Randy Couture had back-to-back world title fights in 2002 that both ended in disaster for the UFC legend.
In 2000, Randy Couture became UFC Heavyweight champion when he knocked out Kevin Randleman at UFC 28.
He followed that up with two title defenses against Pedro Rizzo, the first of which was voted the fight of the year in 2001.
However, he was soundly beaten by Josh Barnett in his following bout, getting knocked out by a series of punches from the MMA legend to end his reign in disappointment.
A failed drug test for Barnett meant Couture had another shot at the belt, as he challenged Ricco Rodriguez in a fight he’d rather forget at UFC 36.
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Ricco Rodriguez knocked out Randy Couture in a shock finish
In a shock twist in his second consecutive title fight, Couture was finished by Rodriguez despite dominating the fight right until the end.
UFC 36 played host to their fight for the vacant world title, with Rodriguez boasting a 14-1 win record and remaining undefeated in the UFC.
Despite this, the fans were backing former champion Couture, who was the favorite for this fight.
He proved them right throughout the first three rounds, easily outwrestling the challenger and taking a clear lead on points.
Couture began tiring in the fourth round, but both men knew that if he managed to survive a fifth and final round, then the world title would return to the waist of “The Natural”.
Couture was taken down in the final round multiple times, pushed up against the fence as he desperately tried to defend against Rodriguez.
After nearly three minutes on his back, repeated elbows to his skull forced the referee to stop the bout, making Rodriguez the new champion after being dominated throughout the bout.
It was a huge shock given how impressive Couture had been, and the crowd let the UFC know with their boos.
They’d be glad to know that Rodriguez’s reign did not last very long.
Tim Sylvia quickly finished Ricco Rodriguez in his first title defense after Randy Couture victory
Rodriguez’s title celebrations would not last long, as a six-foot-eight giant of a man was the first contender for his freshly won belt.
Six months after he won the vacant UFC Heavyweight title, Rodriguez lost it in the first round of his battle against Tim Sylvia at UFC 41.
Rodriguez attempted to grapple with Sylvia, failing to lock in an armbar as the size and strength of Sylvia made it difficult to contend with.
The bout ended in spectacular fashion, as Sylvia sent the champion flying across the ring with a massive right hand, before a ground-and-pound assault ended the title fight.
Sylvia was the new world champion after Rodriguez was beaten just three minutes into his first fight since shocking Couture.