UFC 129 Fight Card Primer: Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida

It's time for the final goodbye as UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture (19-10, 16-7 UFC) meets former champion Lyoto Machida in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 129. This fight is scheduled as the second match on the pay-per-view broadcast. For more information on how to watch the pay per view read: How to Watch 'UFC 129: St. Pierre vs Shields' Live Online and On Television.

How do these two stack up?

Couture: 47 years old | 6'1" | 75" reach
Machida: 32 years old | 6'1" | 74" reach

What have these two done lately?

Couture: W - James Toney (SUB) | W - Mark Coleman (SUB) | W - Brandon Vera (UD)
Machida: L - Quinton Jackson (SD) | L - Mauricio Rua (KO) | W - Mauricio Rua (UD)

How did these two get here?

If you don't know about Randy Couture, let me fill you in. Winner of the UFC 13 heavyweight tournament. Three-time UFC heavyweight chamion. Two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. Most championship title reigns in UFC history (six). Most championship fights in UFC history (fifteen). Oldest fighter to win a UFC title (43 years, 255 days). First fighter to hold UFC titles in two different weight classes. Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2006.

Also see Bloody Elbow's 7 part series on The Magic of Randy Couture: Part 1 I Part 2 I Part 3 I Part 4 I Part 5 I Part 6 I Part 7

Lyoto Machida started his career with eight straight victories. He became under contract with the UFC after the UFC's purchase of the WFA. Machida stayed perfect in six UFC fights before defeating Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight title at UFC 98. After a controversial decision victory over Mauricio Rua at UFC 104, Machida dropped the title and his perfect record when Rua knocked him out at UFC 113. Machida dropped his second consecutive fight in a close decision loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 123.

Here at Bloody Elbow we've spent inordinate hours analyzing Machida's unique fighting style. Here's a post with links to almost everything we've written on Machida:  Has Lyoto Machida Been Figured Out?

Why should you care?

It's Randy Couture's last fight (if he's to be believed).