Even Randy Couture’s Wife is Bored by Tim Sylvia

UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture (14-8 MMA, 11-5 UFC) recently announced that he signed a UFC contract to return to the Octagon.

After an 11-month retirement, Couture said the lure of fighting was just too strong, and he’s now set to face UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (23-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in UFC 68’s main event in Columbus, Ohio, on March 3.

The 43-year-old former UFC champion, broadcaster and ambassador recently penned a column for The Fight Network explaining the details of why he decided to ink a four-fight/two-year deal and take on Sylvia. And as it turns out, he wasn’t the only one who wanted the belt taken away from the heavyweight champ. Couture’s wife, Kim, also was bugged by Sylvia.

From Couture’s column for thefightnetwork.com:

I definitely questioned the decision, went back-and-forth. Friends were constantly texting me, “You need to come back and beat the giant. You need to come back and be the heavyweight champion again. You look healthier and you look like yourself again at heavyweight. Get your butt in shape and come back and beat the giant.”

Even Kim said, “You can beat these guys. You should go back and fight Chuck Liddell or fight Tito Ortiz again. You can beat Tim Sylvia. Look at that heavyweight. You can compete with that heavyweight.” My wife was as excited about the sport and me making a comeback as anybody…

(Man, Sylvia just gets no love from anyone.)

Couture’s decision to return to the UFC wasn’t fueled just by Sylvia, though. In fact, some of the UFC’s recent marquee signings played a part in the decision.

Said Couture:

In the last few weeks, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has come on the radar, obviously another top fighter who’d be another interesting fight. Tim’s standing there with the title and needing an opponent, and is also, I think, an interesting and formidable opponent.

It has always been about the competition for me. These are some interesting fights. These fights excite me. These fights challenge me. Even at 43 years of age, I have more things I can accomplish and more things that I can do. In my opinion, I can still compete with these guys and beat them.

You gotta give the guy credit. You have fighters who say they want to fight the best and that they can beat the best. But when it’s time to sign on the dotted line, they’re looking for easier fights and suddenly feel they need more experience.

Not so with Couture. The guy wants to fight best.

And in a couple months, we’ll find out if he can still beat some of the best.