Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC Ironmen
Brian KnappJan 13, 2017
Couture amassed four hours, 41 minutes and 50 seconds of fight time inside the Octagon. He captured Ultimate Fighting Championship gold as a light heavyweight and heavyweight and remains one of only three two-division titleholders -- B.J. Penn and Conor McGregor are the others -- in the history of the company.
A three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University, “The Natural” made his professional debut at UFC 13 on May 30, 1997, has headlined more UFC events than any other fighter and went on to become the promotion’s career leader in title-fight appearances (15). Couture ranks seventh on the UFC’s all-time list in wins (16) and ninth in appearances (24), recording victories over many of his most accomplished rivals: Maurice Smith, Vitor Belfort (twice), Kevin Randleman, Pedro Rizzo (twice), Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Mark Coleman and Tim Sylvia. In March 2007, the Everett, Washington, native became the oldest fighter to win a UFC championship by defeating Sylvia to reclaim the heavyweight crown at age 43.
Couture was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 24, 2006.
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