Though headlines from Saturday’s UFC card in Las Vegas will highlight the fact that 42-year-old Randy Couture (Pictures) was knocked out by UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures) in the second round of their highly-anticipated rubber match, any lasting impact will have likely have more to do with Couture’s departure from competition than how he went out.
Though recent rumblings from those closest to the only two-division champion in UFC history should have signaled the inevitably of tonight’s announcement, it still hit hard when “The Natural” shared that, in fact, we just witnessed the final time he would lace up four-ounce gloves in competition.
“That’s it for me,” said Couture in front of a stunned Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd, which brought in an almost $4 million dollar gate, a record for mixed martial arts in North America. “I’m ready to do something else.”
Surely Couture did not intend to retire on his shield, but Liddell, the current king of the UFC light heavyweight division who could legitimately be argued as being the best 205-pound fighter in the world right now, was not so sentimental as to give Couture anything but his best — and undoubtedly Couture would have been disappointed had it happened that way.
By no means is Liddell quick of foot, but versus Couture tonight he appeared every bit as agile as a lightweight. From the opening bell of the five-round title bout, the 36-year-old San Luis Obispo, Calif. slugger darted from side to side, creating angles to strike instead of waiting for Couture to provide them.
This was an improvement even on Liddell’s April 2005 effort when he knocked Couture out early in the opening round. Similar to the rematch, Liddell was active with his jab, continually pestering Couture with it throughout the opening stanza.
Couture refused to slug it out, instead remaining patient, even apprehensive — a style atypical from the historically assertive tact employed in virtually all his great performances.
Cautious not to overreach and expose himself to a Liddell right hand — perhaps the best single weapon in MMA today — the former champion encountered another problem.
Now comfortable enough against a passive challenger to sit in the pocket and deliver power shots, Liddell connected on more than one occasion. After sensing perhaps an early end, the champion sprinted forward, forcing Couture to improvise out of his defensive posture.
Only when Couture was reminded of Liddell’s power did he turn up the aggressiveness that served him so well against Belfort, Rizzo, Randleman, Ortiz and, previously, Liddell. The Greco-Roman wrestler charged to meet Liddell and powerfully put him on the canvas. But just as quickly, and with what seemed like minimal effort, Liddell stood and managed to bloody Couture as the fight went into the break.
Without his familiar corner of Robert Follis, Dan Henderson (Pictures) or Matt Lindland (Pictures), even Couture’s most ardent supporters had to realize this was not the same man that dominated Liddell in June 2003.
That Couture was quick and accurate. He beat Liddell to the punch, not the other way. And he never, ever let “The Iceman” feel remotely comfortable. But in the seven minutes and six seconds spent together in the Octagon since the Summer of Couture, this had not been repeated.
The fight moved into round two and a once pro-Couture crowd seemed to switch allegiances. Chants of “Liddell! Liddell! Liddell!” filled an arena replete with A-List celebrities and fight fans that paid no less than $100 per seat — all this, of course, a byproduct of the Couture-Liddell rivalry.
A classic Liddell looping punch combined with an uppercut signaled a return to action. Tracing the pattern of the eight-sided cage — though not in one direction and not at one speed — Liddell’s lethal right hand again did the trick when he dropped a counter punch over a Couture left hook.
“We knew Randy was gonna try to lay back and come real hard, make me over commit,” said the victorious Liddell, who with the win tonight made his second title defense. “So I just kind of moved around and was trying to take my shots. But if you let me stand in front of you that long, sooner or later we’ll catch one, put you down.”
The impact of fist meeting jaw meant that for the second time in his career (both against Liddell) the “The Natural” was involuntarily put to the canvas. Without hesitation Liddell brought four damaging right hands down on the crumpled veteran and referee John McCarthy moved in 1:28 of the second period to save him from unnecessary punishment.
Couture’s breadth shines far beyond his misleading 14-8-0 record. The Team Quest co-founder, who saw divorce drive him from his longtime surroundings of Gresham, Oregon to Las Vegas one year ago, has long been considered an ambassador for mixed martial arts in the U.S.
His mild-mannered, well-spoken approach was a refreshing reprieve from the contrived saber rattling offered by a number of the sport’s younger participants. And though he had many wonderful moments in the Octagon, it will be his selflessness and humility — both in and out of competition — that will be missed most.
As the focus shifts away from Couture and onto the current and future generations of mixed martial artists, which he was so instrumental in influencing, Liddell’s accomplishment should not be overlooked.
Winning the rubber match finishes an important chapter in Liddell’s career, one that illustrated his skill and desire as champion. There appear to be few surprises in his future, as potential challengers seem all to be familiar faces.
Judging by the way he was pushed tonight, Renato Sobral (Pictures) would likely be next in line for a crack at Liddell. The champion issued one of the UFC’s most-played highlight real KO’s when he dropped Sobral at UFC 40 with a high kick. Some will offer Tito Ortiz (Pictures) as a threat, though interest in this rematch is limited unless Ortiz can reestablish himself as a contender. Then there is Quinton Jackson (Pictures), who made Liddell look horrible in the 2003 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix. He fights later this month in PRIDE.