Under the Microscope: Analyzing Light Heavyweight Greats

Eric StintonAug 13, 2015

Randy Couture twice captured undisputed UFC gold at 205 pounds. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Randy Couture

* Light Heavyweight Record: 6-4
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .706
* Longest Winning Streak: 4
* Record in Major Light Heavyweight Title Fights: 3-3
* Finish Percentage: 66
* Finished Percentage: 100
* Notable Victories: Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Brandon Vera, Mark Coleman
* Career Accomplishments: Two-time UFC light heavyweight champion; interim UFC light heavyweight champion; 2006 UFC Hall of Fame inductee; oldest fighter to record a win in division/UFC history; all-time leader in UFC events headlined

CASE FOR: In only 10 fights, Couture made an indelible impression on the light heavyweight division. His first five appearances at light heavyweight all came in title fights, a run that saw him definitively beat the two biggest Ultimate Fighting Championship titans of the era in Ortiz and Liddell, as well as another former champion in Belfort. Had he not first started fighting at 205 pounds a few weeks shy of 40, there is no telling how much longer his reign could have lasted. The fact that he was as old as he was when he won and defended his title is a testament to his greatness; by 40, most fighters are close to calling it a career, if they have not done so already, let alone competing in five consecutive championship fights. Even several years after his championship stint, Couture continued to win fights, an unprecedented record he holds to this day.

CASE AGAINST: It never feels good to tear apart an icon, but that is why we get paid the big bucks. First, there is no way a fighter with only 10 total fights can claim G.O.A.T.-hood, especially when four of them are knockout or technical knockout losses. Even if his loss to Belfort magically became a no-contest, his actual fight record -- the most fundamental criteria used to measure greatness -- is not pretty. His accomplishments seem more special than they are because he was old. Maybe if he was as accomplished as his all-time peers, his age could have potentially been the tiebreaker, but instead, being old is as much of Couture’s legacy as his achievements themselves. He was on the losing side of his rivalry with Chuck Liddell and was never again seen in the same solar system as the title picture. Couture is rightfully one of the most beloved stars of the sport, but when his light heavyweight ledger goes toe-to-toe against the other candidates, he has one too many an Achilles’ heel to stand his ground.

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