UFC Announces UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar
RANDY “THE NATURAL” COUTURE vs. BROCK LESNAR
UFC WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY, NOV. 15, 2008
LIVE FROM MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – On November 15th, the champ is back.
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White today announced that after a year away from the game, UFC heavyweight champion Randy “The Natural” Couture will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon to defend his title against rising star Brock Lesnar in a clash of titans destined to shake the foundations of the sport. This championship bout, the biggest heavyweight title fight in years, will headline UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008.
“I am happy to announce that UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture will be returning to action in the Octagon,” said Dana White, UFC President. “He’s a legend in the UFC, and one of the fighters that helped build this sport. I have always said that wrestling is one of the best bases you can have in MMA and not only is Randy a top level wrestler but his opponent is as well. Brock Lesnar showed the MMA world that he is for real in his last fight, dismantling the far more experienced Heath Herring. His combination of speed and power was absolutely devastating. It is a fascinating matchup: the crafty, multiple-time heavyweight champion versus the younger, bigger, and stronger challenger. This is one that will go down in the history books.”
Ticket information for UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR will be announced shortly.
UFC 91: COUTURE vs. LESNAR will be available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).
A UFC Hall of Famer whose name is synonymous with mixed martial arts, Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture (16-8) is the only fighter in history to win the UFC world heavyweight title three times, and that’s not even mentioning his two UFC light heavyweight titles. Owner of heavyweight wins over the likes of Maurice Smith, Vitor Belfort, Kevin Randleman, and Pedro Rizzo (twice), the 45-year old Las Vegas resident turned back the clock in 2007 with a stirring win over Tim Sylvia at UFC 68 that netted him his third heavyweight crown. Couture defended his title for the first time at UFC 74 with a third round TKO of number one contender Gabriel Gonzaga, and now the man often referred to as “Captain America†will look to prove once again that he should never be counted out in a fight when he takes on Brock Lesnar.
“I have a lot of respect for Brock as an athlete and a collegiate wrestler, but I know exactly where he’s at, he’s trying to make the transition from a wrestler to mixed martial arts,†said Couture. “I’ve been there, done that, and I know what the pitfalls are. This will be an interesting matchup, and it will be very nice to be home in the Octagon for this fight.â€
A physically gifted athlete with the size, speed, and power to impose his will on any opponent, Brock Lesnar (2-1) made an immediate impact in the UFC when he debuted here in February of 2008, and he has his sights set on shocking the world on November 15th. A four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion, and 2000 NCAA Division I National Champion in wrestling, Lesnar made a name for himself internationally after college as a professional wrestler, but he soon found his true love in mixed martial arts in 2006. After a 69 second win in his pro debut a year later, Lesnar entered the UFC and made a positive impression in a loss to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 81, but at UFC 87 in August, the Minneapolis-St. Paul resident showed why he is rapidly becoming one of the most feared fighters in the sport today and an immediate threat to the heavyweight throne.
“It’s an honor to fight Randy Couture, he’s a legend in this sport, and to get the chance to test myself against him is a gift,” said Lesnar. “A lot guys would love to have this opportunity, Randy is the UFC heavyweight champion. There is one goal that I’ve had since I started training in MMA and that is to capture the title. Now that I’m getting the chance, nothing is going to stop me. I’m walking out of the Octagon with the belt around my waist.”
lesnar does not deserve a title shot. If anyone deserves its either noguiera or mir.
there is no way that randy will let him leave the cage with the strap around his waist, the man has to much pride and will be the best couture we have ever seen
sooo this is a title shot!?!??!
then what is nog and mir fighting for!?!?!
jeremy are u crazzzzzy!?!?!?
why does mir deserve a shot!!!!!
he has not done anything impressive other than defeat an over anxious brock lesnar!!!
come on foo…ur triiiipin!!!
and it is not like brock is some random guy…this guy has sum about him…and dana can see that.he is not your typical fighter…this guy is a killing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just don’t understand how Lesnar now gets a title shot, and Nogueira is …just another heavyweight fighter? I don’t get it.
I love that this fight is going to happen, but wouldn’t you be a little irritated if you were Nogueira? You go from being the champ to losing your belt without having ever lost in the UFC? Sounds shady to me…
i agree rob…but wat wouyld draw in the most ratings…
nog vs randy.. or
brock vs randy…
i think dana is giving the fans what they want..
sometimes it aint about being fair…and remember it is a business!!! and dana has to do whatever he can to keep that business on top and make the most feria!!!!!!! haha
im a big brock fan but he doesnt deserve a title shot but at least we get to see randy get manhandled, and ufc is good at giving title shots to people who dont deserve em right bj penn (sorry had to bring it up
I’m going to whip out my tarot cards here and make a prediction.
After Lesnar wins this fight, everyone is going to moan and groan that Couture was past his prime anyways and was washed out - AFTER of course saying that he’s going to crush Lesnar. After the win, nobody will remember predicting a Couture victory. Lesnar hits so ****ing hard he gives the FANS amnesia.
The winner of this fight fights the winner og Big Nog/ Mir to unify the belts probably Super Bowl weekend. Then for UFC 100 it will be Randy vs. Fedor.
i agree anon!!
brock is going to pound the crap out of couture!!!!
The winner of is what I meant.
Nog didn’t lose his belt. Can’t you read?
The winner of Lesnar-Couture will fight the winner of Nogueira-Mir. We might see a reamtch of Lesnar-Mir for the heavyweight title. I really don’t like any of this smelly mess, but once it’s played out, we’ll have a heavyweight champion and the UFC is supposedly going to try to make the Couture-Fedor fight happen. If Lesnar beats Couture, then what sense would it make for Fedor to fight Couture? I guess 45 year old Couture will have to beat Lesnar and then the winner of Nogueira-Mir in order to acheive “the end game”.
This didn’t make sense @ first, but since the winner of nog vs mir will fight the winner of this match, i’m all for lesnar FINALLY retiring couture.
I know I know, “it’s randy couture, he’s a legend, he’s got way more experiance and is way more skilled on all aspects of mma”…
That kind of $hit doesn’t matter when you’re dealing with a freakin’ monster like lesnar. I’m excited dude! The HW division will finally have closure!
Dude lesnar has two legitimate mma fights, no way he deserves a title shot, but hell whatever makes the benjamins like you guys say its a business. I only honestly feel one person can stop brock and thats fedor if they manage to bring him in the UFC will be the only mma organization standing (In the US).
Lesnar is gonna get schooled in this fight. If he wasn’t so young in the game he would stand a better chance. But his 3rd UFC fight and 4th overall MMA fight. He is in over his head. This isn’t Wrestlemania were he knew he was gonna win. NEVER BET AGAINST RANDY COUTURE. History has proven that.
I’m simply tired of couture’s pre-maddona @$$. Seriously dude who does he think he is? I hope Lesnar gnp’s the hell out of him.
big brock will beat coture i think based on size and speed but thats just a guess not to say coture isnt awsome he is verry smart and crafty i just think this year away was the straw to break the back if he had bin fightin maby not. i want mir to beat big nog so then lessnar can get vengance. randys last fight will be fedor boath promoations will bend and allow a cros promoational fight to make a mint. atleast that would be awsome in my books because evin if he looses every fight from now till his last randy will still be a legand. its eyther fall from grace or go out in glory
I was looking forward to attending this event in Portland. It’s no surprise though that they’d move it to Vegas given the new main event.
Brock is making a huge mistake, he should have been pressing to face Kevin Ferguson(Kimbo Slice), that would have been a giant draw as well.
Brock is not in Randy’s league, but strength and age are on Lesner’ side. If Randy still has anything left in the tank, he should win this one.
brock will win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
killaghist
I’m not saying Randy’s last fight won’t be Fedor but it sure as hell won’t be a cros promotion fight. Like Dana said it will be amazing if Affliction is still in the MMA business next year. Regardless of who’s name the fight happens under (UFC, Affliction, Dream etc.) Fedor will be fighting his first top 10 P4P opponent in years (aside from Tim Silvia) and he will get his first legit loss on his record.
I dont see affliction just rolling over and letting the UFC have there Flag ship guy they are also a business and he has a contract with them.
I personally think randy will finshing his contract with the UFC then fighting fedor on a affliction PPV
PS lesnar is just to big for randy if he wins it will be like the mir fight with a sub
They moved it out of Portland? There went my plans for 11-15. Very Uncool.
nog still has the interim title, whoever wins the title fight will fight whoever wins interim title fight.
LOL look,
Nog still has his belt , and Randy has his belt
like when Randy and Tito had belts back in the day
bout now Randy and Brock fight for the belt
Nog and Mir fight for the belt
and the winners fight to unified the belts
Unless Brock Lesnar gets some tremendous coaching over the next month, I don’t see any possible way he can compete with Couture. He won’t be the first strong man to have his head handed to him. It’s all about technique.
40for60
dude are you serious??? brock vs kimbo???? the kimbo’s who’s fighting shamrock??? what???
kimbo should go back to the hood cuz he would get killed vs a real mma opponent.
brock does have technique…did u see the improvement from his first fight!?!?!?
he only gets better as his career progresses…the brock we will see fight randy will not be the same brock we saw destroy heath…
he will be far more skilled!!!!! he is built for this sport…he is the chose one!!!!!!!! lol jkjk
but for real…he is going to win…randy has skill…but his body is no longer capable of exercising his full potential…brock wins by tko!
Are you already saying that Lesnar is “a real MMA opponent?” Are you talking about Brock Lesnar?… The guy that couldn’t finish Heath “The Journeyman” Herring?… Brock has a way to go before he can claim to be worthy of being called “a real MMA opponent.”
Brock has no chance… hear me now… NO CHANCE against Randy Couture.