conor McGregor inside two rounds at UFC 257 to derail Dana White’s plans to set up a mega-money rematch between ‘Notorious’ and UFC […]

MMA legend Randy Couture has been reminiscing about the time he played spoiler by beating Chuck Liddell.

The comments come one week on from Dustin Poirier doing something similar. ‘The Diamond’ stopped Conor McGregor inside two rounds at UFC 257 to derail Dana White’s plans to set up a mega-money rematch between ‘Notorious’ and UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Couture held the heavyweight title in 2001. He believes the UFC wasn’t happy about him beating Pedro Rizzo twice, as he was 10 years Couture’s junior and a potential future superstar.

“I don’t think they were too keen on having a 39, 40-year-old heavyweight champion,” Couture said in a recent episode of “Legend 2 Legend” with Burt Watson. “I don’t think they thought I was very marketable.”

The 57-year-old later lost his heavyweight title to Josh Barnett. Couture was scheduled to face Andrei Arlovski in 2003 before an injury to the Belarus native derailed that fight three weeks out, prompting the UFC to contact ‘The Natural’ and suggest he moves down to fight Chuck Liddell for the interim light-heavyweight title.

Liddell was on the edge of becoming a true star for the UFC. ‘The Iceman’ was engaged in a bitter feud with undisputed light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. A fight between Liddell and Ortiz was the biggest possible fight the company could make. Couture believed the UFC wanted Liddell to have an interim belt in order to force Ortiz into a fight with his biggest rival.

“Obviously I was the fly in the ointment for that whole scenario,” Couture said. (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Couture went on to beat up and stop Chuck Liddell inside three rounds to claim the interim belt. He later picked up a decision win over Tito Ortiz to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion. Couture believes those wins put him in “a bit of an adversarial situation” with the UFC brass.

‘The Natural’ eventually surrendered his title to Vitor Belfort before winning it back in a rematch. Couture later lost twice to Liddell in one of the all-time great trilogies before stepping up to heavyweight to win UFC gold once again, cementing his place in the Hall of Fame and as one of the greatest ever MMA fighters.

Where does Randy Couture rank among the best ever UFC fighters?