Although Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Kyokushin Karate, and other high-level forms of martial arts have found their way into the UFC (and into the repertoire of numerous title holders), there are two basic skills that are represented in every champion: boxing and wrestling. Not all champions possess both, but any fighter worth his weight knows the ins and outs of at least one. So, which one is better?
Arguably, the UFC started out as a “wrestling” organization. With Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, and Dan Severn winning most of their battles on the ground, brawlers and boxers found little success in the early stages of the fight game. Take Art Jimmerson, for example, who was so confident in his boxing ability that he calmly strode to the ring in UFC 1 wearing just a single boxing glove. Royce Gracie, who took the boxer down in a matter of seconds, quickly submitted him in the first round. Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, and their ilk continued the tradition, using their strength and wrestling ability to execute a variety of submissions from all possible angles, including the Rear Naked Choke and the Guillotine.
A noticeable shift in prevailing styles occurred with the advent of fighters such as Chuck Liddell and Tim Sylvia, known for their punching power rather than their prowess on the ground. Adept at staying on the feet and avoiding half the fight game (grappling), these fighters who debuted during the time when MMA was just picking up steam, only helped the momentum with their trademark knockouts.
However, current MMA trends represent a mixture of both styles that gained use and popularity over the course of the last few years. Georges St. Pierre is extremely dangerous on his feet, employing a variety of punches, back fists, and kicks. Meanwhile, he is just as tricky on the ground, having recently submitted Matt Hughes. Other champions, such as Anderson Silva, follow a similar pattern of being talented anywhere the fight takes them.
While we aren’t in a period of strict grappling or striking dominance, there is a certain pattern among fighters. The smaller fighters and lower weight classes seem to rely more heavily on grappling. BJ Penn and Sean Sherk, for instance, would much rather take a fight down than keep it standing. Meanwhile, the bigger guys in the larger weight classes, such as Tim Sylvia and Quinton Jackson, would prefer to keep it standing.
Of course, there are anomalies to this example. Marcus Davis, a welterweight, is known for his knockout power whereas Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, both heavyweights, have many wins via submission. Although there are precedents as to whether fighters use a boxing or wrestling base in their fights, the old adage of mixed martial arts rings true in this discussion -- the sport is unpredictable.
Martial Base - Online Resource For Martial Arts!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Ultimate Fighter 2008: Almost Mainstream. Too Tame For Ya?
Fans are eagerly anticipating another exciting season of "Ultimate Fighter" to be broadcast on Spike T.V. With Dana White at the helm again, it should be another wildly successful season, giving fans and critics alike plenty of material for future debate.
The two coaches for season seven are Forrest Griffin and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
These two experienced MMA fighters are excellent choices to coach the hopefuls. Their legendary exploits fit them for the coaching duties better than anyone. Forrest Griffin won the coveted title of " Ultimate Fighter, in Season 1". Jackson currently holds the light heavyweight world title. These guys don't pull their punches, and will concentrate on skill and morale development among the contestants. They are also scheduled to fight each other in 2008.
There will be sixteen contestants in season seven. These middleweight contestants will film their initial efforts starting in January. The series will air in April, with the finale being broadcast live in July 2008.
Will it be a vicious bloodbath?
UFC's early reputation as " Human cock-fighting, " as Senator Mc Cain described it, was perhaps an accurate description at the time. We're not used to seeing such a display of unrestrained one-on- one violence, except outside the pubs at times!
Here are the top ten moves that got Ultimate Fighting banned from so many States: -
1. Fighters were allowed to head –but opponents. This move can cause serious damage to both fighters.
2. Hair pulling gives an attacker an unfair advantage, by giving him total control of the opponent's head. This move works instantly for dogs, livestock and humans.
3.Using the elbow in a downward jab. The power of this move can incapacitate the victim.
4. Going after a downed opponent who is being examined by the referee. There needs to be a momentary cessation of hostilities while the referee makes his determination.
5. Ignoring clear indications that a contender is afraid to fight. If a contestant won't meet the opponent's eyes with his own, this is clear body language for, " I fear you." Some fighters use this method to cause their opponents to do one of two things:
He may be prompted to beat the shrinking fighter mercilessly and with clear intent to incapacitate him.
He may strive not to hurt him, giving the supposedly terrified opponent an unfair advantage.
Any organized fight in our society must take place between two evenly matched and willing contestants.
6. Contestants are not allowed to attack an opponent during a break. We like to think we're " civilized", and can adhere to pre-arranged rules. Breaking this rule offends our sensibilities greatly.
7. All attacks upon a downed opponent are now fouls. This has banned the shocking sight of fighters kicking the heads of men who have been knocked down. Fighters must never knee or stomp downed opponents' heads.
8. It is no longer permitted to pull, twist or otherwise dislocate the opponent's fingers or toes. Not only is the pain of this move excruciating, but it frequently results in permanent damage. The surgical insertion of screws , pins and plates can never completely return the dexterity of the small joints.
9. Opponents are not permitted to throw each other out of the ring. The use of the octagon with its enclosed sides has virtually eliminated this problem, but the octagon is not always used in every venue.( Interestingly enough, the UFC has been able to "Trademark" the geometrical shape of the octagon. Todd Meacham, a competitor of UFC lost his fight to entitle him to use the octagonal shape in his ultimate fighting activities with the Total Fighting Alliance. He claims that the octagon is a generic shape which has a history of use in the Mixed Martial Arts field.)
10. The final turn-off for the viewing public is the display of behaviors which appear to be completely unsportsmanlike. These include spitting, pinching and twisting skin, ignoring the referee, using foreign objects in the ring, " rabbit punching" and elbow striking.
With the elimination of these brutal aspects of the fighting experience, there is the possibility that the general public may take another look at the sport. But even if they don't , this sport has enough fans now to keep it in the public eye. Anything with the amount of exposure that the UFC is now getting is guaranteed to be around for a long time to come. The UFC is here to stay. Check your T V Guide.
The two coaches for season seven are Forrest Griffin and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
These two experienced MMA fighters are excellent choices to coach the hopefuls. Their legendary exploits fit them for the coaching duties better than anyone. Forrest Griffin won the coveted title of " Ultimate Fighter, in Season 1". Jackson currently holds the light heavyweight world title. These guys don't pull their punches, and will concentrate on skill and morale development among the contestants. They are also scheduled to fight each other in 2008.
There will be sixteen contestants in season seven. These middleweight contestants will film their initial efforts starting in January. The series will air in April, with the finale being broadcast live in July 2008.
Will it be a vicious bloodbath?
UFC's early reputation as " Human cock-fighting, " as Senator Mc Cain described it, was perhaps an accurate description at the time. We're not used to seeing such a display of unrestrained one-on- one violence, except outside the pubs at times!
Here are the top ten moves that got Ultimate Fighting banned from so many States: -
1. Fighters were allowed to head –but opponents. This move can cause serious damage to both fighters.
2. Hair pulling gives an attacker an unfair advantage, by giving him total control of the opponent's head. This move works instantly for dogs, livestock and humans.
3.Using the elbow in a downward jab. The power of this move can incapacitate the victim.
4. Going after a downed opponent who is being examined by the referee. There needs to be a momentary cessation of hostilities while the referee makes his determination.
5. Ignoring clear indications that a contender is afraid to fight. If a contestant won't meet the opponent's eyes with his own, this is clear body language for, " I fear you." Some fighters use this method to cause their opponents to do one of two things:
He may be prompted to beat the shrinking fighter mercilessly and with clear intent to incapacitate him.
He may strive not to hurt him, giving the supposedly terrified opponent an unfair advantage.
Any organized fight in our society must take place between two evenly matched and willing contestants.
6. Contestants are not allowed to attack an opponent during a break. We like to think we're " civilized", and can adhere to pre-arranged rules. Breaking this rule offends our sensibilities greatly.
7. All attacks upon a downed opponent are now fouls. This has banned the shocking sight of fighters kicking the heads of men who have been knocked down. Fighters must never knee or stomp downed opponents' heads.
8. It is no longer permitted to pull, twist or otherwise dislocate the opponent's fingers or toes. Not only is the pain of this move excruciating, but it frequently results in permanent damage. The surgical insertion of screws , pins and plates can never completely return the dexterity of the small joints.
9. Opponents are not permitted to throw each other out of the ring. The use of the octagon with its enclosed sides has virtually eliminated this problem, but the octagon is not always used in every venue.( Interestingly enough, the UFC has been able to "Trademark" the geometrical shape of the octagon. Todd Meacham, a competitor of UFC lost his fight to entitle him to use the octagonal shape in his ultimate fighting activities with the Total Fighting Alliance. He claims that the octagon is a generic shape which has a history of use in the Mixed Martial Arts field.)
10. The final turn-off for the viewing public is the display of behaviors which appear to be completely unsportsmanlike. These include spitting, pinching and twisting skin, ignoring the referee, using foreign objects in the ring, " rabbit punching" and elbow striking.
With the elimination of these brutal aspects of the fighting experience, there is the possibility that the general public may take another look at the sport. But even if they don't , this sport has enough fans now to keep it in the public eye. Anything with the amount of exposure that the UFC is now getting is guaranteed to be around for a long time to come. The UFC is here to stay. Check your T V Guide.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
"TUFF" Women Fighters Rebut Karo's Comments
On a recent episode of Mark Cuban's Inside MMA television show, Karo Parisyan was more than candid in his estimation of women in mixed martial arts. As you can guess, what he said wasn't exactly popular and it probably didn't help that he referred to himself in the third person. "Look, I know all the women are going to hate Karo Parisyan now, but the cage is not for women," he said. "Can't they do one thing that guys do and they don't? Just one? Give me a break. They do weightlifting. They do wrestling. Not MMA, please. It's too brutal for women," Karo continued.In Virginia Beach, at least, there's a few women who would take exception to Karo's viewpoint on women being involved with combat sports. They're part of "TUFF," which is an acronym for Tidewater Ultimate Female Fighting. In this fighting organization, women of all ages, ability levels, and walks of life compete in a non-striking form of ultimate fighting.
Consider it a women's form of ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) -- on the night chronicled by the Virginian Pilot, a local newspaper, 13 of the 14 fights ended with a submission maneuver. Gary Pekoe, the owner of TUFF, attempts to make the distinction between what TUFF is and what it is not."We are not fluffy, roll-around, erotic, Jell-O, mud wrestling," he tells the 20 or so spectators before the matches begin. "We are also not full-contact, break-noses, snap-wrists wrestling."
He freely admits he included "ultimate fighting" in the group's name because it created a cool acronym. But he doesn't allow the rough stuff you see on Ultimate Fighting Championship shows that seem to run continuously on cable. "No punching, elbowing, arm chokes, joint locks," Pekoe says. "We've taken Ultimate Fighting and mixed martial arts and stripped them back down to where the girls won't get hurt."
Although the girls aren't being put in the hospital with injuries or suspended by the state's athletic commission for injuries, they do take some knocks. They range from ex-bouncers to former Russian gymnasts. Some are strong, most are trained in some form or another, but all are tough. Ivy, a former MMA fighter, reports that her nose has been broken three times. Where's Karo Parisyan now?
Ivy, the former fighter and trainer to many of the girls, sums up the adventure that is Tidewater Ultimate Female Fighting. "This is real fighting. The goal in the end is for there to be a winner -- and a loser. We're not trying to establish who's the world's best here. You want to get on that mat and get the ultimate workout and, hopefully, you'll have a learning experience."
Monday, January 7, 2008
Traditional Martial Arts Plead No Contest to MMA
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a sport which brings together all disciplines of traditional martial arts ranging from judo, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, to boxing and wrestling. MMA athletes are pitted against one another to determine who the best overall fighter is, regardless of form. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is currently the most popular organization that unites these fighters in various tournaments categorized by weight, much alike boxing.
Practitioners of these various forms of martial arts are brought together in a ring. Fights are decided via knockouts or submissions. In cases where such situations do not occur, judging will take place by a panel and winners elected based on a points system.
Which is better - MMA or traditional martial arts? This has been a subject of debate ever since the rise in popularity of the former. Advocates of either form have engaged in never-ending discussions on the topic. It is an open-ended question that has strong support on both sides, and it deserves a closer examination of their merits.
In essence, MMA is an umbrella of traditional martial arts. The sport itself also features bouts where competitors are often encouraged to push the limits in an effort to win at all costs. Different sets of rules are implemented in each organization, and this provides fights with varying degrees of extremity. Traditional martial arts, in comparison, are usually competed within strict rules which protect the participants.
As MMA rapidly develops as a sport, competitors have increasingly become multi-disciplined fighters. No longer can you succeed with just one combat style and raw unbridled aggression. While you may not necessarily be an expert of every field, it requires study and understanding of your opponents’ array of skills, as every MMA fighter seeks to find any weakness that might exist in their opponents. Being skilled in different martial arts also allows one to switch styles during a fight to achieve a result.
With the variety that exists in MMA, traditional martial arts obviously pale in comparison. For example, you do not get to see judo in boxing matches.
This evidently leads to MMA being a more exciting spectacle. Fans get to see matches filled with different fight styles and at a higher tempo and intensity. The lack of rules in certain MMA events, especially those without government sanctions, will further facilitate competitors resorting to extreme tactics such as neck and head hits, which have otherwise been outlawed in legitimate UFC events. While certain traditional martial arts like Muay Thai boxing can sometimes match this, you will rarely be afforded this opportunity at other traditional martial arts competitions. Unless via the fighters’ negligence.
To allow fans the luxury of such colossal confrontations that satisfy their hunger for violence and gore, MMA athletes undergo tremendous training regimes. These include intense conditioning and demanding exercises, coupled with the need for practical knowledge of different aspects of martial arts such as grappling and striking. The fighters’ dedication to their craft is peerless, and not even the strict regiments of traditional martial artists can match the high standards required. The fact that every match could mean the fighters’ last also necessitates such physical conditioning.
While traditional combat styles often require full concentration and dedication to a single specific style, MMA fighters need to be versatile and all-rounded. You may find a top boxer enjoying success due to his raw punching ability, despite weak footwork. Such an athlete can easily be found out in MMA, with opponents targeting his unsound ground game. Thus, a champion mixed martial artist is often touted as the complete fighter, a winner on both the mat, and the stand up aspects of the game.
The format and marketing of MMA tournaments also requires that the fighters serve as entertainers. While traditional martial arts such as judo and tae-kwon-do focus on finding the top fighter of the art, MMA fighters know that to survive in the industry not only requires outstanding fight skills, but an ability to work the crowd as well. Without fan support, there would be little if no money in the sport, especially when fighters are putting their lives on the line.
Overall, the demands of MMA in both the physical and mental aspects, coupled with the need to be an entertainer despite all the occupational hazards present in the job, point to levels of requirement much higher than that of any traditional martial arts. MMA is everything about traditional martial arts, and much more.
Practitioners of these various forms of martial arts are brought together in a ring. Fights are decided via knockouts or submissions. In cases where such situations do not occur, judging will take place by a panel and winners elected based on a points system.
Which is better - MMA or traditional martial arts? This has been a subject of debate ever since the rise in popularity of the former. Advocates of either form have engaged in never-ending discussions on the topic. It is an open-ended question that has strong support on both sides, and it deserves a closer examination of their merits.
In essence, MMA is an umbrella of traditional martial arts. The sport itself also features bouts where competitors are often encouraged to push the limits in an effort to win at all costs. Different sets of rules are implemented in each organization, and this provides fights with varying degrees of extremity. Traditional martial arts, in comparison, are usually competed within strict rules which protect the participants.
As MMA rapidly develops as a sport, competitors have increasingly become multi-disciplined fighters. No longer can you succeed with just one combat style and raw unbridled aggression. While you may not necessarily be an expert of every field, it requires study and understanding of your opponents’ array of skills, as every MMA fighter seeks to find any weakness that might exist in their opponents. Being skilled in different martial arts also allows one to switch styles during a fight to achieve a result.
With the variety that exists in MMA, traditional martial arts obviously pale in comparison. For example, you do not get to see judo in boxing matches.
This evidently leads to MMA being a more exciting spectacle. Fans get to see matches filled with different fight styles and at a higher tempo and intensity. The lack of rules in certain MMA events, especially those without government sanctions, will further facilitate competitors resorting to extreme tactics such as neck and head hits, which have otherwise been outlawed in legitimate UFC events. While certain traditional martial arts like Muay Thai boxing can sometimes match this, you will rarely be afforded this opportunity at other traditional martial arts competitions. Unless via the fighters’ negligence.
To allow fans the luxury of such colossal confrontations that satisfy their hunger for violence and gore, MMA athletes undergo tremendous training regimes. These include intense conditioning and demanding exercises, coupled with the need for practical knowledge of different aspects of martial arts such as grappling and striking. The fighters’ dedication to their craft is peerless, and not even the strict regiments of traditional martial artists can match the high standards required. The fact that every match could mean the fighters’ last also necessitates such physical conditioning.
While traditional combat styles often require full concentration and dedication to a single specific style, MMA fighters need to be versatile and all-rounded. You may find a top boxer enjoying success due to his raw punching ability, despite weak footwork. Such an athlete can easily be found out in MMA, with opponents targeting his unsound ground game. Thus, a champion mixed martial artist is often touted as the complete fighter, a winner on both the mat, and the stand up aspects of the game.
The format and marketing of MMA tournaments also requires that the fighters serve as entertainers. While traditional martial arts such as judo and tae-kwon-do focus on finding the top fighter of the art, MMA fighters know that to survive in the industry not only requires outstanding fight skills, but an ability to work the crowd as well. Without fan support, there would be little if no money in the sport, especially when fighters are putting their lives on the line.
Overall, the demands of MMA in both the physical and mental aspects, coupled with the need to be an entertainer despite all the occupational hazards present in the job, point to levels of requirement much higher than that of any traditional martial arts. MMA is everything about traditional martial arts, and much more.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Champions of MMA
Within the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) arena, there are two names, which commonly crop up in most discussions – Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture. These two fighters are widely acknowledged as the most popular fighters of their generation, with Fedor gaining global recognition and formally ranked as the overall top ranked MMA fighter in the world.
Ukrainian Fedor was born in 1976 into a family, which saw all 3 sons involved in MMA at varying levels. He specialized in the martial arts of Sambo, which was a combat style created in the old Soviet Union, and Judo, for which he won medals competing in the national championships of Russia. Despite lacking in natural strength and talent in his early years, Fedor more than made up with his dogged determination to improve and mental strength.
Due to his then financial situation, or lack of it, Fedor entered the MMA industry in 2000. He was just 25 years old then and trained in his formative MMA years as part of the Russian Top Team. This relationship eventually soured after winning the PRIDE Heavyweight title, where he first fought in 2002 at PRIDE 21. At PRIDE 25 in March, 2003, Fedor finally won his first Heavyweight title as a huge underdog against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It was a unanimous decision and entered Fedor into the history books as only the second ever PRIDE Heavyweight Champion.
Throughout his blossoming MMA career, Fedor has only encountered one professional loss while garnering 27 wins and a single no contest. This happened against Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in 2000, on the back of a controversial incident where the fight was stopped due to an early injury to Fedor. Displaying his famed resolve and unrivaled fighting skills, the Ukrainian has since then remained unbeaten in all fights, including taking his revenge over Kohsaka a few years later in 2005 at PRIDE Bushido 6. His last professional victory came in April 2007 where he defeated Matt Lindland via an armbar submission at the Clash of the Nations BodogFIGHT.
In a display of his single-mindedness, Fedor has refused to join the UFC after its takeover of PRIDE. In protracted negotiations that saw both sides locked in a war of words, Fedor accused UFC President Dana White of hypocrisy. It was also possible that UFC contract demands of exclusive rights to all fighters’ brands and images did not sit well with the 2007 World Combat Sambo Champion. This endeared him further to fans as they looked up to Fedor going up against Dana, whom many felt had continually disrespected MMA fighters. Fedor has since signed to UFC competitor M1-Global, where his next scheduled fight would be on New Year’s Eve in Japan, against the man-giant Korean kick boxer, Hong-Man Choi.
Prior to this development, the UFC had tried to sign Fedor, as part of a bid to pit him against their current Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture. While Fedor is regarded as the most popular MMA fighter worldwide, Randy Couture is the poster-boy of the UFC. An iconic figure of the organization and the top MMA exponent in the United States, Randy caught the imagination of MMA fans the world over when he captured the UFC Heavyweight title from Tim Sylvia. This came after his return from retirement and was achieved in difficult circumstances owing to his age (Couture was 43 then).
Randy’s legend has also solidified on the back of being the only UFC fighter in history to become a champion after entering its Hall of Fame. Widely regarded to be one of the most popular MMA fighters of all time, Randy has also cemented his fame by being the only UFC fighter to win titles in two different weight divisions, as well as the only person to win five UFC championships.
Randy has all the pre-requisites of an American sports star. He served his country in the U.S. Army, was an Olympic team representative and multiple college All-American. The U.S. fans love their patriots, and Randy Couture is a man many Americans can identify with.
To illustrate his enduring popularity with MMA fans - when Randy Couture announced his resignation from the UFC in October 2007, citing disgust with his treatment by the UFC and lack of justifiable financial reward, many fans leapt to his side. Fans felt that their champion had been dealt a bad hand as he received even less money compared to other UFC contestants such as Chuck Liddell. The UFC also offered Fedor a $10 million contract, which Randy could never hope to receive, even as their champion. His decision to resign has since then, prompted many industry observers to sound the death knell for the UFC.
Both Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture display all the characteristics of world-class champions – immense physical and mental resolve, dedication to their discipline, vast inner talent, and the personalities and charisma to match. While one rules the roost in his home country and current hotbed of MMA, the other has reached the pinnacle of the sport globally. The mark of champions burns brightly on both men.
Ukrainian Fedor was born in 1976 into a family, which saw all 3 sons involved in MMA at varying levels. He specialized in the martial arts of Sambo, which was a combat style created in the old Soviet Union, and Judo, for which he won medals competing in the national championships of Russia. Despite lacking in natural strength and talent in his early years, Fedor more than made up with his dogged determination to improve and mental strength.
Due to his then financial situation, or lack of it, Fedor entered the MMA industry in 2000. He was just 25 years old then and trained in his formative MMA years as part of the Russian Top Team. This relationship eventually soured after winning the PRIDE Heavyweight title, where he first fought in 2002 at PRIDE 21. At PRIDE 25 in March, 2003, Fedor finally won his first Heavyweight title as a huge underdog against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It was a unanimous decision and entered Fedor into the history books as only the second ever PRIDE Heavyweight Champion.
Throughout his blossoming MMA career, Fedor has only encountered one professional loss while garnering 27 wins and a single no contest. This happened against Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in 2000, on the back of a controversial incident where the fight was stopped due to an early injury to Fedor. Displaying his famed resolve and unrivaled fighting skills, the Ukrainian has since then remained unbeaten in all fights, including taking his revenge over Kohsaka a few years later in 2005 at PRIDE Bushido 6. His last professional victory came in April 2007 where he defeated Matt Lindland via an armbar submission at the Clash of the Nations BodogFIGHT.
In a display of his single-mindedness, Fedor has refused to join the UFC after its takeover of PRIDE. In protracted negotiations that saw both sides locked in a war of words, Fedor accused UFC President Dana White of hypocrisy. It was also possible that UFC contract demands of exclusive rights to all fighters’ brands and images did not sit well with the 2007 World Combat Sambo Champion. This endeared him further to fans as they looked up to Fedor going up against Dana, whom many felt had continually disrespected MMA fighters. Fedor has since signed to UFC competitor M1-Global, where his next scheduled fight would be on New Year’s Eve in Japan, against the man-giant Korean kick boxer, Hong-Man Choi.
Prior to this development, the UFC had tried to sign Fedor, as part of a bid to pit him against their current Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture. While Fedor is regarded as the most popular MMA fighter worldwide, Randy Couture is the poster-boy of the UFC. An iconic figure of the organization and the top MMA exponent in the United States, Randy caught the imagination of MMA fans the world over when he captured the UFC Heavyweight title from Tim Sylvia. This came after his return from retirement and was achieved in difficult circumstances owing to his age (Couture was 43 then).
Randy’s legend has also solidified on the back of being the only UFC fighter in history to become a champion after entering its Hall of Fame. Widely regarded to be one of the most popular MMA fighters of all time, Randy has also cemented his fame by being the only UFC fighter to win titles in two different weight divisions, as well as the only person to win five UFC championships.
Randy has all the pre-requisites of an American sports star. He served his country in the U.S. Army, was an Olympic team representative and multiple college All-American. The U.S. fans love their patriots, and Randy Couture is a man many Americans can identify with.
To illustrate his enduring popularity with MMA fans - when Randy Couture announced his resignation from the UFC in October 2007, citing disgust with his treatment by the UFC and lack of justifiable financial reward, many fans leapt to his side. Fans felt that their champion had been dealt a bad hand as he received even less money compared to other UFC contestants such as Chuck Liddell. The UFC also offered Fedor a $10 million contract, which Randy could never hope to receive, even as their champion. His decision to resign has since then, prompted many industry observers to sound the death knell for the UFC.
Both Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture display all the characteristics of world-class champions – immense physical and mental resolve, dedication to their discipline, vast inner talent, and the personalities and charisma to match. While one rules the roost in his home country and current hotbed of MMA, the other has reached the pinnacle of the sport globally. The mark of champions burns brightly on both men.
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