For those of you mixed martial arts fans who stayed up last night to watch Randy Couture's interview on "Inside The UFC" on SpikeTV, there was one quote in particular that made us reach for the volume button on the remote.
"I can't hardly sit in the booth with you and watch this sport," Couture said to host Joe Rogan during the midnight broadcast. "I've been retired now, it'll be a year in February, and not get the itch...My first fight will be March 3rd against the big man, Tim Sylvia. I'm going back after the heavyweight title."
So the former heavyweight and light heavyweight champ will enter the Octagon and attempt to liven up the UFC's heavyweight division. The 43-year-old Couture will give six inches in height and nearly 60 pounds in weight to the 6-8, 265-pound champ. (Couture was 205 for his last fight with Chuck Liddell at light heavyweight, but will most likely come in heavier for this fight).
Couture signed a two-year, four-match deal and is the third big-name signing in the past couple months for the UFC (Quinton "Rampage Jackson and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic).
Sylvia won his last two matches by unanimous decision against Andrei Arlovski and Jeff Monson, respectively. The 6-8 champ has been able to keep opponents away with his longer reach and his much improved takedown defense.
Couture HAS to wrap up the champ, take him down and work from there. If he stands and trades with Sylvia, you're looking at a frustrating fight for Couture and the fans (Couture's and Sylvia's) that could go to the cards.