Randy Couture MMAMemories.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on March 8th, 2008

Options:  Print  Email  RSS

STATUS: UFC Heavyweight Champion, Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion

HT: 6-1 1/2 WT: 205

BORN ON: June 22, 1963 IN: Everett, Washington

CHILDHOOD HEROES: “Franz Klammer, Jean-Claude Killy.”

HOBBIES/INTERESTS: “I like to snow ski in the winter. Big hunter, archery and rifle. Occasionally play tennis with my wife and daughter. Two-on-one, they gang up on me [smiles].”

NICKNAMES: “The Natural, Rosey – I had longer hair as a younger kid. My neighbor called me that, instead of Butch.”

CHILDHOOD DREAM: “I wanted to be an Olympic skier. My mom put me in ski lessons when I was five. I skied all through high school. My best friend was on the U.S. elite team. Skiing is just what I always wanted to do. I ended up in wrestling in junior high school. Took to it quickly. The sport just seemed to fit to me. Been doing it ever since.”

FAVORITE MOVIES: “I like any kind of Sci-fi movies, and Braveheart, Terminator.”

MUSICAL TASTES: “Generally country but I like a bit of everything. George Strait and Clint Black are two favorites.”

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: “The old Wild, Wild West series. Friends I’ll watch occasionally.”

PRE-FIGHT FEELING: “I just try and stay as relaxed as possible. Focus on the strategy and gameplan. Not waste any energy. I don’t get too pumped up before the fight…the nature of the sport doesn’t require it. (Upon entering the Octagon) yeah, I usually look at him. I generally smile. I’ve been accused of smiling too much [smiles]. It’s part of being relaxed and enjoying the moment. (I tend to smile) when an opponent is all jacked up, trying to stare me down. That generally makes me smile. Some people, it pisses off, which is OK too. Some people, it makes them think.”

FIRST JOB: “Catching chickens at Mr. Potter’s chicken farm in Washington, where I grew up (age 15).”

FIRST CAR: “1970 sky blue Ford Falcon. The last year Ford made the Falcon.”

EARLY FIGHTING MEMORY: “My first fight. Never having done it before. And I’m going against a guy who was 300 lbs. 90 lbs. bigger than me. I had an interesting combination of fear and adrenaline [smiles]. But I choked him out in :50. He tapped out.”

FAVORITE MEAL: “Oh boy. I like to eat [laughs]! I haven’t found anything I don’t like. My mom says, I like anything, if it doesn’t eat me first.”

FAVORITE BREAKFAST CEREAL: “I’m an oatmeal guy. I like oatmeal with a little maple syrup and a little brown sugar.”

FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: “Vanilla.”

GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT: “Winning the (UFC Heavyweight) title for the second time, from Kevin (Randleman). November 2000 at Trump Taj Mahal. Because the first time through I wasn’t really focused on the fight. I was just doing it because it was something I wanted to try. I didn’t set out to win a title or be ‘The Best.’ My greatest moment was the second time winning the title…after I retired. I set goals and had winning the title set in my mind. It was exciting to pull that off. The (Vitor) Belfort fight was a great fight for me. That was great for my career. The ref stopped the fight in the eighth minute, at UFC 15 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in ’97. When people meet me, they say, I can’t believe you won that fight. Most people didn’t expect me to win.”

MOST PAINFUL MOMENT: “[Laughs]. The day after the Pedro (Rizzo) fight. Because of the leg kicks. I took about 10 or 12 leg kicks in that fight. My leg was swollen and very bruised. It took about 2 1/2 weeks before I was able to work out again and get on the mat. Maurice Smith’s a real good kicker too. But he didn’t get the opportunity because of the format back then. He only landed three or four kicks, but I was out for a week. Pedro kicks like a mule though.”

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: “Aruba. Our honeymoon in ’96.”

PEOPLE MOST ADMIRED: “Someone with a good sense of humor. Someone who’s honest and straight-forward.”

FUNNY FIGHTING MEMORY: “Waiting for Vitor Belfort to come out to the ring. And my wife was standing right at the ringside. And I looked over and winked at my wife. But the cameraman was right next to her. And everyone was thinking I was winking at the camera. And so I guess they thought I was pretty cool for winking at the camera just before a fight [smiles].”

TOUGHEST OPPONENT(S): “I think every guy I fought has been tough. Certainly, the toughest fight for me so far was the Pedro Rizzo fight.”

WORST INJURY: “I haven’t really been hurt at all. No stitches, no sore joints. Some bruised legs is about the only thing I’ve had.”