Then after a 13 month layoff at the age of 43, Couture came back to fight UFC’s gigantic heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, who is 13 years younger, 7 inches taller and nearly 50 pounds heavier. Most people felt the fight would be a slaughter. (I actually felt Randy was much too skilled for Sylvia, whose only significant attribute is his size) Many feared for Couture’s health, legacy, sanity, maybe even his life. It was virtually unanimous, the old man was going to get beat down. Get the stretcher ready, warm up the hearse while you’re at it.
Why would he come back and risk so much?
Well, last night at UFC 68, Randy Couture scored one for all of us old guys out there. He shocked the world by dominating his much larger and younger opponent on his way to a lopsided unanimous decision. He became the first five-time world champion in UFC history.
I know why Randy Couture came back. I understand it. There is just something about competition. About challenging yourself. About winning.
I can see him standing in the octagon. With his hand raised and a world championship belt around his waist. I bet he suffered while training. Those wind sprints can kill a person. Grappling until near exhaustion. Sparring, punching, lifting weights. Hours and hours and hours on end. A strict diet. Every single day. Pure torture.
And, I bet right now Randy Couture thinks all of those sacrifices were worth it.
So, here’s what I believe. You are never too old to go for your dreams. Never convince yourself that you are not good enough for what you want. In anything. Not just sports, but life. Because there will always be doubters. There will always be naysayers. That’s just life. Never let the small-minded dictate what you can or cannot do. It’s easy to sit back and second guess, and it’s easy to make excuses. Just go for it. Who cares what anybody else out there thinks, you know who you are and what it will take for you to be happy.
For me though, this time feels different. Right now, I don’t seem that old. My old injuries are healed up and I feel pretty good.. I am more dedicated and determined than I ever have been. I am two weeks into my latest “comeback” and I think I’m going to ride this one out.
See what happens.
Maybe someday I can score one for us old guys, too.
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