Couture In The UFC One Last Time?

[stxnas]

Sources: Randy Couture willing to fight in the UFC once more
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 28, 2008 at 5:20 pm ET

Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture could return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship by year's end as part of an out-of-court settlement with the organization.

Multiple sources close to the fighter, speaking exclusively to MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com), today said that Couture is willing to fight once more for the UFC, possibly before the end of the year, as a potential resolution to his ongoing legal battles with the fight promotion.

However, Couture himself could not be reached for comment, and it's unknown if the UFC is even considering the offer at this point.

According to one source, as part of Couture's concession to return the octagon, the 45-year-old UFC hall-of-famer would want to walk away "clear and free" from the organization after the bout.

Couture (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC), who hasn't fought since a third-round TKO victory over fellow UFC heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga in August 2007, resigned from the organization two months later over what he perceived to be a lack of respect from UFC officials, issues over his pay, and the UFC's inability to sign then-top free agent Fedor Emelianenko.

However, Zuffa LLC officials believe, per his fight contract, that Couture's next two bouts must be in the UFC. Couture had said that he wanted his resignation upheld so he could move on with his career, including a potential bout with Emelianenko outside the UFC.

Back in February, Couture signed a deal with Mark Cuban's Dallas-based HDNet Fights promotion. The organization then filed suit against the UFC in Dallas district court to get a declaratory judgment concerning the contractual status of Couture. However, earlier this month, a Texas appeals court ruled in favor of Zuffa and granted the organization's request for a stay against the motion.

In conditionally granting the stay, the court effectively deferred the case between Zuffa and Couture to arbitration to determine the fighter's contractual obligations to the UFC.

The ruling all but ensures that this case will be decided by a Nevada arbitrator and not by a Texas court, though it's likely that HDNet will appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. Arbitration between Zuffa and Couture reportedly has been under way in Las Vegas since early July.

Despite Couture's resignation, during a UFC 82 press conference in March, UFC President Dana White said that he had offered Couture a fight with now-interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on two different occasions. Although the fight never came to fruition, White has never ruled out the possibility of Couture returning to the organization.

In the other squabble between the UFC and Couture, the five-time champion's employment contract, which is separate from his fight contract, is the focus of a breach of contract lawsuit filed by Zuffa on Jan. 14 in Las Vegas. Zuffa contends that Couture violated the one-year non-compete clause in his contract by having his name and likeness used to promote fights outside of the UFC.

Couture's UFC employment contract expires on Oct. 11 of this year.

[holyintellect]

If he ever wants to fight again, this is what will happen...there is no way in hell Dana is just going to let him walk away.

holy

[robdog]

The rumors are swirling about him facing Lesnar.

[AE14]

The rumors are swirling about him facing Lesnar.

I have heard this as well. Hell of a fight for Lesnar at #3 in the UFC. However, Randy would need to be careful here

[robdog]

I have heard this as well. Hell of a fight for Lesnar at #3 in the UFC. However, Randy would need to be careful here

Yup. Its a horrible match up for Randy. I certainly dont see him koing or subbing Lesnar. And I dont feel too confident about his chances of outwrestling him either.

[AE14]

this could end bad for Randy. Lesnar is huge, fast, and strong. Randy will have to outbox him and dirtybox him, but will need to be careful as if Lesnar gets on top of him, he will rain it down. (this whole post sounded a little wrong)

[jas123]

I heard the Lesnar rumor too. I'd really like to Nog fight Randy, but if it's a 1 fight deal then why would they let him get the belt again. Lesnar would make sense as a choice because the UFC loves destroying their Hall of Famers to build rising stars.

Randy's usually got a good gameplan and exploits the holes in his opponents' game. He'll no doubt find huge holes in Lesnar's game. Maybe use footwork to keep it standing and not allow Brock to set up a shot and then pick him apart slowly with technical boxing. Randy's standup has really improved.

He's also training with Jacare which can't hurt his sub skills off his back if he needs them. I could see Randy taking this by Anaconda choke too for some reason like he did against Van Arsdale.

On the otherhand, it could look like his matches with Barnett and Ricco.....

[jas123]

Yup. Its a horrible match up for Randy. I certainly dont see him koing or subbing Lesnar. And I dont feel too confident about his chances of outwrestling him either.

You're just lucky your boy, E-fed, doesn't have to fight him. E-fed may destroy him in competitive eating, but not MMA.








Ok, no, but this place needs to liven up.

[VolcomX311]

Couture-Lesnar would be exciting, and I wouldn't put it pass Randy to pull it off, although I'd be rooting for Lesnar.

People will reason that Fedor would defeat Lesnar quite squarely (i do too), but people will also reason that Randy vs Fedor would be a "good fight" without completely counting Randy out, thus, a Randy-Lesnar in theory, should be pretty competitive and also, a good fight.

[AE14]

I would never count out Randy. He is one of the most prepared fighters out there. However, he would need to be careful as Lesnar has shown he has heavy hands, and he has solid wrestling to boot.

[VolcomX311]

I would never count out Randy. He is one of the most prepared fighters out there. However, he would need to be careful as Lesnar has shown he has heavy hands, and he has solid wrestling to boot.

Can't argue with you there. Those hands look exceptionally heavy, XXXL's? And the torque behind them to make it hurt.

[robdog]

You're just lucky your boy, E-fed, doesn't have to fight him. E-fed may destroy him in competitive eating, but not MMA.








Ok, no, but this place needs to liven up.

E Fed destroys all in every form of competition ever. Ya this place has been stagnant, I think Rodja died.

[Alexander]

E Fed destroys all in every form of competition ever. Ya this place has been stagnant, I think Rodja died.

Umm, no comment.

[Alexander]

Yup. Its a horrible match up for Randy. I certainly dont see him koing or subbing Lesnar. And I dont feel too confident about his chances of outwrestling him either.

Yup. Depending on the odds, I'd have trouble not betting on Lesnar. Like you said, just a bad match up

[Rodja]

E Fed destroys all in every form of competition ever. Ya this place has been stagnant, I think Rodja died.

Between grad school and the GF, I don't have much time to troll here.

[robdog]

Between grad school and the GF, I don't have much time to troll here.

You need to get your priorities in order.

[Rodja]

You need to get your priorities in order.

Haha...pr!ck. I spent 9 hours in the freaking exercise physiology lab on Friday. I get to do that all semester.

[stxnas]

LUCKY!!!

That sort of talk makes me jealous!

[robdog]

Haha...pr!ck. I spent 9 hours in the freaking exercise physiology lab on Friday. I get to do that all semester.

HAHA

[Rodja]

LUCKY!!!

That sort of talk makes me jealous!

It's not as nice as it sounds. It's an undergrad teaching position and some them are real winners...