Biography and Profile of Randy Couture

Randy Duane Couture was born on June 22, 1963 in Lynnwood, Washington.UFCRandy Couture currently trains out of his own gym, Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. Previous to that, he trained out of Team Quest in Gresham, Oregon.When MMA fighter Randy “The Natural” Couture went into semi-retirement after noting displeasure with both the way he had been treated in general by the UFC, as well as frustration regarding the organization’s inability to set up a fight between he and Fedor Emelianenko, the MMA world’s collective mouth dropped. After some time fighting over his contract in the courtroom, however, Couture and the UFC came to terms in September of 2008 to the joy of fight fans everywhere.

“I’m 45. I can’t sit around in court rooms. I want to fight,” said Couture.

Couture served his country well in the U.S. Army from 1982-88. After the service, he enrolled at Oklahoma State where he was a three-time NCAA Division 1 All American and two-time NCAA Division 1 runner up in wrestling.

Beyond that, Couture was also a three-time Olympic team alternate, just missing the cut in 1988, 1992, and 1996. He has noted that if he had been successful in achieving his dream of making the Olympic team, he might never have decided to try his hand at MMA.

Couture has a very strong background in wrestling due to his high school and college experiences. He also did some boxing while in the service.

Like all successful MMA fighters today, Couture now trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as Muay Thai.

1. Joe Gold was the first to call Randy Couture— “The Natural.’ He did so after Couture’s victory over previously unbeaten Vitor Belfort way back at UFC 15: Collision Course in 1997.
2. Couture was first called “Captain America” by UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
3. Couture lost two consecutive heavyweight fights to Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez before stepping down to the UFC’s light heavyweight division and eventually taking that title. After losing two out of his last three fights in the light heavyweight division, he came back from retirement to once again claim the heavyweight championship from Tim Sylvia.

Randy Couture may be the greatest ground and pound fighter in the history of MMA. He’s extremely good at using his background in wrestling to take people to the canvas, control them there, and continually strike them on his way to a TKO or decision victory. Couture is also known to be outstanding in the clinch.

Though Couture is not known as a knockout puncher or elite striker, he is very good defensively on his feet.

His skills will be put to the test when he takes on Brock Lesnar at UFC 91.

Randy Couture is currently married to Kim Holderman (Kim Couture). He was married twice previously and has four children and a stepson.

1. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia at UFC 68: Uprising: Couture had lost two of his last three fights to a fighter with heavy hands in the light heavyweight division by the name of Chuck Liddell, in part prompting his retirement. So when he came back to defeat UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia, a bigger man with heavy hands, the world stood in awe.

2. Randy Couture vs. Pedro Rizzo 1 at UFC 31: Locked and Loaded: Couture nearly ground and pounded his way to a stoppage early in this fight. Then Rizzo took over and nearly stopped The Natural with a demonstration in ferocious leg kicks. This fight was a testament to the heart of both fighters. Couture squeaked out a decision victory.

3. Randy Couture vs. Tito Ortiz at UFC 44: Undisputed: At the time, Tito Ortiz was the big ticket item in the UFC. Both of these guys were ground and pound fighters. Who wins when two ground and pound fighters get in a cage?

   The one that ends up on top. And with Couture’s superior wrestling skills, he was able to maintain the top position for the majority of this fight on his way to a dominant decision victory.