Randy Duane Couture (; born June 22, 1963) is an American mixed martial arts commentator, actor, former United States Army sergeant, former professional mixed martial artist, and former collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, making him a six-time UFC Champion and the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament winner. He is the first fighter in history to win a UFC championship in two different divisions. As of 2025, he serves as a commentator and analyst for the Professional Fighters League.
Couture has competed in 15 title fights. He is tied for the record for the most wins in UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts (6) with former UFC Heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. He had the most title reigns in the UFC, with six. His last fight with Lyoto Machida marked his 24th fight in the UFC. He is the fourth member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He is one of only two fighters over the age of 40 to have won a UFC championship fight, having done so four times. He is one of the few MMA champions to regain a title he had lost, and the only to have done it three times (twice at heavyweight, once at light heavyweight).
Couture was an Olympic wrestling alternate and has lived in Corvallis, Oregon throughout much of his career, where he served as an assistant wrestling coach and a strength and conditioning coach for Oregon State University. He established Team Quest with Matt Lindland and Dan Henderson, a training camp for fighters, based out of Gresham, Oregon, and headed by coach Robert Folis. In 2005, he moved to Las Vegas, where he opened his own extensive chain of gyms under the name Xtreme Couture. He partnered with Bas Rutten to open Legends Gym in Hollywood, California.
Couture is generally recognized as a clinch and ground-and-pound fighter who uses his wrestling ability to execute takedowns, establish top position and successively strike the opponent on the bottom. He has displayed a variety of skills in boxing and catch wrestling. He is the only UFC fighter to win a championship after becoming a Hall-of-Famer and is the oldest champion in MMA history at age 45.
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Background
Couture was born in Everett, Washington, the son of Sharan Amelia (née King) and Edward Lewis "Ed" Couture. He wrestled at Lynnwood High School in Lynnwood, Washington, where he won a state championship during his senior year in wrestling. Afterwards he served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 1988, attaining the rank of Sergeant in the 101st Airborne, where he "wrestled and did a little boxing."
While he was in the Army he applied for tryouts with the U.S. Army freestyle wrestling team; however, due to a clerical error his application was sent to the Greco-Roman wrestling tryouts and rather than wait until the next year he decided to pursue it. Despite never having competed in Greco-Roman he made the team. He went on to win the U.S. Army Europe title and made the All-Army team.
Upon discharge, Couture became a three-time Olympic team alternate (1988, 1992 and 1996), a semifinalist at the 2000 Olympic Trials, a three-time NCAA Division I All-American and a two-time NCAA Division I runner-up (1991 and 1992) at Oklahoma State University. In 1992, he was the Division I runner-up at 190 pounds (86 kg), coming in second after Mark Kerr. From 1989 to 1992 he accumulated a collegiate wrestling record of 113-42. He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in literature.
Mixed martial arts career
Ultimate Fighting Championship and RINGS
Being called to the tournament as an alternate on three weeks' notice, Couture made his professional mixed martial arts debut at UFC 13 on May 30, 1997, as part of a four-man heavyweight tournament. His first opponent was Tony Halme, who outweighed him by nearly 100 pounds (45 kg; 7.1 st). Couture immediately hit a double-leg takedown and, after some ground and pound, moved to back mount and secured a rear naked choke submission to win in under a minute. In the tournament final, he defeated Steven Graham, another larger opponent (290 lb), by TKO at 3:13 into the first round.
On October 17, 1997, at UFC 15, Couture fought Vitor Belfort to determine the number one contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Couture was an underdog, as 19-year-old Belfort was the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion, winning all of his matches with devastating punches. After circling away from Belfort's left hand, Couture got the clinch. The fighters broke up and, when Belfort attempted a flurry of punches, Couture hit a takedown. He immediately gained side control and landed strikes. As Belfort scrambled to his feet, Couture landed knee strikes. He clinched again and wore Belfort down with dirty boxing. By the 7-minute mark, Belfort was exhausted. Couture again took him down, and finished him with punches from back mount, for one of the biggest upsets in MMA at the time.
At UFC Japan on December 21, Couture challenged the UFC Heavyweight Champion, Maurice Smith to his second title defense since winning the belt from Mark Coleman earlier that year. It was a slow-paced fight, and neither fighter significantly damaged the other, but Couture hit several takedowns and held positional control throughout the fight. After 21 minutes, he won a majority decision and became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion. Though this win was controversial as many believe Smith did enough to win the fight.
In 1998, UFC matchmakers wanted Couture to defend the belt against Bas Rutten, former King of Pancrase. Couture instead signed with Vale Tudo Japan, and was stripped of the title. He had his first and only match against Shooto veteran and grappling specialist Enson Inoue. After taking the fight to the ground, Couture tapped out to an armbar, just over 90 seconds into the bout.
Still in Japan, Couture was signed up with Fighting Network RINGS, debuting against Mikhail Illoukhine on March 20, 1999, in RINGS. Couture submitted to a kimura, though the loss was controversial due to Illoukhine locking the hold while they were being re-positioned on the center of the ring. After that loss, he took a break from MMA to focus on his amateur wrestling career.
Bellator Fighting Championships
On January 29, 2013, Couture signed with Bellator to be a coach in the first season of their reality show, Fight Master: Bellator MMA which debuted in June 2013. Couture also did commentary for Bellator 96.
Acting
Couture made a cameo appearance in the direct-to-video Steven Seagal film Today You Die and on the season finale of the CBS show The Unit, as a military guard. He played fight commentator Terry Flynn in the film Redbelt. He appeared on an episode of The History Channel show Human Weapon on September 27, 2007, and starred in the 2008 film The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. He played Toll Road in the 2010 movie The Expendables and reprised the role in the 2012, 2014 and 2023 sequels. He did several public service announcements, one against crystal meth. He starred alongside 50 Cent and Bruce Willis in the 2011 film, Setup, as an enforcer named Petey.
In 2012, he played the leading role of hard-bitten cop Paul Ross in Brandon Nutt's action film Hijacked, alongside Dominic Purcell.
On September 4, 2014, it was announced that Couture would be one of the celebrities competing on the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars. He paired with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. The couple was eliminated on the third week of competition finishing in eleventh place.
Couture appeared in four episodes of the TV series Hawaii Five-0 as Jason Duclair.
Couture appeared on Impractical Jokers as a guest during Sal Vulcano's punishment in the episode "Pantsing with the Stars". In that episode, Vulcano, who refused an instruction during a challenge where he was posing as a Krav Maga instructor, was given a surprise punishment by the other Jokers in that he then had to wrestle Couture and attempt to "pants" him.
In 2019, Couture starred alongside Luke Goss and Michael Jai White in the movie The Hard Way, which was among the most popular watched movies on Netflix. He also appeared in the film Outlaw Johnny Black.
In July 2019, Couture appeared on an episode of the Outdoor Channel show Gunnytime entitled "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work".
In June 2025, Couture starred alongside Jennifer Esposito and Tommy Davidson in the movie F Plus.
Personal life
Couture was previously married to Sharon, Tricia, and Kim Couture (née Borrego). He and Kim filed for divorce in May 2009. He continued to coach her and support her MMA career. He has three children, including Aimee, Ryan, and Caden "Cooter" Couture as well as four grandchildren. He often worked with and was the long-term partner of Mindy Robinson from 2014 to 2025.They ended their relationship in 2025. Randy is currently in a partnership with Lisa Guarasci.
Asked if MMA could be improved, he suggested health insurance, retirement plans as well as more equal compensation regarding other athletes and sports. He lives in Las Vegas. He enjoys hunting.
In 2012, Couture was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame (ISHOF) presented by sports legend Dr. Robert M. Goldman. In 2018, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and was an Outstanding American honoree.
On October 23, 2019, Couture suffered a heart attack after training and walked himself to a nearby hospital. Following a successful operation, Couture made a full recovery.
Following a racing crash accident in July 2025, Couture had to be airlifted to a hospital with first and second-degree burns. He was discharged shortly thereafter.
Championships and accomplishments
Greco-Roman wrestling
Pan American Games
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – second place (June 13, 1990)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – winner (January 1, 1991)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – second place (January 1, 1992)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – third place (May 21, 1997)
Pan American Championship Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – second place (March 24, 1998)
Pan American Games Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – winner (August 6, 1991)
FILA Wrestling World Championships
FILA test tournament Greco-Roman Seniors 97 kg – third place (March 14, 1998)
FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – third place (November 9, 1991)
FILA World Cup Greco-Roman Seniors 90 kg – third place (November 21, 1992)
Collegiate wrestling
National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA Division I All-American (1990, 1991, 1992)
NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – 6th place out of Oklahoma State University (1990)
NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – Runner-up out of Oklahoma State University (1991)
NCAA Division I 190 lb/86.4 kg – Runner-up out of Oklahoma State University (1992)
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship
UFC Hall of Fame (Pioneer Wing, Class of 2006)
UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Champion
UFC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
Three successful title defenses overall
Two successful title defenses (second reign)
One successful title defense (third reign)
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (Two times)
Interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
First multi-divisional champion in UFC history
First & only fighter that was a multi-divisional champion that won back the title after losing it (2x at Heavyweight & 1x at Light Heavyweight)
Tied (Georges St-Pierre) for second most championship fights in UFC history (15)
Most championship reigns in UFC history (6)
Tied (Tim Sylvia & Stipe Miocic) for most heavyweight title bouts in UFC history (9)
Oldest fighter to be a champion in UFC history (45 years, 4 months; 16,583 days)
Oldest fighter to win a championship in UFC history (43 years 255 days)
Tied (Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell & T.J. Dillashaw) for third most knockouts in UFC title fights (5)