Colorado Springs – Of all nights to have no Internet service at our new house, I was rudely introduced to Randy Couture’s apparent and sudden retirement plans earlier today after being told by a friend via email. The UFC champion, long one of the more readily visible personas of mixed martial arts (MMA), announced his retirement yesterday. He retired after Fedor Emelianenko – the highest ranked and most feared of international MMA fighters – rejected the UFC in favor of fighting in a Russian league closer to his native homeland.

Couture announced his retirement by fax to UFC President Dana White yesterday. White, who expressed mild surprise at the timing, if not Couture’s actual decision, suggested that the UFC reigning heavyweight champion may be bluffing his retirement as part of a contractual dispute. White noted that Couture was “pleased” with the original contract, and seemingly has isolated himself from the inner-circle at the UFC after apparently becoming upset with a number of issues related to the UFC’s management style.

Couture’s retirement fax also suggested he was disappointed with the way White handled the recruitment of Emelianenko to the UFC. Without anything left to prove, Couture said, there was nothing left to achieve in the sport of MMA, other than fighting for money. White added the fact Couture wanted a professional acting career more importantly than fighting as a possible motive for the retirement announcement, and issued the blame for Couture’s retirement at the feet of his agent, whom White described as a “Hollywood” type agent.

I love him, I respect him, I still consider him my friend and just like any friendship, we don’t see eye to eye all the time, but if you’re true friends, you work it out, and I consider Randy Couture a true friend, and I honestly believe that when he comes home from filming [in South Africa], and when his scumbag Hollywood agent isn’t around, we’ll talk and we’ll square away our friendship.

If Couture’s previous retirement is any indication, it may still be possible for the UFC and/or its fans to lure Couture out of “retirement” in the near future. Couture retired in 2006 after losing a rubber match for the UFC light heavyweight title to Chuck Liddell in Las Vegas. He returned 9 months later to fight then-heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight title. Couture won and had been reigning UFC heavyweight champion until his sudden retirement yesterday.

Paotie’s PostScript:

Couture has accomplished everything in the sport of MMA. Many, including myself, once believed PRIDEFC was superior in terms of fighters’ skill sets over the UFC. Gradually, that myth has been redundantly disproved by a succession of UFC fighters winning against highly ranked PRIDE fighters. Perhaps White is correct in his assessment of what would’ve happened if Couture had, indeed, faced Emelianenko:

It would have been a big fight, but believe me when I tell you that it would have been no contest. Randy would have destroyed him. Randy is the best heavyweight in the world.

Only time will confess of the unknown possibilities if Couture had fought Emelianenko.

Couture insists he “resigned” from the UFC. Couture has been in South Africa for a few weeks, filming for another release of the movie, The Scorpion King.

Regardless, The Natural, as Couture is known to fans around the world, will be missed in the sport of MMA. Say it ain’t so, Captain America.

Paotie