Randy Couture Looking to Drop to Light Heavyweight

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 9:03 AM EDT Comment 51 comments

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Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas.

Randy Couture talked to Sherdog.com about his future plans:

Maybe this year, or maybe the first of next year. I haven’t really looked at the cards and the shows that they have. What’s on the schedule, I don’t know, but I’m especially leaning towards dropping down. I’m pushing in weight. It would be easy for me to make 205 and there’s more interesting fights there right now.

The five time UFC champion is targeting a return around the start of 2010, but in the mean time, he is also planning to do a few more films. Something which he could see himself doing even after he retires from fighting:

I realize at this stage in my career that I can’t fight forever, so it’s not logical for me to put the movie stuff on hold, I have too many opportunities and options right now.

It’s a constant juggling act with all the stuff that I’m doing, so I’ll have to get plenty of notice for fights and when I get a fight that comes on the radar that’s interesting, I shut everything else down for that nine or 10-week period.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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I think Randy will fight on the New Year’s card on January 2. Just a guess, but I suspect that will be his return.

Lots of options there.

by Michael Rome on Sep 2, 2009 4:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Question is: who does he fight? If it’s at 205, then I could see a fight with Rogerio if the UFC really did sign him. Couture-Shogun would be great. As would Couture-Machida, Couture-Rampage, Couture-Rashad, Couture-Anderson, and Couture-Wanderlei. There’s really a ton of ways they can go with Randy at 205. And, who knows, perhaps he’s another guy who, with just one big win, could be right in line for a title shot. I mean, if Randy beats someone like Rogerio then he’s right there at the top of the line for a title shot.

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by FlyByKnight on Sep 2, 2009 5:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's also franklin

I think 1 win for randy and the UFC gives him a title shot..

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by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 5:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh. To be honest, I’m not entirely excited about a Couture-Franklin fight. But that’s just me.

http://twitter.com/FlyByKnite

by FlyByKnight on Sep 2, 2009 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Im never excited about Franklin fights. Same for GSP. Its the same fight every time.

by judonerd on Sep 2, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Franklin I understand, but GSP?

Sure, it’s the same basic dominance, but it’s incredible to watch him transition.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 2, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not really.

by cyph on Sep 2, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I love watching gsp

by cagefightonacid on Sep 2, 2009 7:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Couture Franklin is the best fight for both.

by mmalogic on Sep 2, 2009 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Couture/Coleman

Double retirement match

Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.

by JCS_FM on Sep 2, 2009 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

weoweoweo is the best… and I <3 Vera cause he is pogi.

by mythbuster on Sep 2, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This really is a good call since the UFC gets a contender either way.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
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 Sep 2, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does the outcome of the Belfort/Franklin matchup change that?

by Razzel on Sep 2, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the loser of Machida/Shogun is healthy enough coming out of that fight, then that could be cool to see for early 2010. I just know I wouldn’t want to see Randy get another title shot coming off of a loss. Getting one of the participants of Rampage/Rashad could be good and competitive, but I assume the winner might be next in line for a title shot, and the timing might not work out for that, since Randy could be fighting at the Jan. 2010 card, and Rampage/Rashad will be in December of this year. Rogerio Nogueira is a possibility, since there;s no set time table for when he starts fighting for the UFC. I think Wanderlei’s out as an option, and is heading for MW. Anderson’s a strong possibility depending on how the UFC deals with the #1 contender-ship at MW. Franklin’s another possibility.

by Hardcase on Sep 2, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wanderlei is the best fight in my mind. Machida won’t fight Rashad or Rampage until April or May, and then probably wont fight again until September, so Randy would probably have to win two.

Couture-Rampage is scary to me given what Randy showed with his chin at 102.

They are not going to book another Couture-Nog match with Rogerio, it’s not the UFC’s style. The odds are on Franklin and Wand. The best part about Franklin, if he’s coming off a win over Belfort, is he’s a relevant top 10 guy. So it will really let everyone see where Randy stands.

by Michael Rome on Sep 2, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Randy’s chances against Wanderlei or Franklin. I have a feeling some of those punches he hit Nog with would have rocked anyone else. He had some really good headshots in the clinch, and that one-two combo he did where Nog basically walked through them, looked really hard. Sure both Wandy and Franklin have a good shot at KOing Randy, especially with his diminished chin, but it’s competative. You’re not going to see either of those guys dominate Randy on the ground the way Nog did with his multiple submission attempts.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Sep 2, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, I don’t know if Randy would be interested in going from getting repeatedly dropped by one Nogueira brother straight to a fight with the Nogueira brother that has better striking.

by JRN on Sep 2, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Couture Vs Tito 2

I’d like to see this fight once more!

by BONESJONES on Sep 2, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For the benefit of the UFC

I think it would have been best for him to stay at heavyweight and fight the best up and coming fighters, like Dos Santos, Carwin, and maybe a rematch with Napao. This would help legitimize the next wave in the HW division, in much the same way Liddell’s losses to Rampage, Evans, and Rua helped to legitimize those careers (to UFC-only viewers) and title shots at LHW.

by rzor on Sep 2, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This would hurt the UFC. You can’t force this shit, if you do it becomes transparent and pathetic. And obviously wouldn’t be best for him because they wouldnt draw and his compensation is tied to buyrates.

by Michael Rome on Sep 2, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If/when dos Santos

defeats Cro Cop, he would conceivably be one or two wins away from a title shot. Carwin is already getting a title shot. Gonzaga might be a couple wins away from another opportunity. It’s not like these are nobodies. A victory for Randy over any of these guys gets him back in the picture, while a win by his opponent gets more eyeballs on a talented contender. I just think he should avoid the LHW division, because he’ll be eaten alive by the numerous strikers that roam that division now, and he’s getting paid too much to be relegated to some senior circuit.

by rzor on Sep 2, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Randy is interested in becoming a stepping stone for younger fighters.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Sep 2, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

not sure how that legitimizes anyone. Not too many people still think Randy is a force at HW anymore.

weoweoweo is the best… and I <3 Vera cause he is pogi.

by mythbuster on Sep 2, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What movies is Couture talking about?

No offense to him, I have yet to see a decent movie featuring or starring an MMA guy.

by dv8shun on Sep 2, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ah but I bet Randy's seen some decent paychecks

from the bad movies he’s been in.

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by Kid Nate on Sep 2, 2009 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’m sure the pay he takes for the amount of work he does is pretty decent. It must be easier than doing a 10 week training camp.

I love me some Sexyama!

by pud333 on Sep 2, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s starring in Sly’s new B-action movie wet dream “The Expendables”…that might increase his visibility acting wise for those type of movies.

I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.

by The_Gaijin on Sep 2, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And surprisingly there’s tonnes of $$$ to be made for guys in those direct-to-DVD actioners, especially if they’re producing them as well.

I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.

by The_Gaijin on Sep 2, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he had a small role in the longest yard too.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redbelt wasn't bad.

But I’m partial to Mamet.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Sep 2, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but

was Redbelt really a MMA movie? It had a few seconds of action, and lots of yapyap from what I can remember.

weoweoweo is the best… and I <3 Vera cause he is pogi.

by mythbuster on Sep 2, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am glad Randy is

moving down. I don’t see any benefit from facing Franklin though. If he wins, it likely won’t do anything to move him up in the rankings. And if he loses, it would be a disaster for any hopes of getting a title shot. IMO, he probably gets Wand first & if he beats him he will get Page, Evans or Shogun.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Sep 2, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Couture/Liddell IV

I know Dana has been pushing it off and saying that does the world really want to see a Liddell/Couture IV? My answer to that is, yes. Both of these fighters have been on a decline, and this will really show what either one of these fighters have left. Either that or let Chuck/Wanderlei II happen, and Couture/Ortiz II happen once Ortiz smashes through COleman.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Sep 2, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"Couture/Liddell IV "

NO! Who wants to see this again? We all know that Chuck does not have much left & Randy is on the decline, so why would we want to see if Chuck KTFO’s him again?

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Sep 2, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I promise you if Liddell/Couture IV happens, that would probably come close to topping UFC 100 in PPV buys.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Sep 2, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as PPV's

go, I am sure you are right. Both of them are my favorite fighters all time, but what is to gain from seeing them again? I am not making money on the PPV’s. Chuck dominated him 2 out of 3.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Sep 2, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I call bullshit, it might get close to the numbers of 91&92 but no way in hell it sells over 1.5 million.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Sep 2, 2009 4:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Great decision Randy!

by radamez85 on Sep 2, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Couture-Griffin

"Japan is half-Machida" - iiowyn

by Day Man on Sep 2, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

they train together..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

War Couturre at LHW! YUSS!!!

Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Sep 2, 2009 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Randy isn't fighting til '10

then I say, give him the winner of Coleman/ Tito. A Couture/ Ortiz rematch would be a big draw (probably), and is a fight that would make sense for both fighters. Randy/ Mark wouldn’t be bad, either.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 2, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

When Randy retired from the UFC the 1st time as a light heavy he said it was because they were too fast.

by Headkick on Sep 2, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want see Randy fight Wandy! They are both legends and are both on the decline so it makes sense. Plus they match up well stylistaclly, so it would probably be an entertaining fight.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Sep 2, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can go for that

At this point in their careers, I wouldn’t mind some of the epic match ups of the “old timers” (so to speak).

weoweoweo is the best… and I <3 Vera cause he is pogi.

by mythbuster on Sep 2, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know that they are former training partners, but why isn’t anyone talking about a Couture-Hendo match-up? Dan has already stated that if doesn’t get the next shot at the 185 belt that he prefers to move back up to 205. I would much rather see this fight than Randy versus Tito, Chuck, Rashad, etc.

by Velcro on Sep 2, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs