[vader]

Heavyweight champ 'tired of swimming upstream'

ATLANTA (SI.com) -- Mixed martial arts legend Randy Couture announced his retirement on Thursday, leaving the UFC heavyweight title up for grabs.

Couture, 44, faxed his letter of resignation to the UFC, stating that he is completely cutting ties with the organization he helped build. He is not only surrendering his belt but also stepping aside as broadcast commentator, spokesman and ambassador for the leading brand in MMA.

"I appreciate this opportunity the sport of MMA and the UFC has given me," Couture said in the letter. "However, I'm tired of swimming upstream at this stage with the management of the UFC. It only makes sense at this point in my career to fight Fedor Emelianenko, and since he's now signed with another organization, I feel like it's time to resign and focus on my other endeavours.

Read the full article here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/m ... index.html

[Grundy]

wow! red tape even on the MMA scene eh?

read this part on the longer version of the article:
Couture's announcement was sent from South Africa, where he is on location filming the movie, The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian.

wasnt this the 2002 the Mummy Spin-off movie of the Rock ?

[carthut]

[vader]

[carthut]