MMA Worldwide

Randy Couture: Keeping it all in perspective

Posted by Brett Atchley on the 12 August 2009 | View Comments

Randy “The Natural” Couture, mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor, former collegiate wrestler, and the former heavyweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Couture is one of only two UFCfighters to have held a championship title in two different divisions (heavyweight and light heavyweight) while in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (the other fighter being BJ Penn), as well as the only five-time champion in UFC history. Couture has competed in 15 title fights, a record. Couture is a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, and many consider him to be the most popular fighter in MMA history.

Couture has been an Olympic wrestler alternate, and lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout much of his career where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University. He established Team Quest with Matt Linland and Dan Henderson, a training camp for fighters, based out of Gresham, Oregon and headed by coach Robert Follis. In 2005 Couture moved to Las Vegas where he opened his own chain of gyms under the name Xtreme Courture, with additional locations in Vancouver, Washington, Wellington, Florida, Lombard, Illinois, and most recently Independence, Missouri and Toronto, Ontario. He currently trains at his Las Vegas-based gym. Couture also partnered with Bas Rutten in the opening of Legends Gym, located in Hollywood, California.

Couture is generally recognized as a clinch and ground-and-pound fighter who uses his wrestling ability to execute take downs, establish top position, and successively strike the opponent on the bottom. Couture has also displayed a variety of skills in Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submitting two opponents using different chokeholds. Couture trained early on developing his own signature style of “dirty boxing” utilizing his world-class wrestling capabilities in the clinch maintaining control of his opponents while incorporating short strikes delivered at close range. He also trained early on and extensively with legendary kick-boxer and former UFC heavy-weight champion, Maurice Smith. Couture is also the only athlete in UFC history to win a championship after becoming a Hall of Fame member and is the oldest title holder ever in the UFC.

Couture is considered an icon in the sport and is widely credited for bringing mixed martial arts into the mainstream of American culture and sports.

Couture is always approachable and exudes a manner that puts one at ease. He is a gentleman in all definitions of the term. His plate, as it were, seems full with his support of Gina Carrano on August 15^th in her Strikeforce fight with Cristina Santos Cyborg and his upcoming fight with Antonio Nogueira at UFC 102 in Portland, Ore. By all indications it would seem that Randy was just taking it all in stride when I was able to talk at length with him about a variety of subjects recently.

MMA Worldwide: Thanks for taking some time out to talk with us Randy.

Randy Couture: My pleasure bud, I just got done training and going to eat. So I’ve got some time.

MW: You’re training is going well?

RC: Yes, it’s going really good. I’ve got a good core group of guys that I work out with. My coaches, Shawn Tompkins, Robert Drysdale Gil Martinez and Ron Frazier and I feel that I’m peaking at the perfect time to allow a time of tapering that is on the mark.

MW: What sets Xtreme Couture apart form the other training facilities?

RC: Well, I think it’s a number of things really. I’ve got a great group of staff and athletes. They have all been here pretty much since we opened the doors. We’re all very close; it’s got a real family environment feel to it. There are no egos here. I won’t tolerate it and that’s an understanding and philosophy that I have maintained since the days of Team Quest in Oregon. We check our egos at the door and that is something that I abide by as well. We come in with the purpose of making each other a better competitor. We hang out together a lot and time is set aside to be involved with one another.

MW: How does it make you feel to be able to support our troops and armed forces on the level that you participate?

RC: It s’ great! I have always been a support of our armed forces and for me to be able to give back to them is something that I am blessed with. I have a paintball tournament coming up in San Jose that we’re putting on in the next few months to raise money for the troops and it’s going to be a ton of fun. I’m looking forward to it very much.

MW: You are also involved in a fundraiser supporting autism. Can you tell us how that came about?

RC: It all started with a friend of Cadens, my son. His name is Ladd and his parents became friends of our and subsequently we were introduced to autism through that relationship. Lad was diagnosed mid-level autistic. I had watched what the challenges were over the years with what they went through and trying to understand and cope with it. I came up with the want to do something for autism and organize a fundraiser. That’s what is currently going on with it. There will be a fundraiser dinner in Portland and a raffle of the Hummer that the UFC gave me when I was a coach on “The Ultimate Fighter”. It’s a great cause and I’m very happy to do it. www.naturalunderstanding.com is the website where you can find out more about it.

I feel that I’ve been blessed with the life I have and I am happy to be able to give back.

MW: With all that you have going on in your life, is it sometimes overwhelming to be able to stay on top of it?

RC: (Laughs) You know I never really thought about it until now but, I do have a good group of people that help me out with that. Val Haney does really well for me around that in scheduling. She is the nuts and bolts of what my commitments are. It’s just something I do. I have always been that way in a manner of taking things as they come. When you called and asked for this, I set it aside and got right back to you. As soon as I know what I have to do then I do it. As I’ve reached the level of public popularity and with all the product lines, speaking engagements and just all that goes with it, I’ve had to implement some layers of contact between myself and people.

MW: How has it been to bring your son and daughter into the fold of your business?

RC: It’s been really good. I see them almost everyday. It’s always good to have my family with me. Amy is Val’s right hand and is a vital part to the operation of the gym as well as the other endeavors that need handling and Ryan runs the gym component.

MW: Does Ryan have an interest in following in your footsteps?

RC: It’s definitely something he is interested in but I don’t push him or really get into the middle of it for that matter. He made a decision to come down here from Bellingham, Wa attending college and training up the with Cody Houston and West Coast Fight Club. I’m here to support him and I’m always here if he needs me. I don’t interfere with that part of his life and decision making at all. He has had a couple of fights up there in Bellingham for Fight Night Entertainment promotions and has one coming up August 22^nd with Jimmy Spicuzza in New Orleans at Tuff-N-Uff. Ryan’s got a pretty good head on his shoulders.

MW: Those are pretty big shoes to fill.

RC: I think we all do to a certain extent. I’m really proud of him.

MW: Let’s talk about your fight coming up on August 29^th with Noguiera. How are you preparing for that?

RC: Pretty much how I prepare for any other fight. He’s a tough guy all the way around. I’m feeling really good about it and I’m watching tapes of his fights to determine the specific weakness in his game. I’m training in specific areas. I think of course, his submission skills are what I need to be most vigilant about and he has knock-out power. I’m preparing and working to stay out of and to defend against his guard if it should go to the ground. In all probability it will at some point if it goes anywhere close to its distance. We are working on keeping it a standing game. Overall it’s going to be a good fight, he’s a great opponent and I think it’s a good match up as well.

MW: You were in Philadelphia for UFC 102 over the weekend. What are your thoughts on Forrest Griffin’s performance?

RC: Yes, I went out there to work for ESPN on that and I know that Forrest (Griffin) was really disappointed with himself. I’m not sure at this point whether it was Forrest being unable to see the adjustment he had to make or whether it was one of Anderson (Silva) being able to recognize the holes in Forrest’s game that night. I have to watch it again. Forrest is one of the hardest workers in the sport and he went out there confident, very confident that he would defeat Anderson. It was hard to watch. Anderson is a force to reckon with today. You can’t take anything away from the caliber of athlete that he demonstrates consistently that he is.

MW: How is Gina Carano looking with her fight against Cristina Santos next week?

RC: Gina is looking and doing great. She’s out in San Jose training and getting acclimated. I will be leaving on Friday to meet up with her.

MW: She looks as though she’s been working with some weight training, has that been part of her preparation?

RC: Yes, she has been working with a strength and conditioning coach. That has been something that we felt needed to be elevated. We feel that she has the skills to withstand Cyborg’s aggressive attack and defend it effectively. I think she is prepared to deal with whatever comes at her and we’re confident that she has achieved a cardio level to perform at her peak for 25 minutes, if that is what is demanded of her. She is on target to come in at 145 lbs. and it will be a barn-burner that’s for sure, no matter what the outcome.

MW: What do you think of Strikforce’s movements in signing Fedor (Emelianenko) and it’s partnership with M-1 and Dream?

RC: I like Strikeforce. I think they’re a solid organization. Scott (Coker) is a smart man. He’s been doing this for a dozen or so years. He keeps his mouth shut and stays under the radar until of course, recently which was bound to happen given the moves they are making. He’s handling it as he always has with diplomacy and relative ease. The opposition with the UFC was inevitable but it’s the nature of the game, so we’ll see what develops.

MW: Is Fedor someone you still think about fighting?

RC: (Laughs) Yeah, that used to be all that I wanted. I’ve had to let that go because of the fact that it just wasn’t going to be possible. The forces just never aligned. I thought for a second that it was possible but in light of his signing with Strikeforce, it just doesn’t seem possible. It is what it is.

MW: It would appear that you’re making a transition into the motion picture industry. Is that correct?

RC: I am in that direction. There is not any appearance about it. I realize that I won’t be fighting much longer. I enjoy making movies. “The Expendables” is my first major role and I don’t get killed off in it. Working with class actors like (Sylvester) Stallone, (Mickey) Rourke, (Jason) Statham and Jet Li is a great experience. The parts and caliber of films being offered are much larger and better.

MW: Who is it that inspires you today?

RC: As always it my faith in God and also, I would have to say my mom. She is the one who has always been there and still is.

MW: Is there anything else you want to say in parting?

RC: Nope, that’s about it bud, just thanks and hope you have a great day. 

MW: Thanks again Randy, look forward to seeing you on the 29th.

RC: Yeah, no problem, see you then, come look me up.