Randy Couture

At 61 years old, Randy Couture has this physical status:

Randall Duane Couture (born June 22, 1963) is an American actor, former U.S. Army sergeant, retired mixed martial artist and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler.

During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light heavyweight Champion, making him a six-time UFC Champion and the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament winner.

He is the first of seven fighters to hold two UFC championship titles in two different divisions (along with B.J.

Penn, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Henry Cejudo). Couture has competed in a record 16 title fights.

He holds the record for the most wins in UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts (6).

He had the most title reigns in the UFC, with six.

His last fight with Lyoto Machida marked his 24th fight in the UFC.

He is the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame.

He is the only person over the age of 40 to have won a UFC championship fight, having done so four times.

He is one of the few MMA champions to regain a title he had lost, and the only to have done it three times (twice at heavyweight, once at light heavyweight). Couture was an Olympic wrestling alternate and has lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout much of his career, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University.

He established Team Quest with Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson, a training camp for fighters, based out of Gresham, Oregon, and headed by coach Robert Folis.

In 2005, he moved to Las Vegas, where he opened his own extensive chain of gyms under the name Xtreme Couture.

He partnered with Bas Rutten to open Legends Gym in Hollywood, California. Couture is generally recognized as a clinch and ground-and-pound fighter who uses his wrestling ability to execute take downs, establish top position and successively strike the opponent on the bottom.

He has displayed a variety of skills in boxing and catch wrestling.

He is the only UFC fighter to win a championship after becoming a Hall-of-Famer and is the oldest champion in MMA history.

Personal life

Couture was previously married to Sharon, Tricia, and Kim Couture (née Borrego). He and Kim filed for divorce in May 2009. He continued to coach her and support her MMA career. He has three children, including Ryan. He often works with and is the long-term partner of model and actress Mindy Robinson.

Asked if MMA could be improved, he suggested health insurance, retirement plans as well as more equal compensation regarding other athletes and sports. He lives in Las Vegas. He enjoys hunting.

In 2012 Randy Couture was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame (ISHOF) presented by sports legend Dr. Robert M. Goldman.

On October 23, 2019, Couture suffered a heart attack after training and walked himself to a nearby hospital. Following a successful operation, Couture made a full recovery.

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Mixed martial arts career

Couture made his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 13 on May 30, 1997 as part of a four-man heavyweight tournament, having been called to the tournament as an alternate on three weeks' notice. Tony Halme, his first adversary, outweighed him by nearly 100 pounds (7.1 st). Couture immediately responded with a double-leg takedown, followed by some ground and pound, and then triumphed in under a minute with a rear naked choke submission. He beat Steven Graham, another big rival (290 lb), by TKO at 3:13 in the first round.

Couture defeated Vitor Belfort on October 17, 1997, the number one candidate in the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Couture was an underdog when Belfort, 19-year-old Belfort, became the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament champion, winning all of his matches with soaring punches. Couture was clinch after circling away from Belfort's left hand. The fighters broke up, and Couture struck a blow when Belfort attempted a flurry of punches, causing Couture to take down. He regained side control and landed strikes right away. Couture landed knee strikes as Belfort scrambled to his feet. He clinched once more and wore Belfort down with filthy boxing. Belfort was worn out by the 7-minute mark. For one of the biggest upsets in MMA at the time, Couture brought him down and finished him off with punches from back mount.

Couture defeated Maurice Smith, the UFC Heavyweight Champion, in his second title defense after winning the belt from Mark Coleman earlier this year. It was a slow-paced fight, with neither fighter seriously injured the other, but Couture did several takedowns and maintained positional control throughout the conflict. He became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion after 21 minutes and became the first UFC Heavyweight champion. Despite the fact that Smith did enough to win the game, others believe he did enough to win the tournament.

Couture wanted to protect the belt against Bas Rutten, the former King of Pancrase, in 1998. Couture opted instead for Vale Tudo Japan, and the title was stripped from him. Enson Inoue, the grappling specialist, had his first and only match against Shooto veteran Enson Inoue. Couture tapped out an armbar only about 90 seconds into the match after taking the ground to the ground, just over 90 seconds into the match.

Couture was a student in Japan at the University of On March 20, 1999, Couture made his debut against Mikhail Illoukhine in RINGS, beating him up against him. Couture submitted to a kimura, but the result was tense due to Illoukhine locking the lock while being re-positioned on the ring's center. Following that loss, he took a break from MMA to focus on his amateur wrestling career.

Couture returned to MMA in October 2000 for the RINGS King of Kings Tournament 2000. In his first fight against UFC veteran Jeremy Horn, he won unanimously, followed by another over Pancrase veteran Ryuich Yanagisawa. These two victories qualified him for the tournament's final event in March 2001. He was given a shot at the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Kevin Randleman on November 17, 2000, but before that, he was given a chance at the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Kevin Randleman. He was disqualified in the first two rounds but defended his back firmly, negating the bulk of Randleman's ground and pound attempts. In the third round, he tripped Randleman to the ground and landed several blows from full mount for a TKO victory and his second UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Couture continued in the RINGS King of Kings Tournament 2000 Final in March 2001. Valentijn Overeem choked veteran Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in the first fight after winning an even draw down and forced to submit. Antônio Rodrigo Nominee won the tournament, and Couture's Return to the United FC followed Couture.

At UFC 31, Pedro Rizzo, a Brazilian kickboxer, was his first title defense against him. This was the first UFC event under Zuffa's new president Dana White. Both fighters sustained serious injuries. Couture took the unanimous decision after five 5-minute rounds. Some fans thought Rizzo had won, so the UFC called off an immediate match against UFC 34 in November 2001. Couture defeated TKO in the third round this time, by a landslide.

In March 2002, he was defeated by up-and-coming Josh Barnett in his third title defense. Barnett rode Couture and scored several strikes to win the title by TKO in the second round. Barnett had tested positive for anabolic steroids following the battle. He was later stripped of the award and kicked out of the UFC.

In late 2002, Couture defeated Ricco Rodriguez for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 39. Couture, 39, became progressively ill after dominating the first three rounds. Rodriguez was let down and landed an elbow blow to his orbital bone, breaking it and forcing him to submit in the fifth round. This was the first time a UFC match had ended in the fifth round.

Couture dropped to the light heavyweight division after two straight losses to larger opponents in the heavyweight division. In his light heavyweight debut, he defeated former world number one Chuck Liddell for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship, defeating him in his first light heavyweight Championship appearance. He was still the underdog, but after outstriking Liddell for three rounds, he brought the fight to a conclusion and defeated TKO by full mount, becoming the first UFC fighter to win titles in two weight classes.

Tito Ortiz, the five-time champion, was billed as a "Champion vs. Champion" match in his upcoming match. Couture, 40, was voted unanimously to become the undisputed UFC Light heavyweight champion.

Vitor Belfort, who had previously defeated Couture in 1997 at UFC 15, was the first time Couture's first title defense against him. Belfort grazed his right eye with a left hook in the first round as Couture closed the distance to try to clinch. When the cageside doctor ordered that the fight be suspended, Belfort was declared the winner, and he was declared the champion. Later this year, a rubber match took place. Couture dominated all three rounds before winning by doctor stoppage due to a layoff, transforming into a two-time UFC Light heavyweight Champion.

Couture lost his title and suffered his first knockout loss of his career on April 16, 2005, in a rematch with Liddell. In August, he came back to defeat Mike van Arsdale and reestablish himself as a top contender. On February 4, 2006, he met Liddell for the third time and final time in a championship match at UFC 57. He was disqualified in the second round of the tournament and announced his expulsion from MMA immediately after.

Couture was the fourth inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 24, 2006, alongside Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, and Ken Shamrock.

Couture, who retired from MMA, became a regular broadcast commentator for UFC games and co-host of Before the Bell and After the Bell on The Fight Network, and co-anchor of Before the Bell and After the Bell. He appeared in the Rob Schneider film Big Stan alongside fellow mixed martial artists Don Frye and Bob Sapp.

Couture defeated Brazilian jiujitsu champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a submission wrestling match on November 17, 2006. Souza was welcomed to train at his gym after the match. Souza accepted and started training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.

Couture was on the show "Pros vs. Joes" season two premiere episode, which aired on January 25, 2007. Michael Irvin, Kevin Willis, and José Canseco were among his coworkers on the episode. He returned for the final, where he was in the middle of a football-based round. Willis, Randall Cunningham, Bruce Smith, Roy Jones Jr., and Tim Hardaway were among his coworkers.

In an interview with Spike TV magazine "Inside the UFC," Couture announced his return from retirement on January 11, 2007. In a talk with Joe Rogan, he revealed that he will face Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 68 on March 3, 2007. He also revealed that he had signed a four-fight, two-year contract with the UFC.

Couture defeated Sylvia for a third time at the age of 43, becoming the UFC Heavyweight Champion for the third time (a UFC record). Couture's first punch, eight seconds into the match, sent the 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Sylvia to the mat. He swung Sylvia with strikes and many takedowns, setting the tone of the match for five rounds. Both three judges scored the match 50-45 for Couture.

Couture defended the title against Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga on August 25, 2007, defeating him by TKO by strikes at UFC 74. Couture suffered a fractured left arm when he blocked one of Gonzaga's kicks. The kick clearly split his ulna, requiring him to wear a splint for six weeks.

Couture announced on October 11, 2007, breaking all links with the UFC, leaving two contracted fights, a position as an on-air analyst, and the UFC Heavyweight Championship behind. Tim Sylvia's comeback fight earned him $250,000 (more than $936,000 in PPV) compensation. He received a $250,000 reward for defeating Gabriel Gonzaga (more than a $35,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus and $787,000 in PPV sales). Chuck Liddell was reportedly paid more than he was before losing his previous two fights, according to him. Couture cited the UFC's inability to sign #1 ranked Heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, as well as internal issues with UFC leadership for his decision.

Musio Chavez, the Oregon fighter, was coached by Couture for the Intercollegiate Fight League.

Despite Couture's desire to leave, UFC president Dana White said on October 18, 2007, that he will not ban Couture from the final two fights on his contract. Couture denied that his departure from UFC was a "retirement," laid out his doubts about his salary, reaffirmed his assertion that he will be free from any contractual obligations to the UFC after nine months, during a press conference on October 25, 2007.

White and Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta spoke at another press conference on October 30, 2007, where White reiterated the UFC's position a few days ahead of time and published papers debunking Couture's allegations concerning Couture's compensation.

On Thanksgiving weekend to discuss a potential return to UFC, but Couture said they had no desire to do so at the time.

On December 15, Couture Cornering some of his Xtreme Couture fighters said he would fight him in October, after his UFC deal came to an end, if the UFC did not reach a mutual understanding with Russian Federation's M-1 Global.

Zuffa filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court in Nevada on January 15, 2008, citing lack of employment and irreparable harm as a result of the loss of over $10,000. Couture's employment deal and not his employment deal were the subject of the lawsuit, not his promotion deal. Judge Jennifer Togliatti delivered a preliminary injunction prohibiting Couture from participating in an IFL tournament held the following day on February 28, 2008.

A Texas appeals court granted Zuffa's appeal for a stay against a motion for a declaratory decision in a lawsuit brought by HDNet concerning Couture's contractual relationship with the NFL on August 2, 2008. The stay effectively ended the conflict in Texas, and Zuffa was allowed to move forward with the Nevada complaint.

The UFC announced on September 2, 2008, that Couture had signed to a new three-fight deal. He appeared at UFC 91 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship to Brock Lesnar on November 15. Lesnar knocked Couture down in the second round of a close match, bringing him down in the second round and punishing him with hammerfists at 3:07. Couture talked to Joe Rogan about his desire to keep fighting and that he felt he was still a better fighter, not because of his age.

Couture met former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antônio Rodrigo No. 27 in Portland, Oregon, on August 29, 2009, losing by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28). Couture said after the match that he felt he was in the best shape of his life and that he would watch what the UFC had in store for him. The fight was voted "Fight of the Night" by the organisers.

Couture signed a new six-fight contract, which superseded his previous one after his No. 8 defeat.

Couture defeated Brandon Vera at UFC 105 on November 14, 2009. Vera had effective strikes and landed a takedown, but Couture had a more difficult unanimous decision. It was his first match at Light heavyweight since losing to Chuck Liddell in 2006. With the victory, the 46-year-old Couture became the youngest fighter to win a UFC match.

At UFC 109, Couture defeated fellow UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman. The match was the first time UFC Hall of Famers wrestled each other in the United States. In 1998, they were supposed to meet at UFC 17 but they were unable to attend due to Couture's injury. Coleman captured the match by a single point in a freestyle match at Oklahoma State University in 1989; they fought each other in a freestyle competition. Under coach Gil Martinez, Couture modified his preparations for this match, focusing on catch wrestling and refining his boxing. These fighters' total age (91) is the highest in any UFC match. Coleman lost in the second round of the Couture contest for the first time in over four years.

At UFC 115, Couture was supposed to face Rich Franklin, but instead, Franklin shocked Chuck Liddell, Liddell's original foe, Tito Ortiz. At UFC 118, Couture instead faced three-time boxing world champion James Toney. Toney was dominated by Couture, who took him down and mounting him within seconds, causing him to collapse in an arm triangle choke. The match brought notoriety, though it came as a result of a bizarre show fight, including UFC President Dana White himself. Following Ray Mercer's knockout of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia, many others felt that this fight was staged in an attempt to restore MMA's credibility.

Couture had indicated that he was interested in combating either Lyoto Machida or Maurcio Rua (in a non-title match). Since Rua's upcoming championship defense against Jon Jones, UFC matchmakers gave him Machida. They fought in Toronto on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129, before 55,000 fans. Couture had guessed that this would be his last fight before the match. Machida was kicked out of the second round after a high front kick. Couture declared he was "finally done fighting" after the war, at the age of 47.

Couture, who debuted in June 2013, signed Bellator to be a mentor in the first season of their reality show, Fight Master: Bellator MMA, on January 29, 2013. Couture also contributed to Bellator 96 by making a commentary.

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