Couture Challenging Cormier Would Provide Thrilling Battle of Dual Champions
If both men were younger and willing to fight, setting up a fight between Daniel Cormier and Randy Couture would be easy. All anyone would need to do is call the Oklahoma State wrestling booster club and offer a sizable donation to see the two clash heads. While no one will ever get to see these two men square off in an arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, both men have made their fellow Cowboys’ alumni proud.
Both men found plenty of amateur wrestling success on the international stage. Each became a world champion in several MMA organizations, including multi-weight division champions in the UFC. Couture and Cormier also both now serve as commentators for two of the top American MMA promotions.
With the striking similarities in their careers, seeing the two men square off at either light heavyweight or heavyweight would make for an exciting fight.
Couture Tried the Army First
Couture is a native of Everett, Wash., and was the state wrestling champion during his high school days. However, college wasn’t in Couture’s immediate future once he wrapped up high school. Instead, Couture would end up joining the U.S. He rose to the rank of Sergeant during his six years of service.
While in the Army, Couture attempted to sign up for the freestyle wrestling team, but a clerical error put him down for Greco Roman. Couture didn’t protest and decided to try a different wrestling discipline instead of waiting for freestyle to come available. Couture would end up being an Olympic alternate in 1988, 1992 and 1996.
After Couture left the Army, he went to Oklahoma State to wrestle. He would end up being two-time runner-up at the NCAA Division I championships in 1991 and 1992.
UFC Debut Comes on Short Notice
After wrapping up his wrestling career, Couture got the call on short notice to fight at UFC 13 in a four-man heavyweight tournament. Couture was one of the few fighters from the wild “human cockfighting” days of the UFC to bridge eras. The early days of MMA were wild, as there weren’t special rules in place, and sanctioning bodies didn’t know what to make of the sport.
Couture would win the heavyweight tournament by knocking out Steven Graham in the first round. Couture would win his first major belt when he won a decision over Maurice Smith to claim the heavyweight title on Dec. 21, 1997. Couture’s time as champion was short.
He would vacate the belt due to a title dispute. Couture wouldn’t fight again in the UFC for three years until he knocked out Kevin Randleman to recapture the title at UFC 28.
Couture’s Career Was Wild
Couture accomplished everything a man could in the UFC. He was the first multi-division champion in UFC history after he defeated Chuck Liddell to win the light heavyweight championship. Couture successfully defended his heavyweight championship three times between his three reigns.
Couture has competed in a record 16 championship fights.
Cormier’s Wrestling Credentials are Unparalleled
Daniel Cormier, a Louisiana native, didn’t have to wait to start his combat sports career due to military service. Cormier went straight from high school to a junior college in Kansas before ending up at Oklahoma State. In college, Cormier couldn’t get past Cael Sanderson.
Sanderson, an Iowa State legend, went 159-0 during his college career. He beat Cormier in the NCAA Division I wrestling championship match in 2001. Cormier also found success as one of the top freestyle wrestlers in the world.
Cormier competed in the 2004 Olympics, where he just missed out on the medal stand by placing fourth. But Cormier didn’t give up on his Olympic dreams. MMA news websites show Cormier also made the team in 2008 but was pulled from competing after suffering kidney failure.
Move to MMA Suited Cormier
Missing out on Olympic glory didn’t make Cormier walk away from combat sports. Instead, Cormier decided to train at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose. Once Cormier started competing, he became one of the top prospects in the sport. Cormier would win the first 15 fights of his career.
When Cormier challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight belt at UFC 182 in January 2015, he would lose badly by unanimous decision. However, personal issues would force Jones to vacate the belt. Cormier would come back later in 2015 to beat Anthony Johnson to claim the championship.
Cormier would win three straight before Jones took the belt off him again. However, after Jones failed a drug test, he was forced to forfeit the belt. Cormier would go up in weight to challenge Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 and would win by first-round knockout to become a simultaneous champion at light heavyweight and heavyweight.
Cormier would defend the heavyweight championship once against Derrick Lewis before losing two fights to Miocic and retiring from the sport.
Rules Would Determine the Victor
The early days of MMA were feral and featured a lot of bending of certain rules. However, as the sport became more mainstream, the UFC became more stringent with drug testing after Couture left the sport. Cormier was never a fighter who had the body type of someone who appeared to be on performance-enhancing drugs.
Couture would seem to have the advantage in striking thanks to his Army boxing background. Cormier would have the slight edge in wrestling. While Couture also had an impressive wrestling career, he was wrestling severely younger opponents when he was in college. This is a fight where Cormier would likely lean on his superior wrestling to wear down Couture.
While Couture has a puncher’s chance to win this fight, Cormier, who has a lot fewer miles on his tires, would grab a win, according to MMA breaking news.
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