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After Defeating Toney, Does Couture Have One Last Title Run Left? - Versus

After Defeating Toney, Does Couture Have One Last Title Run Left?

Posted by Chad Dundas on 9/7/2010 at 12:00AM

It's difficult to know what, if anything, to make of Randy Couture's choke-out victory over James Toney last weekend at UFC 118. I mean, surely not much.

Assumedly, Couture asked to be matched up with Toney a few months ago because he knew it would be a high-dollar, high-profile fight he could easily win, not because of what it would do for his career. Likewise, the company chose to make more of this freak show bout than it probably deserved simply because "UFC vs. Boxing!" sells better on a poster than "42-year-old vs. 47-year-old!" In other words, Couture vs. Toney essentially amounted to much ado about nothing, especially after the UFC summarily washed its hands of the boxer after the fight's end.

For MMA at large, mission accomplished on all fronts.

But what now of Couture? The ageless wonder has won three straight fights in the Octagon and promotional president Dana White has confirmed he will send him back to the 205-pound division, where his drawing power is most needed. Some MMA writers seem convinced that the UFC is intent on Couture making "one last run at the title," and indeed this seems like an intriguing and financially lucrative possibility.

Only question is, does "The Natural" have it in him? For my money -- and believe me this hurts to admit - the cruel reality is no, he probably doesn't.

Keep in mind that the last time Couture fought a legitimate top 205-contender it was 2006 and he lost via second-round knockout to Chuck Liddell. Since then he's competed mostly at heavyweight while compiling a respectable 5-2 record. But Couture's last three wins have come against Toney, the 45-year-old Mark Coleman and perennial underachiever Brandon Vera; not exactly top competition.

You can't take anything away from Couture's accomplishments, the guys is unquestionably one of the greatest ever to strap on fingerless gloves. But to imagine that at this late stage in his career he could make any kind of sustained run through the current upper echelon of the light heavyweight division seems overly optimistic.

It's a good bet Couture could clean up a couple more wins against guys like Rich Franklin or Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, but then what? The UFC might be able to squeeze a couple of big money fights out of Couture, but aside from the aforementioned guys who are closer to his age, it's difficult to envision him being successful against true top dogs like Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida or Rashad Evans. I also shudder to think what might happen if the UFC were to throw Couture in the cage with an up-and-coming young gun like Jon Jones.

The consummate competitor, if Couture is game for bouts against those youthful talents, you absolutely have to let him try it. Regardless of how hard to watch the results might be.

Promoting Couture from here on out will be a delicate give-and-take between what is promotable and what is possible. Now factor into the equation that delicacy is certainly not the UFC's strong suit, and I think the last year or so of Couture's career could be very interesting.

Almost more than anything, I hope he can prove me wrong.

[Rocky>Fedor]

IMO he does not have any chance.

In LHW Machida or Shogun would destroy him, maybe even Rashad would beat him.
In HW any serious fighter would defeat him.

[cnlclink]

Rampage would likely destroy him. Wouldn't mind seeing him fight Lil Nog if Lil Nog loses to Bader, that would be pretty cool. I doubt he would fight Forrest but that would be a cool fight as well.

As for him making another title run I don't see it happening, none of those 3 fighters he's beaten get him anywhere close to a title shot in my opinion.

[Masscore]

Nope, to be honest Couture probably gets smashed by just about any LHW in the Top Ten. I doubt he could beat Jones, Bader, Lil'Nog, Machida, Shogun, Rampage, Evans, Forrest, Thiago or Franklin. In fact I am sure most of those guys would put away Couture rather quickly in the first or second round.

[sonofsteven]

It's a good bet Couture could clean up a couple more wins against guys like Rich Franklin and Quentin "Rampage" Jackson, but then what?
Goddammit when is Franklin going to get a little respect?! He ha slost only to Macida, A.Silva, and Hendo(contreversially) . Rack up wins against guys like THAT? Stupidfucking statement . Granted Page does slack sometimes but I take Franklin over Couture any day.
I think Randy has a lot of interesting matchups at 205 and in true Captain America fashion he would probably pull out a coyuple wins when the world thinks he can't do it but sadly I can't see a title shot in the immediate future.

[The8thPlague]

I think he'd have a shot against Lyoto, Lil' Nog, Thiago Silva, & Rampage.
But I think he would get a whooping from Shogun, Rashad, & Jon Jones.

So as long as he didn't have to fight Rashad or Bones Jones before getting to Shogun I think he could still get a title shot. Winning it might be a different story though.

[NLRepublic]

I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he quietly stepped back from fighting and took his winning streak with him into a more coaching focused future

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Couture/Franklin is a surefire Main event and if he gets past that, I think it's appropriate to hotshot him to a title shot and how awesome would the story be leading up the that literal "last run" at the gold type fight.

At this point, Randy is a superfight surething and will be able to main event a PPV until he cares not to and that means winner of Crocop/Mir, Wand, Franklin and Rampage, which all offer bigtime buys, and if he looks good, he should get one last shot.

[GFB]

No chance for the title.

That is all.

[RunDiazRun]

He most definitely does not have it in him to reclaim the LHW or HW title.

he's 47, hasn't been fighting top competetion, hasn't finished a top contender in years, has been making movies the past couple years, looked more chubby in his last fight than he ever really has...and then he's going to just flip the switch and start being able to defeat the top dogs at 205? I think not...

though he is a legend and one tough S.O.B...