Randy Couture quits UFC, vacates Heavyweight Title

[Bison1997]

UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture announced his resignation from the Las Vegas-based promotion, leaving two contracted fights, his job as an on-air analyst and his heavyweight crown on the table. (Credit to The Fight Network, who Randy works for) ("http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5085)

UFC's failure to sign Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko played no small part in this decision, as Randy says in the article.

HUGE blow for UFC, who lose a major star (with Liddell's 2 losses, probably their biggest star at this point). Clearly, the winner of Tim Sylvia/Brandon Vera next weekend will be in line for a shot - maybe the winner fights the winner of an Anontio Nogueira/Chieck Kongo fight for the title?

[BigGuy]

Holy Shiit retired on top and his trainig fighter gym is going throug the roof. Plus he is a commentator he is brilliant.

Then he fight when the mood strikes him like for Exteme.

He is even trying acting

[TheSlipperyOne]

Have another link? This one's broken.

And wow. Craziness.

[MLSNHTOWN]

http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5085

[jec1]

I'm not surprised with his decision. Though, I still think he will remain as a commentator, anything to replace joe rogan makes me happy.

[TheSlipperyOne]

http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5085

Thanks.

It seems he really has some beef with UFC and a very valid point about wanting to fight Fedor.

[Bison1997]

That's weird - that's the same link I posted. Must not like being made into a direct link, I guess.

Anyway, here's Dana White's response... (http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4867&zoneid=2)

White responded to Couture’s retirement saying, “I’m not surprised at all by Randy’s decision. I talked to Randy several weeks ago and he said that if he couldn’t fight Fedor, then he has nothing left to prove in the sport of mixed martial arts.

“He has been doing a lot of acting, and I know he is in South Africa right now filming a movie. I think it’s a great move for Randy’s acting career to retire from fighting while he is on top.

“As we all know, Randy retired before. The landscape in MMA changes every day. So when he is ready to come out of retirement again, he is still under contract with me, and I’m ready to promote him.

[BigGuy]

He might win the academy award :-)

[ssanchez]

Better to out as one of the greats than a has been. Good Luck to him.

[TheSlipperyOne]

A good article on Couture leaving UFC, what has to go on between them, and possibilities going forward:

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AqpNPZgOwhVIYbkokww52y6UxLYF?slug=dm-couture101507&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[mintone]

From the articles I've read this whole thing sounds stupid.

Randy's got an agent in his ear putting spin on everything. Dana is his usual arrogant self and the UFC should have just signed Fedor. Let him fight in his Sambo Tournament once a year and be done with it.

I am getting tired of the antics and tactics used by White and the UFC. The "my way or the hwy" routine is stupid. Fans want to see the best fights and fighters. I could rant for a while about the need for a larger stable of fighters, more events and better equitable pay for the fighters but..... Whatever I'll watch anyway.

[YankHibee]

I think that Couture had to fight him pretty soon or there wouldn't be any point.