In a stunning development (if it’s true, of course), UK-based MMA news site MMABAY.com is reporting that UFC World Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture is not only in talks with UFC for a return, but that his first opponent will be former WWF Undisputed Champion Brock lesnar.
Writer Michael Pepper — who reported yesterday on a possible Couture return to UFC — says that Lesnar would provide the only heavyweight match-up with the champ that has any drawing power, since Interim Champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira is already set to face Frank Mir in December. Pepper also writes that Couture has begun to train again at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and an announcement about his future could come as early as UFC 88 on Saturday, September 6.
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August 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I’ve heard this from one other person who is close to the company, so there might be some validity to it.
I know not to bet against Randy Couture, but all the things that Randy normally does to beat bigger guys (controlling where the fight is, pacing, dirty boxing against the cage) won’t be available to him against Lesnar. Brock is far too strong and could probably ride out a win on points. Wouldn’t be terribly exciting, but it would be a win over Randy Couture and that would put him into immediate title contention.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I heard that too. If they pull it off, it would be a MONSTER way to end the year or start off 2009!
August 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Botter — you mean it would make him champion. You beat the Champ, you get the belt. I don’t see any other way.
That said, I’m betting on Randy here.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
If they did that and did it in Portland, I might have to go.
August 29th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
This fight has now been confirmed by Dave Meltzer. Couture will likely sign a 3 fight deal that will allow him to retire from the UFC, and will fight Lesnar on November 15th in his first fight back.
Couture will likely be stripped of the heavyweight title and Nog/Mir will be for the belt instead of the interim belt. Every situation that arises out of this fight is a benefit to the UFC.
If Lesnar wins (which i think is very possible) and Mir win, then have Lesnar vs Mir 2 for the belt.
If Lesnar wins and Nog wins, then you definitely don’t match Lesnar up with Nog. I don’t want him to fight another BJJ specialist for another year at minimum.
If Couture wins and Mir wins, then you can try to set up the Fedor fight. If you can’t, then Couture/Mir is still a great story and interesting fight.
And finally, if Couture wins and Nog wins, then you have a battle of legends.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I don’t like stripping him of the belt, so hopefully that part’s not true, although one can argue that Brock doesn’t yet “deserve” a title shot.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Story updated here: http://insidefights.com/2008/09/02/former-wwe-champ-to-get-ufc-title-shot/
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Well, we’ve got what amounts to a mini-Grand Prix for the belt. Brock-Couture is for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, Nog-Mir is for the Interim Heavyweight Championship, and the winners face off for the unified title.
And yes, that means that there’s going to be TWO UFC heavyweight championships being contested.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I know im kinda late but the fights havnt happind and id like to say that i strongly feel that Mir is going to beat Nogera and brock is going to beat randy “has been” couture(and put a end to his crying)and we are looking at Lesnar Vs Mir 2 for the World Tittle
October 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Fedor would beat any of these four fighters. I wish the UFC would sign him. *sigh*