What if...Randy Couture Didn't Return to the UFC?

by Mike Fagan on Dec 30, 2008 11:17 PM EST in News Comment 38 comments

While I've never been a huge comic book fan, I've always really enjoyed the alternate arcs and universes of the traditional superhero stories. I've especially enjoyed Marvel's "What if..." stories. It never fails to make me reflect on life and how different life would be if certain events had transpired differently.

So...what if Randy Couture didn't re-sign with the UFC?

December 26th, 2008

It's said that good things come to those who wait.

Randy Couture lost the will to wait.

On the eve of the UFC's biggest event of the year, Couture held a press conference at his Xtreme Couture gym to announce his retirement.

"Dana can remove the interim tag off Nogueira's belt," said the reserved champion. "I'm announcing my retirment from mixed martial arts."

Couture referenced the holiday season as the final nail in the coffin. "Being around my family this past month, I realized I'm satisfied with my accomplishments in the Octagon." He jokingly added, "Being old enough to be some of these guys' fathers certainly made the decision easier."

Couture almost struck a deal to return to the Octagon with parent company Zuffa back in September. "The money was right, the length was right, the terms were right. We just had one little roadblock."

That "little" roadblock came in the form of pro-wrestler-turned-fighter Brock Lesnar. UFC President Dana White wanted Couture to return in November and fight Lesnar for the heavyweight crown. Couture reportedly countered with a list of four fighters - rumored to include former UFC champions Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski, current interim champion "Minotauro" Nogueira, and former Pride kingpin Fedor Emelianenko - that he would agree to fight upon return.

"Nogueira was already slated for Mir, and I was told by UFC management that they would not negotiate with the other three under any circumstances," said Couture. "No disrespect to Brock, but I felt it would hurt the integrity of the sport for him to receive a shot at the title."

Couture plans to continue training fighters and pursue an acting career. He did not rule out a return to the UFC in a non-fighting capacity.

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Comments

GOOD IDEA!

dude make it a serices thing, like a what if of mma but about all kinds of different stuff. i like the comic too the best one was, what if wolverine died- anyways i think it would be cool if you did this all the time.

by mma-niac on Dec 31, 2008 12:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have a couple more ideas I’m working on. Stay tuned.

by Mike Fagan on Dec 31, 2008 12:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well firstly, Chicago would have gotten an MMA card in 2008 which would probably have been headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. Cheick Kongo.

by SamCupitt on Dec 31, 2008 12:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chicago got...

an MMA card in 2008. Just headlined by Cote/Silva. If only they’d have gotten Brock then I think people would give Chicago much more respect for being a fight city…because it really is. Chicago is a blue collar city that got a bad wrap because they got fed a bit of a lackluster card on the first trip there.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 31, 2008 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait…shit… I meant Portland.

I’m Australian…

by SamCupitt on Dec 31, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Great idea, except for the part where you talked about Lesnar getting a shot in his fourth pro fight hurting the credibility of the sport while leaving out that Couture got a shot at the title in his fourth pro fight.

by jbotter on Dec 31, 2008 12:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That was the early days, where the talent pool wasn’t deep. They took whoever they could get. Now, one can argue that Lesner didn’t deserve the shot because of more experienced fighters in the division (not that they are necessarily better fighters, just ones with longer records – and also none are as big an attraction, etc)

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 31, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The talent pool in the UFC’s heavyweight division isn’t deep, though.

Sure, there are some decent fighters, but the business of MMA is BUSINESS, obviously, and a Randy Couture vs. Cheick Kongo fight (or any other deserving heavyweight) would draw a fraction of what a Lesnar PPV does. In order to be put in those main event spots, a fighter either has to be a big PPV draw (someone the fans can really get behind) or he has to undeniably earn a title shot, to the point where the UFC absolutely cannot pass him over. There are no UFC heavyweights who have really earned that distinction at this point outside of Couture and Nog, so the next logical step is making the biggest money fight you possibly can.

It’s fun to speculate, though.

by jbotter on Dec 31, 2008 12:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even though Lesner did not have the record, necessarily, to “be worthy” of a title shot, he had the talent – his amateur record and training stats are a testament to his ability. I’m not a fan of him personally, but he is a physical force of nature.

Also, he and Couture had similar records – a 2:1 win/loss ratio.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 31, 2008 9:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, technically Randy said that, not me.

by Mike Fagan on Dec 31, 2008 12:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, I personally have no problem with Lesnar’s title shot. I’m a big Lesnar mark.

by Mike Fagan on Dec 31, 2008 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Same. I mean, he won, for Christ’s sake.

by subo on Dec 31, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I loved those What If... titles growing up

The idea put in an MMA perspective sounds intriguing.

What If…
Fedor signed with the UFC.
Gary Shaw and Co. didnt get into MMA.
Affliction really did co-promote with GB.
WAMMA was actually relevant.
The Fertita’s sold the UFC.
Dream was still alive and going strong.

Just some from the top of my head. I’m sure others have way better ones.

by Benicio on Dec 31, 2008 12:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What if Kimbo won?

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 31, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You think EXC would still be around?

by Benicio on Dec 31, 2008 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The next one I’m doing involves Kimbo, to foreshadow a bit.

by Mike Fagan on Dec 31, 2008 12:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DREAM is still alive and going strong. Did you mean PRIDE?

by smoogy on Dec 31, 2008 1:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hehe Freudian slip :P How soon we forget the past.

by Benicio on Dec 31, 2008 2:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What if the first season of TUF had flopped?

What if the WWE had bought Pride?

What if the Pride contracts had transferred?

What if the UFC hadn’t been banned in the 1990’s?

What if Chuck Liddell had beat Rampage in 2003?

What if Yamma pit fighting had been a big hit?

by who me on Dec 31, 2008 12:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If the WWE had bought PRIDE

They wouldn’t have changed anything ;-)

by subo on Dec 31, 2008 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well the WWE has never had any luck running anything in Japan either so they would of brought the circus here full time. Talk about chaos :D

by who me on Dec 31, 2008 8:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What if Yamma pit fighting had been a big hit?

Hell freezes over?
Peace in the Middle East?
New Orleans Saints win the Super Bowl?

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 31, 2008 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What if Matt Serra never beat GSP?
What if Affliction had stayed away from promoting?
What if Kimbo got trounced in his debut and then faded into obscurity?
What if Stephan Bonnar had beaten Forrest?
What if Chuck Liddell remembered to keep his f#%@ing hands up once in a while?
What if Royce Gracie had been KO’ed by Art Jimmerson at UFC 1?
What if Helio Gracie was born with three legs?
What if Dana still had hair?
What if WAMMA was not the respected and acknowledged sanctioning body it is today?
What if Mazz kept the moustache?

by Ubernoober on Dec 31, 2008 1:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the Royce Gracie one is a potent one indeed!

by Benicio on Dec 31, 2008 2:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What If Stories Suck

Two men enter, one man leaves.

It’s the way of the octagon.

Mir and Rashad are proof in my point. We can all talk until we’re blue in the face, but we’ll see what happens after the ring of the bell.

by dohfil on Dec 31, 2008 1:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

joykill. Everything doesn’t have to be so damn serious all the time.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 31, 2008 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

also..

I’m not sure what fights you’ve been watching…but “Two men enter, one man leaves” is the kind of garbage marketing from the early UFC shows. Two men enter…and then they fight…and then both of them leave.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 31, 2008 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not if it’s the YAMMA pit, two men enter and then the crowd leaves :D

by who me on Dec 31, 2008 8:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What crowd?

Bolts from the Blue // "It is what it is." - A.J. Smith
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Dec 31, 2008 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know...

that one guy…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 31, 2008 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

I don’t think that qualifies as a crowd, though.

by Richard Wade on Dec 31, 2008 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What if the UFC was ‘befriended’ by Carrot Top instead of Joe Rogan?

by JAMSmusic on Dec 31, 2008 2:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

he’s ripped!!!

by Headkick on Dec 31, 2008 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That Brock didn’t deserve the title shot or that it hurts the credibility of the sport annoys me to no end. And if Mike Whitehead was saying it in his last interview, you know it must be wrong.

by bigweeze on Dec 31, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think this will sell many copies at the newsstands unless you come up with something more exciting than Randy retiring and giving up his belt.

by bigweeze on Dec 31, 2008 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs