This fight might not be on many people's lists (much less high on it), but Randy Couture's title defense against Gabriel Gonzaga holds a special place in my heart. is occupying.
Even though Couture has essentially built his career as an “old man who overcame adversity,” this game against Gonzaga feels very different from his recent title fight against then-champion Tim Sylvia. It was done.
Not only was Gonzaga a much younger, multifaceted threat, but the Brazilian also suffered one of the craziest knockouts in mixed martial arts history when he decapitated Mirko Filipovic with the Croatian's signature head kick. It was slipping out.
On this day in 2007, Gabriel Gonzaga shocked the mixed martial arts world by knocking out Mirko Cro Cop with a brutal head kick in the main event of UFC 70 in Manchester. #UFC70 #mixed martial arts
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) April 21, 2023
After that, even Couture's most ardent supporters seemed a little nervous about “The Natural” heading into UFC 74.
But in classic haute couture fashion, the 44-year-old stunner puts his will on a bigger, younger, stronger man while showing off some highly underrated techniques in the process. I was able to push it.
Randy Couture uses an overtie to defeat Gabriel Gonzaga's double collar tie and hits an uppercut. pic.twitter.com/kLyI0vdVjT
— MixingMartialArts (@RyanAWagMMA) July 13, 2023
On his way to blatant bullying, Couture also managed to land one of the cruelest single leg lifts you can see in MMA, breaking Gonzaga's nose on the way down.
naturals@Randy_Couture Hit Gabriel Gonzaga in the head pic.twitter.com/G9nv0jIa3N
— Schwick (@schwick6) February 6, 2023
In addition to this fight being one of the largest age differences in UFC contest history, Couture also became the oldest fighter ever to defend a UFC title.
