Randy Couture Set to Retire After Fight With Lyoto Machida

By Kelsey Mowatt

Randy Couture has rarely had a fight over the last few years that wasn’t surrounded by questions regarding whether or not his next bout would be his last. Well, despite having won three straight fights heading into his April 30 tilt with fellow, former light-heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida, the ageless, 47 year-old wonder will almost certainly hang up the gloves after UFC 129. (Pictured: Couture punching Chuck Liddell) The 19-10 fighter was quoted saying on the official UFC website:

“I want to go out on my terms and decide when enough is enough, and I think that time is come,” said Couture. “I’ve had a great camp, everything is spot on, I can’t wait until next week. It’s a fight I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and it’s finally gonna happen. But it’s time to focus on the other things I’ve got going on in my life after this fight.”

Of course, Couture has demonstrated time and time again throughout his storied career that it’s unwise to count him out against any opponent. Couture could score a victory over Machida at UFC 129, a man that until last year had gone undefeated and was cited frequently in best pound-for-pound discussions. Although a win over Machida would unquestionably reassert Couture in the title shot mix, it appears as though the decorated fighter isn’t interested in making another title run.

“That was one of the things that I struggled with because I am as healthy as ever,” said Couture while discussing the fact he continues to perform despite the fact he’s approaching 50. “I feel great and I absolutely have the ability to continue to compete at this level. But I don’t want to wait until I have those issues to think about and weigh into training camp or a fight. I don’t want to wait until I have that injury and have doctors telling me ‘hey look, you can’t fight anymore.”

While the UFC will soon welcome the promotion’s biggest event in history, when it heads to a sold out Rogers Centre in Toronto later this month, it will also evidently celebrate the career of one of its greatest competitors.

READ MORE - Randy Couture Set to Retire After Fight With Lyoto Machida

Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo Confirmed for UFC Live 4

By FCF Staff

The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues to roll out the line-up for the promotion’s upcoming, June 26^th, UFC Live on Versus 4 event, as today a heavyweight tilt between renowned strikers Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry has been added to the card. UFC Live 4 will be hosted by Pittsburg’s Consol Center and will be broadcast live on the Versus Network.

Barry (6-2) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joey Beltran in January, after being submitted by Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic last June at UFC 115.

Kongo (15-6-2) will be looking to return to the winner’s column, after battling Travis Browne to a draw this past October at UFC 120. Prior to that, the French heavyweight stopped veteran Paul Buentello in the third round at UFC Live 1 last March, to end a two fight losing streak.

UFC Live 4 will feature the welterweight debut of Nate Marquardt in the main event, who will take on rising contender Anthony Johnson.

READ MORE - Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo Confirmed for UFC Live 4

Brian Bowles and Takeya Mizugaki Agree to UFC 132 Fight

By FCF Staff

Former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles and the resilient vet Takeya Mizugaki have agreed to fight at the upcoming July 2^nd, UFC 132 card in Las Vegas, Nevada. The promotion made the announcement via its official website.

Bowles (9-1) recently competed for the first time in approximately twelve months, at UFC Live 3 in March, and choked out Damacio Page in the first round. Bowles had not fought since he lost the bantamweight title, via doctor stoppage, to Dominick Cruz in March, 2010. The Georgia fighter KO’d Miguel Torres in August, 2009, to become the WEC champ.

Mizugaki (14-5-2) is coming off a split decision victory over Reuben Duran, at the UFC Live card last month, after getting caught in a Urijah Faber guillotine choke at WEC 52 in November. Mizugaki also scored a unanimous decision win over Rani Yahya in 2010.

UFC 132 will be headlined by a bantamweight fight between the aforementioned champion Cruz and the challenger Faber.

Some of the other bouts that have been confirmed for the card include Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim, Chris Leben vs. Wanderlei Silva and Ryan Bader vs. Tito Ortiz.

READ MORE - Brian Bowles and Takeya Mizugaki Agree to UFC 132 Fight

Alistair Overeem and Golden Glory Continue Relief Efforts in Japan

By FCF Staff; photos courtesy Fight Game / Golden Glory

Over a month after the tragic disasters began unfolding in Japan, Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Ovreem and his Golden Glory Team, continue to promote Red Cross relief efforts that provide assistance for the people of the Asian nation.

Kickboxing legend Ernesto Hoost accompanied Overeem to an exhibition soccer game between the Shimizu S Pulse Club and Holland’s Ajax, to help raise money towards the cause. To promote further aid, Golden Glory and Fight Game will hold a Glory World Series, May 28^th, in Moscow, Russia.

Recently, Golden Glory’s, K-1 star Semy Schilt toured Japan to help raise funds for the victims of the March earthquake and tsunami. To look at various donation and assistance options from the American Red Cross, head here.

READ MORE - Alistair Overeem and Golden Glory Continue Relief Efforts in Japan

Patrick Cote Talks Latest Win; Looking to June for Next Fight

 By Kelsey Mowatt

It may not have been the highlight reel, knockout win he was hoping for, but Patrick Cote did what he had to do in his recent Ringside MMA bout with Kalib Starnes, by working his way to a unanimous decision win. After being taken down by Starnes in the opening round, Cote reportedly rebounded in rounds two and three, and outscored the UFC vet to earn the judge’s nod.

“I lost the first round by my fault,” Cote told FCF. “The strategy was to box with him, to go in and out a lot, but I started the fight with two leg kicks which I wasn’t supposed to do. He took me down, but I was very relaxed and I didn’t panic at all. The second and third rounds I just opened more, boxed him, and I took him down. I passed his guard, elbowed him, did a lot, so I felt pretty good.”

It’s no secret that Cote was in need of a win, as heading into his April 9^th bout with Starnes, the noted striker hadn’t won a fight since July, 2008, when he earned a split decision win over Ricardo Almeida. Cote proceeded to spend nearly 20 months on the sidelines after injuring his knee during his UFC 90 bout with UFC champ Anderson Silva, and was cut by the UFC last year, after dropping back-to-back losses to Alan Belcher and Tom Lawlor.

“For sure I wanted to finish the fight,” Cote added. “I tried really hard but I got the win, which was the most important thing, to get back on the winning side.”

Aside from recording his 14^th pro win and ending a three fight losing skid, another positive Cote can take away from the fight is that he was able to negate the ground skills of Starnes, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt.

“For sure, you know my top game is pretty good,” said Cote, when asked if he was pleased with how he performed against Starnes when the fight was on the mat. “I’m very comfortable and I’m very confident in my top game; I passed his guard, did a lot of good ground-and-pound, so yeah, he was tougher than I thought but I won and it’s a big relief.”

Due to Cote’s extensive accomplishments it didn’t take long for the Quebec fighter to find work in Canada, and having emerged from his bout with Starnes relatively unscathed, one would think that Ringside will look to have him fight again as soon as possible.

“I don’t have any injury, so I’m going back to the gym tomorrow,” said Cote, who signed a two fight deal with Ringside MMA earlier this year. “I’m planning to fight June 4^th; that’s the plan right now, so I’m going to talk to my team and management, but that’s what I want. I’m already in shape and healthy, so I want to fight again soon.”

“Not yet,” Cote added, when asked if he’s had any discussions about a possible opponent. “I’m going to talk to my team and we’ll see...I think we’re looking for more of a striker this time who is going to strike with me on my feet and put on a good show for the crowd. No matter what happens I’ll fight whoever they give me; I’ve never chosen my opponent in my life and that’s not going to start soon.”

Since exiting from the UFC, Cote has always been adamant about his desire is to return to the organization where he once was a title contender. While this latest victory is certainly a step in the right direction to that end, Cote understands there’s still more work to do.

“Nobody has called me,” said Cote, who continues to work with the UFC as a commentator for the promotion’s French broadcasts. “You know I knew it. This is in my hands; I just have to continue to win and it’s going to happen soon.”

READ MORE - Patrick Cote Talks Latest Win; Looking to June for Next Fight

Video: Alexander Volkov Highlight Video

By FCF Staff

Heavyweight Alexander Volkov will take on Dennis Goltsov at the upcoming April 28th, M-1 Challenge XXV card in St. Petersburg, Russia. Below is a video featuring highlights of the 6'7  tall Volkov, who will head into the bout sporting a 10-3 record.

READ MORE - Video: Alexander Volkov Highlight Video

Lyman Good vs. Dan Hornbuckle Booked for Bellator 44

By FCF Staff


Bellator Fighting Championships has announced that the promotion’s former welterweight champ Lyman Good and Season 2 finalist Dan Hornbuckle, will fight May 14th for an opportunity to compete in next season’s 170lb. tourney. (Pictured: Good (left) and Hornbuckle)

“Good vs. Hornbuckle is a fight a lot of MMA fans, myself included, have wanted to see for quite some time,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “These two guys have Bellator in their blood, and on May 14th one will move into our next Tournament and one will go home. This promises to be a great fight on May 14th at Caesars.”

Good (11-2) is coming off a split decision loss to accomplished Judo competitor Rick Hawn at Bellator 39 earlier this month, after battling to a unanimous decision win over Chris Lozano in March. Prior to that, at Bellator 33 last October, Good lost the welterweight title by UD to current champ Ben Askren.

“A lot of people didn’t know I had about a two week layoff before my fight with Rick because I got sick,” Good was quoted saying in the official announcement. “90 percent of a fight is always mental, and when I got in the cage, it never really felt like it was my fight.”

After carrying a six fight winning streak into 2010, Hornbuckle (22-4) has dropped two of his last three bouts, with losses coming by unanimous decision to Askren, and more recently, Brent Weedman. The Sengoku vet scored a decision win over Brad Blackburn in between the defeats.

“There’s no excuse for my loss to Brent Weedman,” said Hornbuckle. “It's my fault for not pulling the trigger. I can only be mad at myself for not taking the opportunity to finish the fight. No more of that. This fight with Lyman [Good], the proof will be in the pudding - mark my words. Just watch, as soon as that bell rings, I'm going to be sprinting dead at him and I'm going to put my knee dead in his face.”

Bellator 44 will be hosted by Caesars in Atlantic City, New Jersey and will be broadcast live on MTV 2. The card will be headlined by a non-title bout between middleweight champ Hector Lombard and veteran Falaniko Vitale.

The lightweight tourney championship bout between Michael Chandler and Patrick Freire will also take place on the card.

READ MORE - Lyman Good vs. Dan Hornbuckle Booked for Bellator 44

Video: Patricio Freire Stopping Wilson Reis

By FCF Staff

Patricio "Pitbull" Freire scored a third round stoppage over Wilson Reis last night in Yuma, Arizona, to advance to the final's of the promotion's season four, featherweight tourney. Video of the bout's final moments is below.

READ MORE - Video: Patricio Freire Stopping Wilson Reis