The best news that mixed martial arts fans could hear may soon be upon us. There are growing signs that Randy Couture will re-join the UFC for a multi-fight deal, and that his first fight would be against Brock Lesnar. There is even a chance that the second would be the long-awaited superfight against Fedor Emelianenko.All indications are that Couture is making progress in talks about resolving his contract impasse with UFC, and that the first fight in a new three-fight deal would cone November 15 against Lesnar at UFC 91. We noted the possibility after an MMA Junkie report, and and BloodyElbow.com has confirmed the talks.
By all accounts, Couture is training as if he has a fight coming up within the next two or three months. If the Lesnar-Couture fight happens, it would probably be the UFC's most lucrative pay-per-view of the year.
But the news gets even better. Ariel Helwani of MMA Rated reports that the UFC is considering a proposal from M-1 Global to co-promote a Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko fight next year. That's the fight every MMA fan wants to see, and it would probably be the most lucrative in the history of the sport, but I'm still skeptical that UFC would do it because M-1 and Fedor have always insisted on terms that the UFC would never go for. Dave Meltzer reports that all previous hangups involving Emelianenko and UFC remain, so that fight is a long shot. Still, MMA fans can hope.
Whatever might happen with Couture and Fedor down the line, UFC is getting close to the point where they're going to need to announce a main event for UFC 91. This would have seemed impossible a few days ago, but there really does seem to be a good chance that the main event will be Couture vs. Lesnar.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
that would be great when you think of ufc an the fighters the first name i think of is randy couture an of chuck liddell i hope randy gets back home
This is where MMA needs to learn from boxing. RC needs a warm up fight. Set him up to fight a chump or two before fighting either one of these guys, otherwise he gets his ass kicked...
This is where MMA is different than boxing. It is highly unlikely that a less talented boxer can beat an elite boxer. It isn't a dangerous risk. It is a bigger risk in MMA, there are more ways to win. Not worth the risk of having Couture get in there with a tune up fight, have no draw and risk losing the title to some tomato can.
Dane White is going to make the Couture - Lesnar fight happen and hope Lesner gets a win, if its close the ufc judges will give it to Lesnar. Then the Fedor - Couture fight will have less interest, everyone will want to see Lesnar - Fedor....