Randy Couture : Will he or Won't he?

There is a report on various MMA outlets, ranging from ESPN.com/Sherdog to Sports Illustrated,  that next Saturday, April 30th will see the end of a legendary career.
No, I'm not talking about Joe Rogan resigning and having Stephan Bonnar replace him.. I'm talking about the fight between Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture, with obvious implications on the current Light Heavyweight division situation no doubt in the balance.
Couture told MMAJunkie on a article posted today, that the "time has come" for him to move on to the next chapter of his life.  With 2 world title victories in 2 different weight classes (the only UFC fighter to do so) as well as a budding film career and a chain of successful Mixed Martial Arts gyms,  It has little doubt that regardless of what happens at Rogers Centre, he certainly doesn't need the money he gets from fighting...as he'd only do it solely for the thrill of competition.

But.....how much do we really believe that Randy will walk away? He has done so before, the first time in 1997 when he left the then SEG-Owned Ultimate Fighting Championship over a pay dispute.  He returned 10 months later in 1998,  in Japanese promotion RINGS,  going 2-2 in the land of the rising sun before the UFC ultimately decided to pay him the money he so richly deserved.
Then, there was the fiasco in 2008, where he locked heads in a legal tug-of-war over his outright release from the promotion, so he could have the opportunity to fight Fedor Emelianenko, who's management at M-1 Global couldn't come eye to eye on a contract with Zuffa, The UFC's parent company.  Again, Couture would return to lose his heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar.

Inbetween, we were treated to one of the greatest careers this sport has ever seen.  Nobody will forget Randy's 3 fights with Chuck Liddell, with the penultimate tilt between the 2 stars serving as the base for the successful reality program, "The Ultimate Fighter".   His single handed dismantling of Tito Ortiz where he doubled the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" over and pounded his rear, giving the allusion of the "spanking" Tito received at UFC 44.  And who could forget his comeback in 2007, where he moved up in Heavyweight to fight Tim Sylvia,  and while many detractors said he wouldn't last against the bigger stronger UFC champion, Randy dropped him 3 punches in and controlled him for the next 24 minutes and 57 seconds, never backing off of position and never missing a beat.  Even in his mid-forties, he is a man that defies the aging process...seeming to get better, almost as if like a fine wine.

Granted, his last few fights haven't been up to par : His fight with Brandon Vera in England in 2009 was left to a decision that people still dispute,  He beat an antiqued wrestler in Mark Coleman and a fish out of water in James Toney.   All in all though, he was able to ride the momentum and secure a shot with Machida next weekend.

The truth be told : Even if he loses to "The Dragon", I can't see him walking away.  There is one more fight out there for him.  While he doesn't have the skills to main event a UFC anymore, he can still put on a formidable fight against a competent foe.   It showed when he fought fellow legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira,  who is also past his best years, but provided a fight that left us on the edge of our seat.  The MMA fan in me hopes that Couture still agrees to the "one more fight".....and that fight is against Fedor Emelianenko.  If not, I guess I'll have to wait to see if I can watch it if I get into Heaven.

-In Other news, the UFC 129 press conference at Rogers Centre is open to the public. MMAJunkie reported the the UFC made the announcement today, which will take place at the Ricoh Colosseum next Friday, April 29th.
-Bellator has come under a lot of hot water.  Off the heals of the Joe Warren fiasco comes allegations of match-fixing.  Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney responded by awarding Warren's foe last Saturday, Marcus Galvao a spot in the upcoming 135 lb. tournament (which will also feature Warren) this fall.  I don't understand how the UFC can have several bad judged fights (Edgar vs Penn I is an absolute prime example), and yet nobody says anything about fixing fights.  Somebody else does it and OH NO!!! this fight was fixed. People its a judges objective.  The problem is we need better judges.
-Speaking of Tournaments, Japan's Promotion DREAM has announced a bantamweight tournament set to begin May 29th at the Mecca of Japanese MMA, Saitama Super Arena as reported by ESPN.com/Sherdog.  The "Japan Grand Prix" will serve as a precursor  to their World Grand Prix, set to commence in September.
-ESPN.co.uk reports that Brock Lesnar says his chin isn't to blame for his recent troubles in the cage....it has to do with his boxing.  Funny, but I remember Lesnar standing and trading up until he took a shot.  and its not like he took a shot and dropped. He took a shot and turtled. So it isn't either to blame...its the phobia he has when taking a punch.
-Oh, and everybody's favorite little white collar criminal, Chael Sonnen, is due in court to hear his sentencing April 27th.  When he comes back...I say throw him in there agains the winner between Wanderlei and Chris Leben.

Questions? Comments ? want to get back to me? email me mmarmaggedon@gmail.com

Until next time, fight fans.