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Randy Couture Quits The UFC
Story reported by Brian Cantor of Headline Planet
Thursday, October 11 2007
Heavyweight Champion Couture has left the leading fight organization

Sources at The Fight Network broke news Thursday that Randy "The Natural" Couture has departed the UFC.

Couture, UFC's Heavyweight Champion and one of its most recognizable fighters, quit via a faxed letter to Dana White, the company's President.

In a statement, Couture, who will vacate his title and also depart as an on-air color commentator, confirmed that the UFC's failure to sign Fedor Emelianenko played a large part in his decision.

“I appreciate this opportunity the sport of MMA and the UFC has given me,” Couture said in the statement to The Fight Network. “However, I’m tired of swimming upstream at this stage with the management of the UFC. It only makes sense at this point in my career to fight Fedor Emelianenko, and since he’s now signed with another organization, I feel like it’s time to resign and focus on my other endeavors.”

Both Couture's agent and UFC President Dana White noted that the fighter is interested in developing his acting career.

"I’m not surprised at all by Randy’s decision. I talked to Randy several weeks ago and he said that if he couldn’t fight Fedor, then he has nothing left to prove in the sport of mixed martial arts. He has been doing a lot of acting, and I know he is in South Africa right now filming a movie. I think it’s a great move for Randy’s acting career to retire from fighting while he is on top," said White in a statement on UFC.com.

He added, "As we all know, Randy retired before. The landscape in MMA changes every day. So when he is ready to come out of retirement again, he is still under contract with me, and I’m ready to promote him.”

WrestlingObserver.com noted that Couture was also upset over the fact that many top-tier fighters, including names recruited following the purchase of PRIDE, were receiving larger guaranteed fight fees.

UFC has not given an update on its plans for the vacant Heavyweight Championship.

UPDATES
Joe Rogan comments on MMA.TV
“I was working on UFC Wired today when I heard about it. First I thought Randy just decided to retire when he heard Fedor signed with another organization, but then after reading his quotes it obviously runs much deeper than that. I have no idea who makes what, but I do know that I’m honored to have had the chance to know Randy and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to watch him compete. He is a very rare human being, the kind that comes along only once or twice in a lifetime. He’s one of the few people that I’ve ever come across that’s both a kind hearted, friendly, happy guy, and a furious, relentless competitor. He’s also one of the rare human beings that fully maximizes his potential in his pursuits. I sincerely hope that there’s a way that they can work all this out, but if not, all I can say is that I learned a lot just watching him perform, and I feel very fortunate to have met him.”

Couture explains his decision to Sherdog.com
"I know Fedor (Emelianenko) just signed with another organization and that's the only real fight that makes sense for me at 44 years old as the heavyweight champion of the UFC. That's the fight I wanted and if that can't happen it doesn't make sense for me to compete with all these other guys. And then obviously that's not going to happen now. And, two, I'm tired of being taken advantage of, played as the nice guy and basically swimming against the current with the management of the UFC. I have a lot of other things going on in my life that I'm doing just fine with. I don't need the problems. I don't feel like I get the respect I deserve from the organization, and that's motivation No. 2 for the letter of resignation that was sent today."

"You hear what other guys were paid signing bonuses and what other guys were paid on the record and off the record with bonuses. I've heard Chuck's numbers. Tito's numbers. Hughes' numbers. Quinton's numbers. Cro Cop, Wanderlei. I heard what they were offering Fedor, and it's insulting."

More UFC.com comments from Dana White
"Is Randy Couture the face of the UFC? No, he’s one of many faces of the UFC, but he is one of the guys who helped us get here. 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, and when his scumbag Hollywood agent isn’t around, we’ll talk and we’ll square away our friendship. And as far as his retirement and him wanting to retire, I have nothing but respect for him and I don’t disagree with his decision."


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