Report: Couture to Come Out of Retirement
Randy Couture (Pictures), the only two-division champion
in UFC history, is expected to announce a return to active
competition this Thursday, reports the Wrestling
Observer.
Since hanging up his gloves after a second consecutive knockout loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in Feb. 2006, "The Natural" has repeatedly suggested he would return to the Octagon under the right circumstances. That could mean facing UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures), 30, in March, a separate report from MMAweekly indicated Tuesday evening.
Two weeks ago, Couture told "Beatdown" on the Sherdog Radio Network that should Tito Ortiz (Pictures) defeat Liddell on Dec. 30 he would face the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" if given the opportunity. Liddell's third-round technical knockout appeared to derail any plans of a Couture comeback.
The UFC, which is rumored to have heavily lobbied the 43-year-old two-time UFC heavyweight champion to return to the cage, will likely promote Sylvia-Couture for its March card in Columbus, Ohio. Couture (14-8-0) has not fought at heavyweight since succumbing to Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) in 2002. In his next bout, Rodriguez gave up the heavyweight belt to Sylvia.
Since hanging up his gloves after a second consecutive knockout loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in Feb. 2006, "The Natural" has repeatedly suggested he would return to the Octagon under the right circumstances. That could mean facing UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (Pictures), 30, in March, a separate report from MMAweekly indicated Tuesday evening.
Two weeks ago, Couture told "Beatdown" on the Sherdog Radio Network that should Tito Ortiz (Pictures) defeat Liddell on Dec. 30 he would face the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" if given the opportunity. Liddell's third-round technical knockout appeared to derail any plans of a Couture comeback.
The UFC, which is rumored to have heavily lobbied the 43-year-old two-time UFC heavyweight champion to return to the cage, will likely promote Sylvia-Couture for its March card in Columbus, Ohio. Couture (14-8-0) has not fought at heavyweight since succumbing to Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) in 2002. In his next bout, Rodriguez gave up the heavyweight belt to Sylvia.
