Martial arts have developed over a period spanning centuries, skills and techniques passed from teacher to pupil transcending time and passing through generations. Gradually evolving into the forms of martial arts many practice around the world today. However, there has been something of a revolution in recent years. In the last 15 years many of these styles have merged producing highly developed modern day mixed martial arts fighters. Fighters that take the best elements from various martial arts and merge them to become better more efficient fighters.
If one man symbolizes this development that man is undeniably Randy Couture, a fighter that has consistently performed at the highest level, a fighter that thrills crowds with his ability and commitment whilst conducting himself like a gentleman outside of the ring.
Randy's fighting career has been nothing short of astonishing, after serving in the US army from 1982 to 1988 he went on to be a three time Olympic team alternate in 1988, 1992 and 1996 before bursting onto the mixed martial arts scene in 1997.
Randy made his UFC debut in May 1997. A fight in which he was viewed by most as an underdog, a card filler and wasn't taken seriously by either the MMA public or rival fighters. Randy however defeated both Tony Halme and Steven Graham to win UFC 13. He then followed this victory by defeating a very accomplished Victor Belfort; another fight no-one expected him to win.
This string of victories earnt him a title shot the then heavyweight champion Maurice Smith. Unsurprisingly Randy won this fight to become the new Heavyweight champion and establish himself as a crowd favourite. Sadly following these victories Randy was unable to agree contractual terms with the UFC and was controversially stripped of his title. Undeterred and keen to pursue his mixed martial arts career Randy signed for the Rings Organization with whom he fought until his return to the UFC in 2000.
In the years that followed Randy competed in many memorable and precedent setting fights. Some notable moments include winning a striking battle with Chuck Liddell and a catagoric victory over Tito Ortiz. During these years with the UFC Randy continued to be applauded and admired by the mma public affectionately being nicknamed ?The Natural? and ?Captain America?.
After being defeated in his third fight with Chuck Liddell in February 2006 Randy announced his retirement from the UFC, a decision clouded by problems in his personal life.
A little under a year later Randy Appeared on an interview on Spike TV and announced his return from retirement. He had contacted fight organiser Dana White and expressed his dissatisfaction with heavy weight division. Dana recognized the benefit Randy could bring to the Heavyweight division and arranged a fight with the then Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia.
This fight is what I and many other commentators consider the defining moment in Randy's career. How could Randy ever hope to defeat a 6ft 8 inch Sylvia, a fighter with a weight and reach advantage. A fighter with an mma impressive record who was an astonishing 13 years younger than Couture. Many feared this would tarnish Couture's reputation, that he'd bitten off more than he could chew and that his return from retirement would be short lived and embarrassing.
However Randy stunned the mixed martial arts world by categorically defeating Sylvia at UFC 68. After only 8 seconds of the very first round Randy landed a perfectly timed right hook that knocked Sylvia off his feet and went on to dictate the fight over the full five rounds.
Randy had silenced his doubters. He'd done the impossible.
He has recently defended his title at UFC 74 by convincingly defeating Gabriel Gonzaga. Another fight in which Couture was labeled the under dog. This man continues to re-write the rule book, at the age of 44 he continues to improve. Entertaining and inspiring a generation.
I for one hope to see Couture fight in a few more battles.
Randy "The Natural" Couture is returning to the Octagon on March 3, 2007 to face heavyweight champion Tim "The Mainiac" Silvia in a battle for the UFC heavyweight belt. There are two questions on everybody's mind about this match up. First, does Randy have a chance? More importantly, is Randy risking his health?
I personally thought that Randy Couture got out of the MMA fight game just in time. He left with class after a second consecutive loss to Chuck Liddell in the UFC light heavyweight division. People respect Randy Couture, even more people like Randy Couture. Why on earth would he consider returning now?
Randy says he's returning because he misses the fight game, because he believes that he is a better fighter than when he last stepped into the Octagon on February 4th, 2006. I think that the real reason that Randy is returning is that he is likely disgusted by the lackluster performance of the UFC heavyweight division. I read that Randy is negotiating a multi fight contract with the UFC, this is a big mistake in my opinion. I believe that Randy might have the tools needed to defeat Tim Silvia, but there is no way I want to see Randy fight Mirko Cro Cop.
Randy, if you have any sense at all, get in there, finish Tim Silvia and retire again. You are an absolute phenom as an athlete and an inspiration to those of us in our forties, but everyone has their time and MMA isn't boxing. I've never seen you come into a fight in less than stellar condition and I've never seen you in a fight that wasn't worth watching, that is the Randy Couture I want to remember. I don't want to remember Randy Couture being knocked cold by a Mirko Cro Cop left high kick, then being taken out on a stretcher.
Enough of the pleas to have Randy cut this return short, let's take a look at how this fight breaks down.
Starting with the stand up abilities of both fighters. It is tempting to look at this and say that Tim Silvia's reach advantage and raw power will give him the edge in the stand up. True enough, but lets not forget that Randy has been in there with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfor, all good to great stand up fighters in their own right. I put the stand up between Randy and Tim at dead even.
Moving on, lets talk about take downs. There is no way that Tim Silvia is going to take Randy Couture down, the only way Randy will end up on his back with Tim Silvia is if Tim knocks him down with a punch, then jumps on him. On the other hand, Randy's strong wrestling background will certainly give him the advantage in take downs.
What about submission wrestling, grappling, or overall ground game? I have to give Randy the advantage in this area as well, even though Tim Silvia did look good on the ground against Jeff Monson, but Randy Couture is not Jeff Monson.
In the area of conditioning, there isn't a better conditioned athlete on the planet than Randy Couture, one look at Tim Silvia's physique tells us that he doesn't spend the time in the gym that Randy does. Oh, I'm sure he's at the gym, eating chicken wings and watching other guys spar. Okay, the last line was just a joke, Tim certainly trains hard and he didn't gas against Jeff Monson. He also didn't finish Monson either when he should have been able to. I give Randy the edge in conditioning.
So there you have it, Tim Silvia is stronger, Randy is better. We'll see who comes out on top on March 3rd. My prediction, Randy Couture by decision.
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