Randall Duane Couture (; born June 22, 1963) is an American
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
commentator, actor, former
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
sergeant
Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...
, former professional mixed martial artist, and former
collegiate and
Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
(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 fighter in history to win a UFC championship in two different divisions. He currently serves as a commentator and analyst for the
Professional Fighters League
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...
.
Couture has competed in a record 16 title fights. He is tied for the record for the most wins in UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts (6) with former UFC Heavyweight champion
Stipe Miocic. 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
The UFC Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors mixed martial artists and MMA personalities, established and maintained by the U.S.-based mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a ...
. He is one of only 2 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
Corvallis ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Benton County, Oregon, Benton County in central western Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton Co ...
throughout much of his career, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for
Oregon State University
Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...
. He established
Team Quest with
Matt Lindland and
Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson (born August 24, 1970) is an American former mixed martial artist and Olympic wrestler, who last competed as a Middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He was the last Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champi ...
, a training camp for fighters, based out of
Gresham, Oregon
Gresham ( ) is a city in the Willamette Valley, Located in Multnomah County in the U.S. state of Oregon, bordered by Portland to the northwest and partially in the southwest. It was first settled in the early 1850s by the Powell brothers. It ...
, 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
Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts is an American mixed martial arts training organization headed by former Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC Champion and former co-founder of Team Quest, Randy Couture. Xtreme Couture was founded with the flags ...
. He partnered with
Bas Rutten to open Legends Gym in
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
.
Couture is generally recognized as a
clinch and
ground-and-pound
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
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
Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...
and
catch wrestling
Catch wrestling (also known as catch-as-catch-can) is an English wrestling style where wrestlers aim to win by Pin (sport wrestling), pinning or Submission (combat sports), submitting their opponent using any legal holds or techniques. It emph ...
. He is the only UFC fighter to win a championship after becoming a
Hall-of-Famer and is the oldest champion in MMA history with his title victory over Tim Sylvia at age 43.
Background
Couture was born in
Everett, Washington
Everett (; ) is the county seat and most populous city of Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is north of Seattle and is one of the main cities in the Seattle metropolitan area, metropolitan area and the Puget Sound region. Everett ...
, the son of Sharan Amelia (née King) and Edward Lewis "Ed" Couture. He
wrestled at
Lynnwood High School in
Lynnwood, Washington
Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The city is part of the Seattle metropolitan area and is located north of Seattle and south of Everett, Washington, Everett, near the junction of Interstate 5 in Washington, ...
, where he won a state championship during his senior year in wrestling. Afterwards he served in the
U.S. Army from 1982 to 1988, attaining the rank of Sergeant in the
101st Airborne
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...
, where he "wrestled and did a little boxing."
While he was in the Army he applied for tryouts with the U.S. Army
freestyle wrestling
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. It is one of two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, along with Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman. scholastic wrestling, High school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling in the U ...
team; however, due to a clerical error his application was sent to the
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman (American English), Graeco-Roman (British English), or classic wrestling (Euro-English) is a style of wrestling that is practiced worldwide. Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been i ...
tryouts and rather than wait until the next year he decided to pursue it. Despite never having competed in Greco-Roman he made the team.
Upon discharge, Couture became a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996), a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials, a three-time
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
Division I
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
and a two-time NCAA Division I runner-up (1991 and 1992) at
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...
. In 1992, he was the Division I runner-up at , coming in second after
Mark Kerr. From 1989 to 1992 he accumulated a collegiate wrestling record of 113-42. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in literature.
Mixed martial arts career
Ultimate Fighting Championship and RINGS
Being called to the tournament as an alternate on three weeks' notice, Couture made his professional mixed martial arts debut at
UFC 13 on May 30, 1997, as part of a four-man
heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...
tournament. His first opponent was
Tony Halme, who outweighed him by nearly . Couture immediately hit a double-leg takedown and, after some ground and pound, moved to
back mount and secured a
rear naked choke
The rear naked choke (RNC), also known as hadaka jime (裸絞) in Judo and "lion killer choke (Mata Leão)" in BJJ, is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. The word ''naked'' in this context suggests that, unlike other stra ...
submission to win in under a minute. In the tournament final, he defeated Steven Graham, another larger opponent (290 lb), by
TKO at 3:13 into the first round.
On October 17, 1997, at
UFC 15, Couture fought
Vitor Belfort to determine the number one contender for the
UFC Heavyweight Championship. Couture was an underdog, as 19-year-old Belfort was the
UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion, winning all of his matches with devastating punches. After circling away from Belfort's left hand, Couture got the
clinch. The fighters broke up and, when Belfort attempted a flurry of punches, Couture hit a takedown. He immediately gained
side control
In grappling, side control (often also called side mount, cross mount, 100 kilos) is a dominant ground grappling position where the top combatant is lying perpendicularly over the face-up bottom combatant in such a way that the legs are free an ...
and landed strikes. As Belfort scrambled to his feet, Couture landed knee strikes. He clinched again and wore Belfort down with dirty boxing. By the 7-minute mark, Belfort was exhausted. Couture again took him down, and finished him with punches from back mount, for one of the biggest upsets in MMA at the time.
At
UFC Japan on December 21, Couture challenged the
UFC Heavyweight Champion,
Maurice Smith to his second title defense since winning the belt from
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman (born December 20, 1964) is an American retired mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler. Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first List of UFC champions#Tournament ...
earlier that year. It was a slow-paced fight, and neither fighter significantly damaged the other, but Couture hit several takedowns and held positional control throughout the fight. After 21 minutes, he won a majority decision and became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. Though this win was controversial as many believe Smith did enough to win the fight.
In 1998, UFC matchmakers wanted Couture to defend the belt against Bas Rutten, former King of
Pancrase
is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki.
The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...
. Couture instead signed with
Vale Tudo Japan, and was stripped of the title. He had his first and only match against
Shooto
is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission (ISC). Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 1989 as a ...
veteran and grappling specialist
Enson Inoue. After taking the fight to the ground, Couture tapped out to an armbar, just over 90 seconds into the bout.
Still in Japan, Couture was signed up with
Fighting Network RINGS, debuting against
Mikhail Illoukhine on March 20, 1999, in
RINGS. Couture submitted to a
kimura, though the loss was controversial due to Illoukhine locking the hold while they were being re-positioned on the center of the ring. After 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. He won a unanimous decision over UFC veteran
Jeremy Horn in his first fight, and then another over
Pancrase
is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki.
The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...
veteran
Ryūshi Yanagisawa. These two wins qualified him for the final event of the tournament, in March 2001. Before that, he was offered a shot at the
UFC Heavyweight Championship against
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman (August 10, 1971 – February 11, 2016) was an American mixed martial artist, amateur and professional wrestler, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Randleman's background was in collegiate wrestling, in which he ...
on November 17, 2000. He was taken down in the first two rounds, but defended well from his back, negating most of Randleman's ground and pound attempts. In the third round, he tripped Randleman to the mat and landed several strikes from
full mount for a TKO victory and his second UFC Heavyweight Championship.
In March 2001, Couture continued in the RINGS King of Kings Tournament 2000 Final. After winning an even decision over veteran
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in the first fight, he got caught in a
guillotine choke by
Valentijn Overeem
Valentijn Overeem (; born 17 August 1976) is a Dutch retired professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional competitor since 1996, he has previously fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, RINGS, KSW, the World Fighti ...
after committing himself in a takedown and had to submit.
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira won the tournament, and Couture returned to the UFC.
His first title defense was against Brazilian
kickboxer Pedro Rizzo, at
UFC 31
''UFC 31: Locked and Loaded '' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 4, 2001. The event was seen live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later ...
. This was the first UFC event under
Zuffa management, with
Dana White as the new president. Both fighters inflicted substantial damage. After five 5-minute rounds, Couture won a close unanimous decision. Some fans felt Rizzo had won, so the UFC set up an immediate rematch for
UFC 34, in November 2001. This time, Couture won decisively by TKO in the third round.
His third title defense was in March 2002, against up-and-comer
Josh Barnett. In the second round, Barnett mounted Couture and landed several strikes to win the title by TKO. After the fight, it was revealed Barnett had tested positive for
anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), are a class of drugs that are structurally related to testosterone, the main male sex hormone, and produce effects by binding to the androgen receptor (AR). Anabolism, Anaboli ...
s. He was subsequently stripped of the title and cut from the UFC.
Couture then faced
Ricco Rodriguez
Ricco Rodriguez (born August 19, 1977) is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight (MMA), heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 1999 to 2019, he competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, ...
for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Championship at
UFC 39, in late 2002. After dominating the first three rounds, 39-year-old Couture became noticeably fatigued. In the fifth round, Rodriguez took him down and landed an elbow strike to his orbital bone, breaking it and making him submit. This was the first time a UFC fight had finished in the fifth round.
Move to light heavyweight and trilogy with Chuck Liddell
After two consecutive losses to larger opponents in the
heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...
division, Couture moved down to the
light heavyweight
Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Professional
In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight.
The light heavyweight class has ...
division. In his light heavyweight debut, he fought long-time number one contender
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
for the UFC Interim Light heavyweight Championship. He was again the underdog but, after outstriking Liddell for three rounds, took the fight to the ground and won by TKO via strikes from full mount, becoming the first UFC fighter to win titles in two weight classes.
His next match, against five-time defending champion
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz () is an American politican and retired mixed martial artist and Submission grappling, submission grappler. Ortiz is best known for his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC ...
, was billed as a "Champion vs. Champion" fight. 40-year-old Couture won a unanimous decision to become the undisputed UFC Light heavyweight Champion.
Couture's first title defense was against
Vitor Belfort, whom he had previously defeated in 1997 at
UFC 15. In the first round, as Couture closed the distance to attempt a clinch, Belfort grazed his right eye with a left hook. His glove opened a cut, and Belfort was declared the winner when the cageside doctor advised the fight be stopped. A rubber match took place later that year. Couture dominated all three rounds before winning by doctor stoppage due to a cut, and became a two-time UFC Light heavyweight Champion.
On April 16, 2005, in a rematch with Liddell, Couture lost his title and suffered the first knockout loss of his career. He came back in August to defeat
Mike van Arsdale and reestablish himself as a top contender. He faced Liddell for the third and final time in a championship match at
UFC 57, on February 4, 2006. He was knocked out in the second round and, immediately afterwards, announced his retirement from MMA.

On June 24, 2006, on
The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale, Couture became the fourth inductee to the
UFC Hall of Fame
The UFC Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors mixed martial artists and MMA personalities, established and maintained by the U.S.-based mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a ...
, joining
Royce Gracie
Royce Gracie (; born 12 December 1966) is a Brazilian retired professional mixed martial artist. Gracie gained fame for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a member of the Gracie jiu-jitsu family, a UFC Hall of Famer ...
,
Dan Severn
Daniel DeWayne Severn (born June 8, 1958), nicknamed "the Beast", is an American retired professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler. A UFC Hall of Fame member, Severn is considered one of the leading pioneers of ...
, and
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock ( né Kilpatrick; born February 11, 1964) is an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract, under the ring name Ken Shamrock. He is best known ...
.
Retirement
After retiring from MMA, Couture became a regular broadcast commentator for UFC events and co-host of ''Before the Bell'' and ''After the Bell'' on
The Fight Network. He appeared in the
Rob Schneider
Robert Michael Schneider ( ; born October 31, 1963) is an American actor and comedian. He rose to prominence as a cast member on NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' (1990–1994), where he earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Following ...
movie ''
Big Stan'', with fellow mixed martial artists
Don Frye and
Bob Sapp
Robert Malcolm Sapp (born September 22, 1973) is an American mixed martial artist, kickboxing, kickboxer, professional wrestler, actor, and former American football, football player. He is currently under contract with Rizin Fighting Federatio ...
.
On November 17, 2006, Couture fought and drew with
Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a
submission wrestling
Submission wrestling, also known as submission grappling, submission fighting, or simply grappling, is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission techniques. It is a hybrid discipline that incorporates elem ...
contest. After the match Couture invited Souza to train at his gym. Souza accepted and started training at
Xtreme Couture
Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts is an American mixed martial arts training organization headed by former Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC Champion and former co-founder of Team Quest, Randy Couture. Xtreme Couture was founded with the flags ...
in Las Vegas.
Couture was featured in the season two premiere episode of the Spike TV show ''
Pros vs. Joes'', which aired January 25, 2007. His teammates on the episode were
Michael Irvin,
Kevin Willis
Kevin Alvin Willis (born September 6, 1962) is an American former professional basketball player mostly known for playing with the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a 7-foot power forward/ center. Excluding playe ...
, and
José Canseco. He returned for the finale, where he took part in a
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
-based round. His teammates were Willis,
Randall Cunningham,
Bruce Smith,
Roy Jones Jr., and
Tim Hardaway.
Reclaiming the Heavyweight Championship
On January 11, 2007, Couture announced his return from retirement in an interview on the Spike TV magazine show, "Inside the UFC". In a conversation with
Joe Rogan
Joseph James Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American podcaster, Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host. He hosts The Joe Rogan Experience, ''The Joe Rogan Experience'', which is o ...
, he confirmed he would face
Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at
UFC 68, on March 3, 2007. He also announced he had signed a four-fight, two-year deal with the UFC.
At the age of 43, Couture defeated Sylvia by unanimous decision to become UFC Heavyweight Champion for a third time (a UFC record). Couture's first punch, eight seconds into the fight, sent the (2.03
m) Sylvia to the mat. He controlled the pace of the fight for five rounds, smothering Sylvia with strikes and numerous takedowns. All three judges scored the bout 50–45 for Couture.
At
UFC 74 on August 25, 2007, Couture successfully defended the title against Brazilian
Gabriel Gonzaga, defeating him via TKO by strikes. This fight earned him a ''
Fight of the Night'' award.
Couture suffered a broken left arm when he blocked one of Gonzaga's kicks.
The kick cleanly split his
ulna
The ulna or ulnar bone (: ulnae or ulnas) is a long bone in the forearm stretching from the elbow to the wrist. It is on the same side of the forearm as the little finger, running parallel to the Radius (bone), radius, the forearm's other long ...
, requiring him to wear a
splint for six weeks.
Resignation and dispute with the UFC
On October 11, 2007, Couture announced he was severing all ties with the UFC, leaving two contracted fights, a position as an on-air analyst and the UFC Heavyweight Championship behind. He received $250,000 (plus $936,000 of PPV revenue) for his comeback fight with
Tim Sylvia. He received a $250,000 purse for defeating
Gabriel Gonzaga (plus a $35,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus and $787,000 in PPV revenue).
He complained
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
was allegedly paid more than he was, despite losing his previous two fights. Couture cited the
UFC's failure to sign #1 ranked
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...
fighter
Fedor Emelianenko, as well as disputes with UFC management, for his decision.
Transition from fighter to coach
Couture coached Oregon Fighter Musio Chavez for the Inter-collegiate Fight League.
On October 18, 2007, UFC president Dana White said Couture remained the UFC Heavyweight Champion despite his plans to quit, and reiterated he would not release Couture from the final two fights on his contract. Couture held a press conference on October 25, 2007, where he denied his departure from UFC was a "retirement", set forth his grievances about his pay, and reiterated his belief that he would be free from any contractual obligations to the UFC after nine months.
On October 30, 2007, White and
Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta held another press conference, where White reiterated the UFC's position of twelve days prior, and released documents refuting Couture's claims about the pay he received.
They met again on Thanksgiving weekend to discuss a possible UFC return, but Couture said he had no desire to do so at the time.
Cornering some of his fighters from
Xtreme Couture
Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts is an American mixed martial arts training organization headed by former Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC Champion and former co-founder of Team Quest, Randy Couture. Xtreme Couture was founded with the flags ...
at
HDNet Fights on December 15 in Dallas, Couture answered questions about
Fedor Emelianenko, stating that he would like to fight him in October, once his
UFC contract expired, if the UFC could not come to a co-promotion agreement with
Russia
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
's
M-1 Global beforehand.
On January 15, 2008, Zuffa filed a lawsuit in
Clark County District Court in Nevada, citing breach of contract and irreparable damage, seeking over $10,000 in damages. This suit only concerned Couture's employment contract and not his promotional contract. On February 28, 2008, Judge Jennifer Togliatti handed down the first ruling in the case, issuing a
preliminary injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a special court order compelling a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. It was developed by the English courts of equity but its origins go back to Roman law and the equitable reme ...
barring Couture from participating in an
IFL event held the following day.
On August 2, 2008, a Texas appeals court granted Zuffa's request for a stay against a motion for a declaratory judgment in a suit filed by
HDNet
AXS TV () is an American specialty television, cable television channel majority-owned by Canadian broadcaster Anthem Sports & Entertainment. It is devoted primarily to Music television, music-related programming (such as concert films, Document ...
regarding Couture's contractual status with the UFC. The stay effectively ended the dispute in the state of Texas, and Zuffa was allowed to move forward with the Nevada suit.
Return to the UFC
On September 2, 2008, the UFC announced it had signed Couture to a new three-fight contract. On November 15, he returned at
UFC 91 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he lost the
UFC Heavyweight Championship to
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
. After a close first round, Lesnar knocked Couture down in the second round and struck him with hammerfists for a TKO victory at 3:07. In a post-fight interview with
Joe Rogan
Joseph James Rogan (born August 11, 1967) is an American podcaster, Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC color commentator, comedian, actor, and former television host. He hosts The Joe Rogan Experience, ''The Joe Rogan Experience'', which is o ...
, Couture declared his desire to keep fighting and said he felt he was still becoming a better fighter, blaming the loss on his performance, not his age.
On August 29, 2009, Couture faced former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion and former
PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira at
UFC 102 in Portland, Oregon, and lost by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28). After the bout, Couture stated he felt he was in the best shape of his life, and would wait and see what the UFC had in store for him. The fight received the "Fight of the Night" award.
Return to light heavyweight and retirement
After the Nogueira loss, Couture signed a new six-fight deal, which superseded his previous contract.
On November 14, 2009, at
UFC 105
''UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on November 14, 2009 in Manchester, United Kingdom at the Manchester Evening News Arena. This event aired on the same day, via tape d ...
, Couture faced
Brandon Vera
Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977), or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino and American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champ ...
. Vera landed effective strikes and scored a takedown, but Couture won a somewhat controversial unanimous decision. The fight was his first at Light heavyweight since losing to Chuck Liddell in 2006. With the win, the 46-year-old Couture became the oldest fighter to win a UFC bout.

Couture fought fellow UFC Hall of Famer
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman (born December 20, 1964) is an American retired mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler. Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first List of UFC champions#Tournament ...
at
UFC 109
''UFC 109: Relentless'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on February 6, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Background
A previously rumoured bout between Renzo Gracie and M ...
. The bout marked the first time UFC Hall of Famers fought each other in the UFC. They were scheduled to meet at
UFC 17 in 1998, but an injury to Couture forced the cancellation of the bout. They wrestled each other in a freestyle match at the 1989 Olympic Festival at
Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...
; Coleman won the match by one point. Couture modified his training for this bout, focusing on catch wrestling and refining his boxing under coach Gil Martinez. The combined age of these fighters (91) is the highest in any UFC match. Couture made Coleman pass out to a rear-naked choke submission in the second round, getting his first submission win in over four years.
Couture was scheduled to fight
Rich Franklin
Richard Jay Franklin II (born October 5, 1974) is an American businessman and retired mixed martial artist. He is best known for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a member of the UFC Hall of Fame and a former UFC Midd ...
at
UFC 115, but Franklin instead fought Chuck Liddell, replacing Liddell's original opponent,
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz () is an American politican and retired mixed martial artist and Submission grappling, submission grappler. Ortiz is best known for his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC ...
. Couture instead faced three-time boxing world champion
James Toney at
UFC 118
''UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 28, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The third UFC Fan Expo coincided with the event. This event was t ...
. Couture dominated Toney, taking him down and mounting him within seconds, and quickly making him submit to an
arm triangle choke. The match achieved notoriety, though it drew criticisms of being a
freak show fight, among them by UFC President
Dana White himself. Many also felt that this fight had been made as an attempt to repair damage done to the credibility of MMA after
Ray Mercer
Raymond Anthony Mercer (born April 4, 1961) is a former American professional boxer, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist who competed from 1989 to 2009. Mercer won a heavyweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics as an amateur, and later ...
knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion
Tim Sylvia.
Couture had stated he was interested in fighting either
Lyoto Machida or
Maurício Rua (in a non-title bout). Since Rua had an upcoming title defense against
Jon Jones
Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight (MMA), Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the ...
, UFC matchmakers gave him Machida. They fought on April 30, 2011, at
UFC 129, before 55,000 fans in Toronto. Couture had stated before the bout it would be his final fight. Machida knocked him out in the second round with a jumping
front kick.
After the fight, Couture announced he was "finally done fighting", at the age of 47.
Bellator Fighting Championships
On January 29, 2013, Couture signed with
Bellator to be a coach in the first season of their reality show, ''
Fight Master: Bellator MMA'' which debuted in June 2013. Couture also did commentary for
Bellator 96.
Acting
Couture made a cameo appearance in the direct-to-video
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal ( ; born April 10, 1952) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, martial artist, and musician. A 7th-Dan (rank), dan Black belt (martial arts), black belt in aikido, he began his adult life as a martial arts instru ...
film ''
Today You Die
''Today You Die'' is a 2005 American action film directed and shot by Don E. FauntLeRoy. The film stars Steven Seagal, who also produces with Randall Emmett, George Furla and Danny Lerner. It co-stars Treach, Sarah G. Buxton, Sarah Buxton, Mari ...
'' and on the season finale of the
CBS show ''
The Unit
''The Unit'' is an American action-drama television series created by David Mamet that aired on CBS from March 7, 2006, to May 10, 2009, with the total of four seasons and 69 episodes. The series focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled ...
'', as a military guard. He played fight commentator Terry Flynn in the film ''
Redbelt''. He appeared on an episode of
The History Channel show ''
Human Weapon'' on September 27, 2007, and starred in the 2008 film ''
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior''.
He played Toll Road in the 2010 movie ''
The Expendables'' and reprised the role in the
2012
2012 was designated as:
*International Year of Cooperatives
*International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
Events January
*January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins.
* January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...
,
2014
The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...
and
2023 sequels. He did several
public service announcement
A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest disseminated by the media without charge to raise public awareness and change behavior. Oftentimes these messages feature unsettling imagery, ideas or behaviors that are des ...
s, one against
crystal meth. He starred alongside
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, and television producer. Born in Queens, a borough of New York City, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 1996. In 1999–2000, ...
and
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955) is a retired American actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series ''Moonlighting (TV series), Moonlighting'' (1985–1989) and has appeared in over one hundred films, gaining ...
in the 2011 film, ''
Setup
Setup (the noun) or set up (the verb) may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Set Up'' (2005 film), a 2005 Hong Kong horror film
* ''Setup'' (2011 film), a 2011 action thriller heist film Literature
* ''Set Up'', a 1992 nov ...
'', as an enforcer named Petey.
In 2012, he played the leading role of hard-bitten cop Paul Ross in Brandon Nutt's action film ''Hijacked'', alongside
Dominic Purcell
Dominic Haakon Myrtvedt PurcellO'Connor, B,Break Out". '' Men's Fitness''. December/January 2007 Issue; retrieved 18 December 2006. (born 17 February 1970) is an Australian actor. He is best known as Lincoln Burrows in ''Prison Break'' (2005� ...
.
On September 4, 2014, it was announced that Couture would be one of the celebrities competing on the
19th season of ''
Dancing with the Stars
''Strictly Come Dancing (widely known as Dancing with the Stars)'' is an international television franchise based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing,'' itself a successor to the show ''Come Dancing'' (1950–1998) ...
''. He paired with professional dancer
Karina Smirnoff
Karina Smirnoff (born Karina Smyrnova, January 2, 1978) is a professional ballroom dancer. She is known as a professional dancer on ''Dancing with the Stars,'' where she won the thirteenth season with army veteran and soap opera star J. R. M ...
. The couple was eliminated on the third week of competition finishing in eleventh place.
Couture has appeared in 4 episodes of the TV series
''Hawaii Five-0'' as Jason Duclair.
Couture appeared on ''
Impractical Jokers'' as a guest during Sal Vulcano's punishment in the episode "Pantsing with the Stars". In that episode, Vulcano, who refused an instruction during a challenge where he was posing as a Krav Maga instructor, was given a surprise punishment by the other Jokers in that he then had to wrestle Couture and attempt to “pants” him.
In 2019, Couture starred alongside
Luke Goss
Luke Damon Goss (born 29 September 1968) is an English actor, and drummer of the 1980s band Bros. He has appeared in numerous films including '' Blade II'' (2002) as Jared Nomak, '' One Night with the King'' (2006) as King Xerxes, '' Hellboy ...
and
Michael Jai White in the movie ''The Hard Way'', which was among the most popular watched movies on
Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
. He also appeared in the film ''
Outlaw Johnny Black''.
In July 2019, Couture appeared on an episode of the Outdoor Channel show ''Gunnytime'' entitled "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work".
Personal life
Couture was previously married to Sharon, Tricia, and Kim Couture (
née
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
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 Aimee,
Ryan, and Caden “Cooter” Couture as well as four grandchildren. He often works with and is the long-term partner of
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
The International Sports Hall of Fame (ISHOF) is a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2012 by Dr. Robert M. Goldman to honor exceptional athletes and sporting figures for their accomplishments and dedication to furthering ...
(ISHOF) presented by sports legend Dr. Robert M. Goldman.
On October 23, 2019, Couture suffered a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
after training and walked himself to a nearby hospital. Following a successful operation, Couture made a full recovery.
Championships and accomplishments
Greco-Roman wrestling
*
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games, known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas. It features thousands of athletes participating in competitions to win different summer sports. It is held among athletes from nations of th ...
**Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – second place (June 13, 1990)
**Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – winner (January 1, 1991)
**Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – second place (January 1, 1992)
**Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – third place (May 21, 1997)
**Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – second place (March 24, 1998)
**Pan American Games Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – winner (August 6, 1991)
*
FILA Wrestling World Championships
**FILA test tournament Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – third place (March 14, 1998)
**FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – third place (November 9, 1991)
**FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – third place (November 21, 1992)
Collegiate wrestling
*
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
**
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
(1990, 1991, 1992)
**NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – 6th place
out of Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State University (informally Oklahoma State or OSU) is a public land-grant research university in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The university was established in 1890 under the legislation of the Morrill Act. Originally known ...
(1990)
**NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – Runner-up
out of Oklahoma State University (1991)
**NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – Runner-up
out of Oklahoma State University (1992)
Mixed martial arts
*
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
**
UFC Hall of Fame
The UFC Hall of Fame is a List of halls and walks of fame, hall of fame which honors mixed martial artists and MMA personalities, established and maintained by the U.S.-based mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In a ...
(
Pioneer Wing, Class of 2006)
**
UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Champion
**
UFC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
***Three successful title defenses overall
****Two successful title defenses (second reign)
****One successful title defense (third reign)
***
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
***
Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
***First multi-divisional champion in UFC history
***First & only fighter that was a multi-divisional champion that won back the title after losing it (2x at Heavyweight & 1x at Light Heavyweight)
***Tied (
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre (; born May 19, 1981), also known by his initials GSP, is a Canadian former professional mixed martial artist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. St-Pierre was a two-divi ...
) for
second most championship fights in UFC history (15)
***
Most championship reigns in UFC history (6)
***Tied (
Tim Sylvia) for
most heavyweight title bouts in UFC history (9)
***
Oldest fighter to be a champion in UFC history (45 years, 60 days)
***
Oldest fighter to win a championship in UFC history (43 years 255 days)
***Tied (
Matt Hughes,
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
,
T.J. Dillashaw &
Alex Pereira) for second
most knockouts in UFC title fights (5)
***Oldest fighter to defend a championship successfully (44 years Old)
**
UFC Viewer's Choice Award
**
Fight of the Night (Two times)
**
UFC Encyclopedia Awards
***
Fight of the Night (Eight times)
****Tied (
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz () is an American politican and retired mixed martial artist and Submission grappling, submission grappler. Ortiz is best known for his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC ...
) for most
Encyclopedia Fight of the Night Awards (8)
***
Submission of the Night (One time)
**
Most main event bouts in UFC history (18) – tied with
Anderson Silva
**Oldest fighter to win a bout in UFC history (47 years, 68 days)
**UFC.com Awards
***2007:
Ranked #3 Fighter of the Year,
Ranked #9 Upset of the Year &
Ranked #9 Fight of the Year
***2009:
Ranked #2 Fight of the Year
*
Black Belt Magazine
''Black Belt'' is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports. The magazine is based in Hollywood, California, and is one of the oldest titles dedicated to martial arts in the United States.
History and profile
The magazine was ...
**1997 Full-Contact Competitor of the Year
**
Black Belt Magazine
''Black Belt'' is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports. The magazine is based in Hollywood, California, and is one of the oldest titles dedicated to martial arts in the United States.
History and profile
The magazine was ...
Hall of Famer
*
George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
**2013 George Tragos Award
*Inside Fights
**2009 Fight of the Year –
vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira on August 29
*
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four Wee ...
**
2001 Fight of the Year vs. Pedro Rizzo on May 4
**
2003 Most Outstanding Fighter
**
2007 MMA Most Valuable Fighter
**MMA Most Valuable Fighter of the Decade (2000s)
*
World MMA Awards
**2010 Outstanding Contribution to MMA Award
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 19–11
,
Lyoto Machida
, KO (front kick)
,
UFC 129
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:05
,
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
, Canada
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 19–10
,
James Toney
, Submission (arm-triangle choke)
,
UFC 118
''UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 28, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The third UFC Fan Expo coincided with the event. This event was t ...
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:19
,
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
,
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 18–10
,
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman (born December 20, 1964) is an American retired mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler. Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first List of UFC champions#Tournament ...
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
,
UFC 109
''UFC 109: Relentless'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on February 6, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Background
A previously rumoured bout between Renzo Gracie and M ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:09
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 17–10
,
Brandon Vera
Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977), or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino and American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champ ...
, Decision (unanimous)
,
UFC 105
''UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on November 14, 2009 in Manchester, United Kingdom at the Manchester Evening News Arena. This event aired on the same day, via tape d ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–10
,
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
, Decision (unanimous)
,
UFC 102
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 16–9
,
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar ( ; born July 12, 1977) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Amateur wrestling, amateur wrestler and professional American football player. As a ...
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 91
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:07
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 16–8
,
Gabriel Gonzaga
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 74
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 1:37
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 15–8
,
Tim Sylvia
, Decision (unanimous)
,
UFC 68
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
,
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 14–8
,
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
, KO (punch)
,
UFC 57
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:28
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 14–7
,
Mike van Arsdale
, Submission (anaconda choke)
,
UFC 54
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 0:52
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 13–7
,
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
, KO (punches)
,
UFC 52
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:06
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 13–6
,
Vitor Belfort
, TKO (doctor stoppage)
,
UFC 49
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 12–6
,
Vitor Belfort
, TKO (doctor stoppage)
,
UFC 46
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:49
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 12–5
,
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz () is an American politican and retired mixed martial artist and Submission grappling, submission grappler. Ortiz is best known for his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC ...
, Decision (unanimous)
,
UFC 44
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 11–5
,
Chuck Liddell
Charles David Liddell (born December 17, 1969) is an American former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1998 to 2018, Liddell is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (from 2005 to 2007) and i ...
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 43
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 2:39
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 10–5
,
Ricco Rodriguez
Ricco Rodriguez (born August 19, 1977) is an American former mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight (MMA), heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 1999 to 2019, he competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, ...
, TKO (submission to elbow)
,
UFC 39
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 3:04
,
Montville, Connecticut
Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 18,387 at the 2020 census.
The villages of Chesterfield, Mohegan, Oakdale, and Uncasvi ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 10–4
,
Josh Barnett
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 36
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 4:35
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 10–3
,
Pedro Rizzo
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 34
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 1:38
,
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–3
,
Pedro Rizzo
, Decision (unanimous)
,
UFC 31
''UFC 31: Locked and Loaded '' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 4, 2001. The event was seen live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later ...
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
,
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 8–3
,
Valentijn Overeem
Valentijn Overeem (; born 17 August 1976) is a Dutch retired professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. A professional competitor since 1996, he has previously fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, RINGS, KSW, the World Fighti ...
, Submission (guillotine choke)
, rowspan=2,
Rings: King of Kings 2000 Final
, rowspan=2,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:56
, rowspan=2,
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–2
,
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka
, Decision (unanimous)
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 5:00
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–2
,
Kevin Randleman
Kevin Christopher Randleman (August 10, 1971 – February 11, 2016) was an American mixed martial artist, amateur and professional wrestler, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Randleman's background was in collegiate wrestling, in which he ...
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 28
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 4:13
,
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–2
,
Ryushi Yanagisawa
, Decision (majority)
, rowspan=2,
Rings: King of Kings 2000 Block A
, rowspan=2,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 5:00
, rowspan=2,
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–2
,
Jeremy Horn
, Decision (unanimous)
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 4–2
,
Mikhail Ilyukhin
, Submission (kimura)
,
Rings: Rise 1st
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 7:43
, Japan
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 4–1
,
Enson Inoue
, Submission (armbar)
,
Vale Tudo Japan 1998
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:39
, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–0
,
Maurice Smith
, Decision (majority)
,
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 21:00
,
Yokohama, Kanagawa
is the second-largest city in Japan by population as well as by area, and the country's most populous municipality. It is the capital and most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of 3.7 million in 2023. It lies on Tokyo B ...
, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–0
,
Vitor Belfort
, TKO (punches)
,
UFC 15
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 8:16
,
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, Steven Graham
, TKO (punches)
, rowspan=2,
UFC 13
, rowspan=2,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:13
, rowspan=2,
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third mos ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
,
Tony Halme
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:00
,
Pay-per-view bouts
Filmography
Video games
References
External links
*
Official website for Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts*
*
Randy Couture profile at the National Wrestling Hall of FameOfficial UFC Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Couture, Randy
1963 births
Living people
American male mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists from Washington (state)
American male sport wrestlers
American strength and conditioning coaches
Mixed martial arts trainers
American male video game actors
American wrestling coaches
Heavyweight mixed martial artists
Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial arts broadcasters
Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestlers
Oregon State Beavers wrestling coaches
Sportspeople from Corvallis, Oregon
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
Ultimate Fighting Championship champions
United States Army soldiers
American male film actors
American catch wrestlers
People from Everett, Washington
People from Lynnwood, Washington
Sportspeople from Snohomish County, Washington
Wrestlers at the 1991 Pan American Games
Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games
Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in wrestling
Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling
Mixed martial artists utilizing Greco-Roman wrestling
20th-century American sportsmen