MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: Randy Couture Returns to UFC; UFC 91: Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar in Las Vegas

by Kid Nate on Sep 2, 2008 4:20 PM EDT in News

The UFC has announced that UFC 91 will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will feature the return of Randy Couture.

Couture will be defending his heavyweight championship belt against Brock Lesnar. The winner will fight the winner of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Frank Mir to unify the title.

Dana White says the legal issues with Randy have been resolved.

They claim they are going to do everything in their power to book Fedor vs Couture if something can be worked out with the other promotions that Fedor has agreements with.

Randy Couture says he "would much rather fight in Octagon than any place else." He also says he hasn't enjoyed the court battles this past year. He also says he isn't concerned about ring rust at all and expects to weigh 225lbs going into the fight.

Dana White says, "Couture vs. Lesnar is the biggest fight in UFC history."

They also hinted at a possible future UFC in Virginia.

UPDATE: More details to come.

- Dana White: Brock vs. Couture will be "the biggest fight in UFC history".

- Dana White on competitors and co-promotion: ": These guys are dying on the vine. You’re not under contract if the company’s not in business anymore.

- Dana White: "I would be horrified if Affliction's still in business in January."

- Couture: would rather fight Fedor, but fight with Brock "a step in the right direction"

- Couture says UFC and he have "cleared the air"; "comfortable with way things stand right now"

- Couture says he'll weigh approximately 225lbs for this fight.

- Dana White says he doesn't know if Couture is the richest fighter in the UFC.

- Dana White: Nogueira is probably thrilled Couture is back.

- Dana White: research was done and proves Brock vs. Couture will be biggest fight in UFC history.

- Couture: re-signing with the UFC to get Fedor is "path of least resistance"

- Dana White: the heavyweight division "is looking pretty damn good now"

- Couture: MMA is the combative sport for this generation

- Couture: how can you overlook a guy [Brock Lesnar] that size?

- Dana White: over the next year we are going to see some really great heavyweight fights.

- Randy and Dana: feels good to have this problem resolved; "to see a little sunshine for a change is pretty nice"

- Dana White: "I like fighting with Tito"

- Dana White suggests Fedor might have to be not under contract for the UFC to sign a fight with him. He didn't say it was required, but he alluded to it.

- Dana White: Affliction is losing "shitloads" of money.

- Couture: biggest part of my decision was communicating with Lorenzo and Dana that I was feeling. Second was frustration with legal system. Tired of throwing money with lawyers with no end in sight. Best place for me to fight is a cage, not a court room.

- Dana White: "I'm like a giddy little girl right now"

- Dana White: "It drives me insane when Fedor is called the best p4p fighter in the world." If Fedor is the best, he has to come to the UFC eventually.

- Dana White: people don't know this, but there was bad blood between Brock and Herring. Herring was insulted he had to fight him.

- Brock Lesnar: "not a lot of people get this opportunity".

- Brock Lesnar: "who gives a shit about Fedor Emelianenko?" I'm sick and tired of sitting on the phone listening about Fedor. "Who fucking gives a shit?"

- Dana White: "UFC Countdown" for this fight could be two or three part series.

- Dana White: this is where all the best heavyweights are. Randy Couture is relevant; Fedor is not.

- Couture: I can't spend any time worrying about losing to Lesnar and losing luster on a fight with Fedor.

- Dana White: rivals can have whichever fighters we cut.

- Dana White: Werdum is still in the mix.

- Dana White: expecting 1million to 1.5 million PPV buys for this fight. It's a new deal: 3-fight deal.

- Dana White: I would not sign a one-fight deal with Fedor.

- Dana White: all court action is dead.

- Dana White: Randy Couture is the guy everyone wants to fight. Fedor is completely irrelevant.

- Couture: Mark Cuban wants what's best for me. He just wanted to facilitiate what I wanted. Now the best path is to make the fight with Fedor happen in the UFC.

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Comments

So….Lesnar is 1 fight away from winning the strap. I’m shocked they let Randy keep it.

by Heenan on Sep 2, 2008 4:24 PM EDT 0 recs

i believe Lesnar will be the champion

if he beats Randy. He’ll have to beat Nog/Mir to unify the belts.

by Kid Nate on Sep 2, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Paging Fabricio Werdum:

Sucks to be you dude.

by smoogy on Sep 2, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

by smoogy on Sep 2, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, at a robust 2-1 in the UFC he’s clearly getting the shaft by having a guy with one less win than him get a title shot.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

You must be dizzy from all that spin

by smoogy on Sep 2, 2008 5:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Look, I don’t think Lesnar “deserves” a title shot, but all this talk that Werdum is getting screwed is ludicrous. He’s 2-1 in the UFC.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 5:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

If it is such a non factor, then why did Dana make sure to say that Werdum is still in the picture?

We all know that Werdum should be getting the next shot. Who has done more than 2-1 with wins over GG and Vera? Randy-made a bad decision to step away. Lesner 1-1 with a sub by Mir and a beatdown of HH.

We also all know that it will have to wait a while because of the big money fights that are available now.

If Werdum was a ppv draw, he wouldn;t be getting passed over. This is strictly a business decision.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 2, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Did I say non-factor. I’m just saying that he’s hardly being “screwed.” Is he deserving of a shot? Arguably, but it’s not like he’s had a run of five straight wins or something.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 6:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

So who has?

Sorry, but no HW in the UFC is more “deserving”.

This is all about $$$$$$$$. And there is nothing wrong with that, it just sucks for Werdum and that is all anyone is saying.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 2, 2008 10:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I’d really like to know who Richard thinks has a better argument for a title shot.

by Mike Fagan on Sep 2, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

I really must have mis-phrased my earlier comments. My point is that although he is arguably the #1 contender, he hasn’t done something so incredible that it’s some sort of crime that he is getting passed over for a huge money matchup. He has won two fights in a row. That’s great, but it’s not like he’s gone on some great run that absolutely demands that he receive a title shot. That’s all I’m trying to say. Sure, he’s getting passed over, but why should we care if a guy with only two wins in the Octagon has to win another fight or two to get a title shot? I must be missing something.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think we pretty much agree on this, it’s just the way we think things SHOULD be done that we aren’t stating clearly. No it’s not the crime of the century that Werdum is getting put on hold, but it is a shame. It’s a shame that he is as deserving as anyone, but he just doesn;t put the butts in the seats, so to speak. We all know that Lesner is about selling ppvs and it is smart of the UFC to set it up like this, it just stinks for Werdum.

I don;t think you really have anything against Werdum, you are just taking it from a different angle. I don;t have anything against Lesner, I just want to see the contenders get shots in some order. But if you combine who draws and fighters getting older, you will see guys get skipped over a bit.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 3, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

See? Now this guy can actually put a sentence together. I should be taking notes.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 3, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree that it sucks for Werdum right now, but he should be in a good position when this unification business works itself out. Let these guys fight it out. Then, get in there for a title shot. At least they have a plan laid out, and White has already specifically mentioned Werdum.

I think, because of Werdum’s lackluster showing against Arlovski, people underestimate him. Since he’s been training with Chute Box, he’s been more aggressive in terms of striking. Nog was extremely careful on the ground with Werdum when they fought in Pride. He admitted that Werdum is better on the ground. That says a lot, in my opinion, since Nog’s BJJ in the context of MMA is absolutely top tier.

by Cannon Jacques on Sep 2, 2008 11:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

He also...

just doesn’t have the name value to sell a fight. That is in part his fault (the Arlovski fight) and in part the UFC’s fault for failing to promote him properly and instead treating him like the guy that they were going to feed to Arlovski and then to Gonzaga.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 2, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

He may not have name value..

But he’s got a pretty great name. FABRICIO.. WERRRRRRDUUUUUUUM!!!!

Don’t know if I’d call it a ring, necessarily. But it’s a cool name in my book..

by Blackout612 on Sep 3, 2008 2:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think Wedum gets his shot.

It just isn’t going to happen until the dust settles

Randy
———————
Brock -
——————— vs Werdum
—
Nog
———————-
Mir

I could see the UFC giving Werdum a gimmie in the meantime as a good faith. Money maker type of gesture. Neil Wain,Colin Robinson, Christian Wellisch or maybe even a Cheick Kongo. Somebody he will be a sizable favorite against. Someone to keep the ring rust to a minimum.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Sep 3, 2008 1:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

so are you saying the loser of Couture/Lesnar or Nog/Mir will face Werdum

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 3, 2008 2:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

No

I am saying that Assuming that Fedor isn’t facing Randy after it is all over (a fairly safe assumption). Werdum stands to be the first title defense for whomever wins the UFC HWY Tourney.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Sep 3, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Randy: ‘I want to fight Fedor. Fighting is what’s important to me – I don’t know what is important to him. If he wants to be the #1 heavyweight in the world, he needs to come fight me.’

Winner gets Nog/Mir to unify the belts.

Bet me money that, if Randy loses, he goes to light heavy. Says he’s only coming into this fight at 225 (!!!)

by subo on Sep 2, 2008 4:29 PM EDT 0 recs

Very smart move...

moving this to Vegas. I feel bad for the Portland fans…but this is a Vegas fight all the way. Plus I will actually consider flying to Vegas for a weekend to catch this.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 2, 2008 4:29 PM EDT 0 recs

“Randy: ‘I want to fight Fedor. Fighting is what’s important to me – I don’t know what is important to him. If he wants to be the #1 heavyweight in the world, he needs to come fight me.’”

^^Dana is using Randy to a pawn to sign Fedor…lol..Dana is the man.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Sep 2, 2008 4:32 PM EDT 0 recs

I completely understand the financial/business reasons to do this fight.

I completely understand how physically dominant Lesnar appears to be.

I completely understand the excitement about this fight — hell, I’m excited to see what happens.

All that said, what does it really say about the state of the UFC heavyweight division that they are willing to give Lesnar a title shot after he has earned only one victory, over Heath Herring? To me it somewhat diminishes the value of the UFC heavyweight division to give someone so inexperienced and who has done so little a title shot immediately. I’m not even talking about the outcome — I won’t be surprised if Lesnar wins this fight. I just think it’s a bit of a slap in the face to guys in the division who have worked for a long time to get a title shot — guys like Werdum, for example — to put them on the sideline solely because of the possible money in this fight.

I am pumped to see the fight, though … does that make me a hypocrite?

by Kierkegaard on Sep 2, 2008 4:32 PM EDT 0 recs

You should consider

That he would not truly be the champ until beating Randy Couture AND either Mir or Big Nog. If he gets through all of that, I don’t see the issue.

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

Hes still gonna have to go through 2 tuff oponents. THIS IS AWESOME!!!

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 2, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Consider Nog only had to beat Herring to get a title shot, also.

by Heenan on Sep 2, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Who knew Herring was the key to a title shot? Cheick blew it!

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah but...

Nogueira also wasnt submitted in under two minutes in the fight before Heath Herring and he also had over 30 fights agains ttop class competition and was ranked either 2nd or 3rd best in the world at the time.

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Why Randy/Lesnar...

Randy wanted Fedor ASAP b/c his time in MMA is dwindling. So, if that can’t happen, the next best thing is to have him against the other biggest payday possible. Brock might not be ready, but by the time he is, Randy would be back in the play by play booth (although maybe not with the UFC). So, here’s to striking while the iron is hot.

by Jaydoggydog on Sep 2, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

dont be surprised if your see couture back in the booth.

by mmalogic on Sep 2, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

Werdum is 2-1 in the UFC. Brock Lesnar is 1-1. I’m not seeing a huge disparity there.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

Plus

He was slap-fighting Arlovski. Took me a REALLY long time to get over that nonsense.

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Eddie Sanchez is a whopping 3-2, clearly he is the top contender for the belt! (Your argument sucks)

by George Lucas on Sep 2, 2008 6:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Clearly some of you are far too emotionally invested in this. My only point is that a 2-1 record is not so incredible as to make being overlooked for a title shot some sort of travesty.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree wholeheartedly.

by dedstrk911 on Sep 2, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fedor takes a back seat to a freak and a reality show...

Poor Randy. A bad movie and legal gridlock puts him in a bad bargaining position and back into the ring against a puffed up MMA noob, cheerleading for Lex Luthor’s fighting promotion and further from his goal of fighting Fedor.

by Jaydoggydog on Sep 2, 2008 4:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Update

Dana: Portland? What? You guys thought you were getting one of the biggest fights in UFC history? laughs Don’t worry, you guys are getting Bisping vs. Sadollah in March!

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 4:37 PM EDT 0 recs

Wait.. What? That’s legit? Bisping doesn’t fight again until March and he gets another can? Give me a break dude.. I like Amir, but he needs to get worked in.. What a joke.

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Are you playing with us Michael?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 2, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Pretty sure that was a joke.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard on Sep 2, 2008 4:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Certainly seems like one, but he’s kicking Portland while they’re down? For realz? That’s hilarious..

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Damn…he kilt Portland with that one…LOL

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Sep 2, 2008 4:38 PM EDT 0 recs

“Question: Why Keep the interim belt around?
Dana: Because he won it”

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:39 PM EDT 0 recs

Perfect thing to say.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Randy says he is choosing a path of least resistance.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 2, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs

Then he should have fought out his contract… what a dumb ass.

by cyph on Sep 2, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Question: What’s Randy’s contract like now?
Dana: Who gives a fuck he’s back.

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs

So I take it no one on the conference call has asked about Werdum?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 2, 2008 4:41 PM EDT 0 recs

That’s what I wanted. Tried to persuade Ariel but he didnt know why someone would ask it… I’m too tired to argue.

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:41 PM EDT 0 recs

And Werdum just resigned with them….to be forgotten about.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Sep 2, 2008 4:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Well..

There’s some interesting fights for him there. I don’t think it’s time to panic, necessarily. He’ll get his shot..

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

I doubt he'll get past

Velasquez. Carwin he’ll likely beat.

by Kid Nate on Sep 2, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

You think they’ll put Velasquez up against him before either gets to the title?

Agree about Carwin.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 4:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed

I think they throw him a bone, essentially, in not having him fight Velasquez. There’s that whole “nothing to gain” stigma. He’d probably be angered at the offer of that fight, on top of this whole situation. Don’t see it happening.

by Blackout612 on Sep 2, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fuck that - Carwin rules

Dude’s an inch taller than Brock, has been training MMA for years, is 9-0 in MMA (1-0 in UFC, soon to be 10-0 thank you Neil Wain) and also maxes out at 265. Great amateur wrestling background.
Wrestlers that can punch beat BJJ guys. Thus, your future top three in heavyweight will be (interchangeably) Velasquez, Lesnar and Carwin.

by subo on Sep 2, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

If Carwin “maxes out at 265”, why did he come into his last fight at around 250?

by George Lucas on Sep 2, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Carwin is 33/34 years old, has never trained full time in his career, and is roughly the same weight as Werdum. He’s got plenty of talent, but Werdum is already one of the top fighters in the world, and Carwin is pushing the cart uphill.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes a grappler like Velasquez is clearly going to give ADCC champion Fabricio Werdum the most trouble…

by George Lucas on Sep 2, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

The reports out of AKA are that Velasquez is basically a kickboxing and overall MMA prodigy. He ain’t taking Hari or someone like that, but Werdum is no Hari. Calling Velasquez a “grappler” badly undercuts his actual skills: he’s an elite college wrestler who has shown an incredible ability to transition to MMA.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

AKA also had great things to say about Reese Andy, so…

Calling Velasquez a "grappler" badly undercuts his actual skills: he’s an elite college wrestler who has shown an incredible ability to transition to MMA.

As evidenced by all of the great opponents he’s beaten utilizing MMA skills beyond wrestling crickets

by George Lucas on Sep 2, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well, Reese Andy did go three rounds with a former top 20 HW. He ain’t exactly chickenfeed. And they never hyped anybody the way they hype Velasquez. I don’t think anybody has gotten the hype Velasquez has gotten. And so far he’s fulfilling it just fine. O’Brien lasted against Arlovski until late in the second round. Velasquez walked through him like he wasn’t even there.

Nobody’s suggesting Velasquez will walk through Werdum. But he’s a very good bet for victory if he meets Werdum the second quarter of 2008 or later.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I guess Vera is happy he is no longer in the HW division.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 2, 2008 4:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Ariel: How taste my big pee pee?
Randy: What?

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Good one!

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 2, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

“I’m a giddy little girl” – Dana White

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:49 PM EDT 0 recs

Brock- “My whole goal is to take it one fight at a time”

…

Brock: Frankensence and Murr

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Ahahah, I love how he says Mir’s name. Cracks me up every time.

by Gong on Sep 2, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’m glad I’m not the only one.

by Mike Fagan on Sep 2, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Brock just lost it...

I’d clean up what he said, but if I do its not really a sentence. So here goes.

Brock: “WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT FEDOR!”
I DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT FEDOR
IM TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT FUCKING FEDOR
I DONT GIVE A DAMN IF YOU WANT THAT FIGHT
HE MIGHT NOT EVER BE WITH THE COMPANY SO WHO FUCKING GIVES A SHIT"

by SamCupitt on Sep 2, 2008 4:55 PM EDT 0 recs

LOL

Brock is awesome.

by Michaelthebox on Sep 2, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up 0 recs