Randy Duane Couture was born in Lynnwood Washington on June 22, 1963. Randy served 6 years in the Army after graduating high school, where he took up boxing to offset the standard Army physical training.
Having over 25 years of training in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Couture’s preferred method of offense in mixed martial arts competition was what is commonly referred to as “Ground and Pound”.
This technique involves a fighter using his wrestling ability to take down his opponent, establishing top position on the mat, and then launching a series of blows against his rival. Although this method was Randy’s strength he also demonstrated a variety of skills in both boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Couture served as an assistant wrestling and strength conditioning coach at Oregon State University. While coaching, Couture lived in Corvallis, Oregon for 6 1/2 years. He then spent most of his professional fighting career living in Gresham, Oregon.
In 1997, at the age of 33, Randy made his debut into the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) where he defeated Tony Halme and Steven Graham in the Heavyweight class. Randy then scored a TKO victory against Brazilian “Phenom” Vitor Belfort. This is where Randy's nickname “The Natural” came to be.
Randy earned his first Heavyweight title fight in December, 1997 after his match against kickboxer Maurice Smith. On November 17th, 2000 Randy took the Heavyweight title a second time from Kevin Randleman. Randy was then victorious in both classic battles against Brazilian fighter Pedro Rizzo in 2001.
He then found himself with two consecutive losses to larger opponents in the Heavyweight division, which convinced Randy to move down a weight class to Light-Heavyweight, where he would spend the remainder of his career.
Randy TKO’d long-time number one contender Chuck Liddell in his debut into the Light-Heavyweight class, leaving Randy as the only competitor to hold titles in both the Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight divisions of the UFC. This earned Randy his nickname “Captain America”.
Randy’s next bout was against five-time defending champion Tito Ortiz for the Undisputed Light-Heavyweight title. After 5 rounds, at the age of 40, “The Natural” scored a unanimous decision and became the UFC’s Undisputed Light-Heavyweight Champion, literally spanking Tito in the octagon.
On June 24, 2006 Randy was the fourth fighter to be inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame, alongside Royce Gracie, Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock. At that point "The Natural" took a place in the UFC announcing booth and began full time pursing a career in the pictures. But watching Tim Sylvia's lackluster Heavyweight Title defense against Jeff Monson, Randy got the itch to get back in the Octagon.
On March 3 , 2007 Randy dominated Tim Sylvia, shutting him out on the scorecards. With the victory Randy became the first man to win the UFC Heavyweight title three times. On August 25 th he will put the belt on the line against Gabriel Gonzaga.
Randy continues to announce for UFC Pay Per Views (when he isn't fighting on them) and has begun acting. He has a lead role in David Mamet's MMA-themed film "Redbelt". Randy owns two training centers; one in Las Vegas where he lives and is his main training center and one in Vancouver, Washington both called Xtreme Couture MMA.
Randy along with Bas Rutten are also involved in another MMA training center called Legends MMA which is located in Hollywood, California. Xtreme Couture MMA franchises are now springing up nationwide. There is one in Wellington, Florida and gyms opening in Chicago, San Diego, Kansas City and Des Moines.
