The end doesn't always come gracefully, even for heroes. Randy Couture is and will forever be one of mixed martial arts' seminal early figures, its building blocks. Fifty years from now, when we have better perspective, maybe we can write a fair and true portrait of his importance, but it's fair to say it was massive.
"The Natural's" era, though, is now over. Years after most pro athletes retire, Couture was still competing, excelling in a young man's game, but no more. His epic run came to a definitive close on Saturday night, overshadowing everything in its path, including UFC 129, the 55,724 filling the Rogers Centre in the biggest MMA show in North American history, as well as Georges St. Pierre's sixth consecutive title defense. It ended with the legend going out on his shield.
Facing a fighter 15 years his junior, the 47-year-old Couture struggled to implement his traditional game plan of closing the range, initiating the clinch, and taking his foe to the ground. RIFT Platinum Instead, Lyoto Machida used his brilliant footwork to keep him at distance and capitalized on a decided speed advantage to pepper the former champ with power strikes. TERA Gold Then in the second, Machida emulated his teammate Anderson Silva, using the same front kick Silva used to knock out Vitor Belfort earlier this year to flatten Couture. Machida finished with strikes from the top before ref Yves Lavigne pulled him off at the 1:05 mark.
After nearly 14 years of action, after 30 fights, five UFC championships and numerous memories, Couture said that indeed, rift gold it was finally, inarguably time to hang up his gloves. "No, you're not going to see me again," Couture said shortly after the fight. "This is it."
As Couture stood in the cage for the final time, the record crowd chanted his name, and Couture waved good bye. He rode off not in a limo or in any stylish ride, but in an ambulance, sent to the hospital for precautionary tests.
Couture, who retired with a record of 19-11, lost not only his final fight, but one of his front teeth, knocked out of his mouth as a result of the kick. Even in defeat, he laughed at his plight, RIFT Platinum telling UFC commentator Joe Rogan, "I think the last time we had this conversation, I had all my teeth."
The stunning knockout not only ended Couture's career but lifted Machida from a rough streak in which he suffered the first two losses of his career. Rift Gold While Machida was thrilled at the victory, jumping atop the cage afterward, he also saluted his fallen foe, paying tribute along with the rest of the crowd.
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