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Randy Couture Admits Title Runs Are Behind Him, Fighting Future in Doubt -- MMA Fighting

Randy Couture Admits Title Runs Are Behind Him, Fighting Future in Doubt

10/29/2010 9:31 AM ET By Mike Chiappetta

Mike Chiappetta
MMA Writer
Last month, MMA Fighting reported the possibility that five-time UFC champion Randy Couture would never fight again. Naturally, some people doubted the likelihood that the seemingly ageless Couture had seen his last action in the octagon, perhaps waiting to hear something from the legend himself.

Now the 47-year-old Hall of Famer has spoken, and while he didn't flat out say he was done, it seems clear that Couture's fighting future is hazy at best, or as his lawyer Sam Spira termed it, a "toss-up."

"I don't think I'm going to make any public announcements because I don't think anybody's going to buy it," Couture said in comments which aired on Thursday's edition of ESPN's MMA Live. "I did that once and came back. I don't want to be like Brett [Favre]. I do feel like I've had my wars, I've had my battles. I've been there, I've done that. I am competing and training and feel better than I ever felt physically but I don't see myself making another run at the title, at heavyweight or light-heavyweight, being honest."

Such a candid self-assessment and public admission is rare from an athlete who has accomplished so much in a storied career.

Couture (19-10) will always be considered one of the building blocks for the foundations of modern MMA and the rise of the UFC. A former Olympic wrestling hopeful, he transitioned into the sport just one month shy of his 34th birthday.

Within four matches, he was the UFC heavyweight champion, earning the nickname "The Natural" in the process. The first man ever to win titles in two UFC weight classes, Couture has been an enduring figure in the UFC while other stars came and went. It's clear from his comments that he's given way to the new class of athletes populating the top of the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, and confirmed that fights against top contenders may no longer be the right decision for him long-term.

Couture has also been working hard to transition into acting, and had a role in the summer blockbuster The Expendables. All of that adds up to the possibility that we've seen the last of Couture in the cage.

"I think at some point, I've got to call enough, enough," he said. "I've had an amazing year. My last few fights in honesty were more novelty fights. Not to take anything away from my opponents, but that's the truth of the matter. They didn't really matter in the division, they didn't really put me any closer to a title, and I have to make a decision at some point. So I think I would entertain another novelty-type fight. I could still compete but I don't see myself making a run at the title any time soon."

[The8thPlague]

CroCop goddamnit!!!

[kingrobert]

Couture is still a good fighter who could make a run....He has gotten slower and so has his reactions. That being said I still think he could go in there and give Rampage, Shogun, or Machida a hell of a fight.

If Randy has fought his last fight its been great watching him over the years. He has really helped this sport grow and make people believe in themselves

[killakem1]

i dont want randy to fight the likes of cc. i know they're both ledgends and all but really i see that as a gimmie for randy based on cc past couple performances.
that fight was interesting pre cc/gg but doesnt excitment me as it used to.

i would like to see randy fight guys like rampage, franklin, hamill, lyoto, and jones or bader in the lhw.
in hw i would like to see a match up with mir, nelson, and maybe a brock II fight. i know brock brings him in for training but i think they both would take the fight. i know brock has expressed his interest in a brock/randy II fight.

i believe randy has a lot left in him and can still hang with people. but the way hes been talking lately i dont think he beieves in himself. which is sad

[born2kill]

Randy would dominate Shogun and Machida

[SimpleJack]

Originally Posted by born2kill

Randy would dominate Shogun and Machida

The young lions at 205 would derail any push Randy started to make. Jon Jones, Rashad, Shogun, and Machida are all HORRIBLE matchups for him regardless of how much we all love him.

[foutch550]

The most legendary thing about Randy is his heart, which pushes him to train as hard as he does at his age. The discipline (training and eating) only gets harder with age. If Randy's heart isnt in it, I'd just as soon him hang it up for good. I can't think of one "novelty fight" as he put it that Im all that interested in seeing. It sounds like to me that even he is realistic about his chances in HW or LHW. I loved seeing Randy fight, but Im 100% ok with him working training camps for younger fighters now. I personally have NO interest in seeing Randy fight CC.

[The Return Of......]

im sure it would be difficult for him to make another title run. in reality he needs a win or 2 against some of the top guys to get a title shot if he wasnt randy couture.

however, in the event that rashad gets hurt about the time shogun gets healthy, randy would make an excellent replacement that no one would complain about skipping ahead and filling in for a title fight

[born2kill]

Originally Posted by DonFrye

The young lions at 205 would derail any push Randy started to make. Jon Jones, Rashad, Shogun, and Machida are all HORRIBLE matchups for him regardless of how much we all love him.

Not really. His wrestling would eat up machida and shogun. His dirty boxing causes fits for rashad and bones.

[W.Silva>C.Norris]

the only fights Id like to see out of randy anymore are the fights, like he says, that are "novelty". A rematch with (sigh) tito, or maybe even though he'd get killed in my opinion, anderson at 205(again, assuming ed sores was lying). As for relevant fights against title contenders? meh. Im just not sure randy has it left in him to make a run for a belt, then try to defend it.. The man is near 50...