Randy Duane Couture (born June 22, 1963) is a Greco-Roman wrestler, folkstyle wrestler, and professional mixed martial arts fighter. He is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is the only athlete to have held championship titles in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as the only five-time champion in UFC history, earning him the nicknames "The Natural" and, later, "Captain America". He, along with Robert Follis, once headed Team Quest, a camp of fighters based out of Gresham, Oregon. In 2005, Couture moved to Las Vegas, where he currently resides. He moved out of Team Quest recently and opened a Mixed Martial Arts gym called LEGENDS Gym in Hollywood, California with his good friend Bas Rutten, another Mixed Martial Arts legend, the World Fighting Alliance (WFA), and the Los Angeles' Bomb Squad gym. He opened new gyms called Xtreme Couture, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Vancouver, Washington, and Wellington, Florida. He trains in his Las Vegas, Nevada gym.
Couture lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout most of his professional career. He also served as an assistant wrestling coach and strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University. Couture's preferred method of offense in mixed martial arts competition is what is commonly referred to as 'Ground and Pound', in which a fighter uses his wrestling ability by taking his opponent down to the mat, establishing top position, and successively striking the opponent. In addition to his wrestling background, Couture has displayed a variety of skills in both Muay thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and has submitted two opponents using different chokeholds.
On October 11, 2007, Couture announced that he was severing all ties with the UFC, leaving two contracted fights, a position as an on-air analyst, and his heavyweight championship behind. Reportedly he received $250,000 plus $936,000 of PPV revenue for his comeback against Tim Sylvia. He also reportedly received a $250,000 purse for defeating Gabriel Gonzaga, as well as a $35,000 bonus for "Fight of the Night" and $787,000 in PPV revenue. This became a sticking point since Chuck Liddell lost his two previous fights yet is still paid more than Couture, according to Couture. Randy cited the UFC's failure to sign #1 ranked heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko, as well as disputes with UFC management.
Cornering some of his fighters from Xtreme Couture at HDNET fights on Dec 15th 2007 in Dallas, Texas. Randy Couture answered questions about Fedor stating that he would like to fight Fedor in October once his employment contract with the UFC has expired, if the UFC cannot come to some kind of co-promotion agreement with M-1 global before that time.
On January 15th 2008 Zuffa filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court citing breach of contract and irreparable damage. Zuffa is seeking over $10,000 in damages.On February 28th 2008 Judge Jennifer Togliatti handed down the first ruling in the case of Zuffa v. Randy Couture issuing a preliminary injunction barring Couture's participation in an IFL event to be held the following day.
FIGHTER ACHIEVEMENTS
* Amateur
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - second place (June 13, 1990)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - winner (January 1, 1991)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - second place (January 1, 1992)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg - third place (May 21, 1997)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg - second place (March 24, 1998)
Pan American Games Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - winner (August 6, 1991)
FILA test tournament Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg - third place (March 14, 1998)
FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - third place (November 9, 1991)
FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg - third place (November 21, 1992)
* Professional
UFC 13 heavyweight tournament winner
Two-time UFC light heavyweight champion
Interim UFC light heavyweight champion
Three-time UFC heavyweight champion
Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame
First six-time champion in UFC history
First fighter in UFC history to hold titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight
First fighter in UFC history to become a champion after being inducted into the Hall of Fame
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