Bet On UFC Breaking News - A Natural Return
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Randy ''The Natural'' Couture, a five-time UFC champion, last stepped into the Octagon in July of 2007, when he successfully retained his heavyweight championship with a third-round technical knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga.
Following his victory over Gonzaga, Couture announced he was quitting the UFC. But amidst a flurry of rumor and speculation concerning Couture’s future, it's official, he'll indeed return to the Octagon to face rising star Brock Lesnar.
Couture's reasoning to part ways with the MMA Empire after his win over Gonzaga was to pursue a fight with Russian superstar Fedor Emelianenko, but the UFC claimed Couture was under contract for two more UFC fights before he could compete in the world of MMA with any other company.
The UFC ultimately sued Couture, claiming breach of contract by allowing his name and likeness to be used by other MMA brands. Not even Dallas Mavericks and HDNet Fights owner Mark Cuban's 446th richest wallet in the world, worth upwards of $2.6 billion, couldn't buy a Texas court's ruling in favor of Couture, leaving the matter in the hands of arbitrators in Nevada, the UFC's home state.
Verdict: Dana White 1 Mark Cuban 0—as it was announced on Tuesday afternoon that Couture would again put on the UFC labeled gloves to fight Lesnar at UFC 91, scheduled for Nov. 15, in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
In his victory over Gonzaga, Couture earned a base salary of $250,000 and a portion of pay-per-view revenue for the victory at UFC 74. PRIDE fighter Mauricio "Shogun" Rua earned $150,000 in a debut UFC 76 loss to underdog Forrest Griffin. Compared to Rua's payday for being on the receiving end of a three-round ass kicking by Griffin before being finished via submission at the 4:45 mark of the final round, Couture earned chump change.
Couture earned roughly just $100,000 more than Rua, which is peanuts with thoughts in mind that in the next five to seven years globally the UFC has potential to equal or surpass any of the big four American sports in revenue.
Let's reflect back to UFC 74. The then 44-year-old champion beat Gonzaga, one of the planet's most dangerous Brazilian fighters 16 years his junior, that earned the title fight against Couture with a knockout victory over UFC betting history to the cranium that nearly left the favored "Cro Cop" headless.
With the win, Couture, a two-time light heavyweight and three-time heavyweight champion improved to 16-8. It was Couture’s second victory of 2007 after a year long retirement, the first being his five round shutout of Tim Sylvia in March to win the heavyweight title a third time at UFC 68, again as an underdog.
When Zuffa LLC (UFC's parent company) purchased PRIDE, the world's top organization had to re-sign many of the Japanese-based top fighters. Including Rua, who had the balls to demand paydays that rivaled those of fighters such as Couture, Chuck Liddell and other big names before entering the Octagon. Again, Rua collected $150,000 off a UFC debut loss, as he quickly found out what the UFC and it's fighters are made of. What has Rua done for the UFC to be demanding anything?
Couture has cited conflicts concerning contractual pay but has never demanded any specified dollar amounts, for any one-single fight or promotion, even though he'd be rightfully entitled to do so as a sure Hall of Fame champion. By no means is it being suggested money has nothing to do with Couture wanting to fight Emelianenko, as it's been estimated the bout would of landed each guy $5 million or more.
Compared to amounts of previous paychecks signed by White, earned by a warrior that's proven everything there's to prove in the UFC at two different weight divisions, who can fault Couture for wanting to move on for a "mega" fight against Emelianenko (28-1-0), who's a Russia legend and fighter Couture has wanted to face for a very long time. And for any knuckle-heads that boo the five-time champ, just remember what Couture has done for the UFC when he climbs in the Octagon to fight Lesnar (2-1).
The Couture-Lesnar bout is part of a three-fight deal with UFC, Couture will defend his championship against the popular but inexperienced Lesnar at UFC 91. The victor will face the winner of the UFC's interim heavyweight bout between champion Antonio Nogueira and former title-holder Frank Mir in December. The winners of these two upcoming wars will meet sometime in 2009 to unify the heavyweight title.
