The Doggy Bag: What's Next?

Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Who's next for Randy Couture?

Liked your article on the front page of Sherdog.com -- however, the only thing I had to say is, you put Keith Jardine in the possible interesting matches for Randy Couture at 205. Jardine versus Randy is not a fight I ever want to see and I feel slightly safe in saying I don't think most fans would. Anyway, that's all. Keep up the good work.
-- David from Atlanta

David, thanks for the email. The fun thing about Couture dropping back down to the light heavyweight division is that it’s in quite a different state than when he left it in 2006. There are many options for the former champion that will eat up that lucrative seven-fight extension that Couture just signed with the UFC (or at least a portion of it).

I started with Jardine, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and champion Lyoto Machida to demonstrate the range of fighter Couture could encounter.

Based on what we saw in Couture’s last performance against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, there are two factors we should keep in mind. One, Couture is still a very big commodity, so any bouts set up for him from here on out will either be of the superfight caliber, or ones where Couture’s younger opponent stands to gain a big profile boost.

We should also acknowledge that Couture’s striking speed was an issue in the Nogueira fight, something that is not likely to get easier for him as he moves down to fight lighter, nimbler opponents. Jardine, who’s been hit and miss of late, could be as good a choice as any 205 pounder out there as the 46-year-old Couture gracefully glides into the twilight of his career.

I don’t know if Couture has another title run left in him. His next two fights will likely answer that question, though Couture’s burgeoning acting career, and the time he will have to devote to it, will affect his course for sure. Still, a quick view of the current 205-pound roster gives us a few more names that might tickle your fancy more than Jardine did.

Wanderlei Silva -- Silva trained at the Xtreme Couture gym for a spell in 2008 before opening his own place in Las Vegas this year. Silva’s striking intensity against Couture’s grind-down wrestling style would please the masses.

Brandon Vera -- Vera has a lot more potential than he’s shown and Couture tends to bring out the best in his opponents. This is one of those “changing of the guard” scenarios.

Anderson Silva -- Dan Henderson stifled Silva in the first round with takedowns and positioning. Couture could do the same in superfight proportions.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson -- An unpredictable romp (this one could go anywhere), but another dynamic pairing.

Mark Coleman -- For trivia buffs, this bout was originally slated for UFC 16 in March 1998, before Couture injured his rib in training and Pete Williams used Coleman’s grill for kickball practice. Also, Coleman out-wrestled Couture by one point at the Olympic Festival at Oklahoma State in 1989.

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