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UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization, recognized as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada and is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC. This promotion is responsible for solidifying the sport's postion in the history-books.
UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with greater mainstream media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen on FOX, FX, and FUEL TV in the United States, as well as in 35 other countries worldwide.
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02-21-2007, 10:49 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Banned
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 189
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White encouraged Couture's return
Quote:
UFC Hall of Famer and MMA legend Randy Couture (14-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) will come out of retirement next weekend to battle current UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (23-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) for the belt — one that Couture once owned himself.
But according to a recent interview with Couture conducted by Mike Chiappetta of NBCSports.com, UFC president Dana White had long been trying to get Couture back in the Octagon.
From NBCSports.com:
Q: So even though you were officially retired, you were still getting calls about potential matchups?
A: [UFC President] Dana White had been calling me every month since I retired saying, ‘Bull—-, you’re not retiring! When are you coming back?’ They’d thrown a couple things at me that just didn’t work out. For one reason or another, they didn’t pan out. But then this thing with Tim Sylvia came up and I didn’t have to think about it long. I said, ‘yeah, let’s do that.’
This, of course, begs the question: why did the UFC have an official Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Couture in the first place?
According to the interview, Couture said he simply needed some time to himself to recover from a “nasty divorce,” and it was obvious White wanted him back in the Octagon anyway.
So why the Hall of Fame induction? Why close the book on Couture’s career when you there were plans to bring the former champion back anyway?
credit: ufcjunkie.com
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Sounds like he never even truely retired, just needed some time off. |
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02-21-2007, 10:53 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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GO BEARS!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Posts: 3,763
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It doesnt really matter. Shamrock and Gracie were both inducted into the Hall of Fame long before their last UFC fights.
__________________
14-1 in Forum Bets
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02-21-2007, 10:57 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Lightweight
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: eugene, oregon
Posts: 1,672
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Wow, that's news.... ....Dana trying to get Randy back into the octagon? I bet he gave him hummers daily for months on end to try to get him to fight. He stands to make millions off Randy.
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02-21-2007, 11:11 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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MMA Fanatic
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 50
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yah i dont know why hall of fames are continuously related to retirement...they dont have to be...there are plenty of players/fighters in professional sports that come in and out of retirement like a revolving door...michael jordan for one...UFC is no different...Gracie/Shamrock/Coture. There are certain people that are just sooo damned good that everyone knows they are going to the hall of fame...so why not just put them in before retirement.
Also the UFC hall is new. They needed to put people in there that meant something to the sport. But most are so tough they are still fighting!
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02-21-2007, 11:21 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Lightweight
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: eugene, oregon
Posts: 1,672
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A little off topic, but I don't really see why Shamrock was put into the hall of fame, I don't think he ever actually won any of those tournaments, and his record in the UFC is 6-6-2. That is not all that great if you ask me. I know that he is a pioneer of the sport and all, and was king of pancrase, but in the UFC he never really did squat. Plus, the guy is kind of a dildo in person (just my opinion). I think they put him in there just because of the time he spent in the WWF, which (again my opinion) is fake.
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02-21-2007, 12:57 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Banned
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 189
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Well, they look at the fact that Shamrock was there from the beginning, he was the first Superfight Champion, competed in the first superfight with Gracie, and the fact that he, at one time, ran the most successful gyms in MMA. I guess in terms of wins/losses he isnt the most successful, but for the longest time, and in some effects to this day, when someone hears UFC, they immediately think of Shamrock and Gracie.
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02-21-2007, 01:02 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Banned
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 723
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Simply put, Shamrock helped build the UFC because he was one of its biggest stars and thus one its top draws. Even recently, Shamrock still drawed huge amounts of money for the UFC. Not to mention of course that he was in numerous main events and was the first ever 'Super Fight' Champion (the precursor to the HW title).
He also trained some of the UFCs biggest stars during the 10s-early 20s period.
Pogo
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02-21-2007, 02:58 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Flyweight
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 306
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Ya, Shamrock did help the UFC in other ways then being the best fighter in MMA.
Also about Couture's return, I am not that suprised he decided to comeback with a shot at the title right away.
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02-21-2007, 03:11 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Featherweight
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 1,216
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It wasn't really a retirement though. I know people who were in comas for longer periods.
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White encouraged Couture's return
