Talkin’ MMA with Randy Couture
Published by Scoop Malinowski on December 21st, 2008 in Interviews

 Print |  Email |  RSS

American sporting icon Randy Couture takes time out to talk about his finest hour, most painful moment, what surprised him about Brock Lesnar, future plans, and much more…

MMAMemories.com: Randy what was the greatest moment of your career?

Randy Couture: “It’s hard to pick a greatest moment. I guess probably my comeback and winning in Columbus (OH) against Tim Sylvia (UFC 68 in 2007).”

MMAMemories.com: Your most painful moment?

Randy Couture: “The elbow I caught in the Ricco Rodriguez fight (in round five at UFC 39 in CT 2002).”

MMAMemories.com: In your last fight vs. Brock Lesnar, was there anything about him that surprised you?

Randy Couture: “He was longer than I expected. His reach was something I had trouble adjusting to.”

MMAMemories.com: I remember Keith Jardine said after the fight he thought you didn’t quite use your footwork enough in that fight. Your comment?

Randy Couture: “Well, I certainly trained to use a lot of footwork, short of making him chase me more. I probably could have made him chase me more. Try to catch him, you know, try to catch him coming in as opposed to him trying to get his hands on me. But I have a little trouble doing that because I tend to be a little more aggressive. More aggressive style which means that I’m usually hunting somebody else down.”

MMAMemories.com: For your next fight, do you have any ideas or preferences? Which way you would like it to go?

Randy Couture: “No ideas. Haven’t talked to ‘em about anything. There’s tons of rumors flying around on the underground and stuff. But I don’t know anything about any of it, so. I’ve got a couple of movie options coming up the beginning of next year that I’m really excited about. I’ll focus on those things and see what happens in the fight world.”

MMAMemories.com: Legacy. How would you like to be remembered by the sporting world?

Randy Couture: As a mixed martial artist that maintained a high level of integrity both in and out of the ring.”

MMAMemories.com: How is it to be back working with Dana White again?

Randy Couture: “It’s good, it’s good to be back and have all the other crap kind of behind us.”

MMAMemories.com: Where do things stand now between Affliction and Xtreme Couture?

Randy Couture: “We’re still trying to sort out our differences and figure out how we’re going to move forward. We’ll see how that plays out. I know one thing for certain, I won’t be dealing with Todd Beard any more.”

MMAMemories.com: Just out of curiosity, how do you think Brock does against Minotauro and Fedor? Can he possibly upset them with where he is at now skill-wise?

Randy Couture: “It’s hard to say. I certainly think he has the potential to make it tough on either one of them. Whether or not he’d upset them is hard to say.”

MMAMemories.com: Were you happy with the way your biography came out (Randy Couture: Becoming The Natural by Loretta Hunt/Simon Spotlight Entertainment)?

Randy Couture: “Yeah, I was happy with the way it came out. You’re never 100% satisfied, there’s always things that you catch in the finished copy that didn’t come out quite right. But I think for the most part – 98% of it is accurate and good – and I’m very happy with it.”

MMAMemories.com: Do you feel that public response was favorable?

Randy Couture: “Absolutely. I think everybody liked it. And it’s still doing well. I did a book signing today at the Air Force Base here in Vegas.”

MMAMemories.com: You were also a part of the documentary ‘The Fighter’ which is a cult classic (Won 3 awards for best documentary at the 2006 FAIF International Film Festival). Can you talk about that?

Randy Couture: “I liked it. I thought it was well done. Pericles Lewnes is a very bright guy and he did a terrific job. It’s about men and women, why they fight, how they prepare, what fighting means to them. And it’s absolutely a positive view of the sport.”

MMAMemories.com: Would you say ‘The Fighter’ is possibly the best documentary of the sport?

Randy Couture: “Well, I think probably ‘The Smashing Machine’ has been more acclaimed and got a lot more exposure through HBO than ‘Fighter’ has gotten. But as far as positive impact on the sport, I certainly like ‘The Fighter’ a lot better.”

MMAMemories.com: Why so?

Randy Couture: “Well, the whole thing with ‘The Smashing Machine’ was how screwed up…

MMAMemories.com: Kind of a downer?

Randy Couture: “Yeah, there’s drug use involved. Obviously it’s one guy, Mark Kerr, and the stuff he went through. Part of that was he was dealing with some addiction issues which, again, is something I don’t think anybody…”

MMAMemories.com: It’s more like a tragic story almost.

Randy Couture: “Yeah, absolutely. A great athlete, top, world class wrestler that got caught up in a bunch of crap.”

MMAMemories.com: Looking back, would you say “The Fighter’ accurately captures the essence of the sport?

Randy Couture: “For sure. Guys on there starting out. A female that is on there that is interviewed and followed through on one of her fights. And obviously it’s an important time in my career, getting ready for the first Belfort fight (1997) – on through to the Kevin Randleman fight (2000).”

MMAMemories.com: ‘The Fighter’ is a documentary that will be tough to top.

Randy Couture: “Yeah. Especially since it’s set back during the blackout of the sport, before the sport became the popular thing that it is now.”