Randy Couture
Soldier, Greco-Roman wrestler and the UFC's oldest champion
- Born
- June 22, 1963, Everett, Washington, US
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 185 cm (6′1″)
- Reach
- 191 cm (6′3″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Greco-Roman clinch fighter
- Weight
- Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight
- Active
- 1997–2011
- Status
- Retired · age 63
The record
Professional MMA. record
The story
andy Couture served as a U.S. Army sergeant, was a three-time Olympic alternate in Greco-Roman wrestling and a three-time NCAA Division I All-American before he ever fought. He debuted as a short-notice alternate at UFC 13 in 1997, won that night's heavyweight tournament, and months later beat Maurice Smith for the heavyweight title. He went on to win the heavyweight belt three times and the light heavyweight belt twice, plus an interim title, and was the first fighter to win UFC championships in two divisions. His method was simple and hard to stop: tie opponents up in the clinch, take them down and strike from the top. At 43 he regained the heavyweight title from Tim Sylvia, and he remains the oldest champion in UFC history. He retired in 2011.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC heavyweight champion (3 reigns)
- UFC light heavyweight champion (2 reigns)
- Interim UFC light heavyweight champion
- UFC 13 heavyweight tournament winner
- Pan American Games Greco-Roman gold, 90 kg (1991)
- UFC Hall of Fame (2006)
- International Sports Hall of Fame (2012)
- National Wrestling Hall of Fame (2018)
Defining fights
- 1997WINvs Maurice Smith (majority decision, won UFC heavyweight title)
- 2003WINvs Chuck Liddell (TKO R3, won interim light heavyweight title)
- 2003WINvs Tito Ortiz (UD)
- 2007WINvs Tim Sylvia (UD, regained heavyweight title at 43)
- 2008LOSSvs Brock Lesnar (TKO R2, lost heavyweight title)
Win the underhook, pummel into a body lock and use the clinch to strike before you take the fight to the mat. Wrestling students can drill underhook pummeling into body-lock takedowns, and MMA students can add short punches from the same ties.
