Newer UFC fans might not remember the forum-busting drama from 2007.
Randy Couture thought he could surrender his 265-pound title and retire from UFC, then go fight for a competing promotion. In addition, the UFC Hall of Famer and TUF 1 coach was setting his sights on PRIDE FC legend Fedor Emelianenko, who was widely-considered the world’s top heavyweight fighter.
That’s not how contracts work; but hey, “The Natural” gave it the ol’ GED-try.
UFC sued the pants off Couture and forced his return. His
relationship with UFC CEO Dana White continued to dissolve and Couture would eventually hit the bricks. Sadly, the Emelianenko fight was already long gone by then and fans were stuck wondering, “What If?”
Scott Coker is here to (possibly) answer that question.
The former Strikeforce head cheese assembled an all-star cast to launch Ki MMA in early 2027, with Emelianenko and Couture on hand at Monday’s press event in New York City. It appears “The Last Emperor” remains open to fighting Couture if “The Natural” is still on board.
“I keep training,” Emelianenko told MMA Junkie. “I keep training with my team. I’m coaching my team, so I keep training. Competition-wise, if it’s going to be a good offer, and it makes sense, why not (return)? I can compete still. I believe Randy would be much more interesting [than Lesnar] as a fighter. I’m ready if he’s ready.”
It’s true what they say about peace: it never lasts.
I doubt any commission would be willing to license Couture at age 63, which puts him roughly 13 years older than Emelianenko. Then again, Coker and Co. are expected to go to Japan at some point (thanks to this relationship) and well, anything goes in the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
I guess that’s one way to scratch “the itch.”
