Randy Couture retires (again)

[username8517]

Not much on the UFC website, but it appears he quit because Fedor signed with M-1 the other day.

Link

Do you think he'll come out of retirement again given that he still has two contracted fights with the UFC?

[bushido_man96]

It looks like White is willing to work with him on this. I kind of like Couture's approach about wanting to fight the best, and that is Fedor at this time.

I wonder why Fedor won't sign with the UFC?

[username8517]

I wonder why Fedor won't sign with the UFC?

Well the reasoning listed in this article is that Dana White wanted Fedor to sign an exclusive contract to only compete in the UFC. This would have barred him from competing in Sambo tournaments. Given that Fedor is a three time World Combat Sambo Champion, can't really say I blame the guy

[bushido_man96]

Ah, yes. That does make sense. You can't really blame White, though. He wants to protect his investments. Sometimes, you just have to give in.

I see things kind of like that in NASCAR racing all of the time. A few years back, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was trying to improve his ability to race on road courses by running in an IROC race. During the race, he wrecked, the car caught fire, and he ended up getting burned pretty bad, and missed some time for NASCAR. The sponsors don't like it when the guy they are paying to win races isn't in the car, so he was kind of forced to cut back on the extra-curricular racing activities. However, you then have guys like Tony Stewart, who will race in anything, no matter what.

[username8517]

Actually I spent some time poking around the internet yesterday regarding this new M-1 league. Turns out that Fedor's manager is going to have a certain percentage of ownership in it (though what percent I couldn't find).

Could always be that this was more of an issue of money. If Fedor signed an exculisity clause it would effectively take money out of M-1.

Is that the reasoning, I don't know. But it's definately food for thought.

[marie curie]

With Randy it was also that he wasn't being paid that much. When UFC bought Pride, they agreed to pay a lot of the guys 6 figure salaries win or loose, where some UFC guys get $5000 when they win. It sucks, but its what they had to do to get the Pride guys to go to UFC and not another league. Dana was reporting that Randy was making second most in the league after Chuck, but that was including his own sponsors.

Also, Faydor may have seen how badly Pride guys are doing in UFC (not used to the cuts do to elbow, and thus not properly defending, plus some like the ring's corners to stick people in, but the octagon is easier to get out of being trapped against a corner) and not want to go loose.

[bushido_man96]

Interesting points, bearich. It could be the case.

As for Fedor being worried about the environment of the UFC, I am not sure. Perhaps.