Last night’s fight between Randy Couture and Mark Coleman was a sober reminder of the difference between a man who fights like he should at his age and a man who fights like he’s 10-15 years younger.
For the first time since he fought Mike Van Arsdale, Randy Couture fought someone very close to his age. His fights against Tito Ortiz and Tim Sylvia were against men 13 years his junior. His recent fights with Brock Lesnar, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Brandon Vera were no different; Randy’s been fighting far younger men in their physical prime for years. It took a fight against a man just one year younger than him to illustrate what a special athlete Randy Couture really is.
Take nothing away from Mark Coleman. He was who he’s always been. He threw one big strike at a time, and kept looking for an opening to shoot, but never found it. His eyes kept darting down; he was thinking about shooting, but Randy’s jab and footwork kept Coleman out of position.
A fight against someone his own age was probably a one-time reprieve for Couture, who will likely end up fighting someone roughly 15 years younger than him in his next fight. It’s easy to mock the UFC hype about Randy being ageless, but his ability to perform at his age really is something to marvel at.
As the UFC emerges from an unlucky period marred by an almost ludicrous number of injuries, it’s worth noting that Randy Couture is largely responsible for helping them pull through without incurring serious harm. Couture’s willingness to step up and fight three times in seven months saved at least two shows, provided a fight of the year candidate, and lead to two dream matches over a decade in the making. Not bad for an old man.