• UFC 118

Couture rejects suggestions that he's lost his chin

ESPN staff
August 14, 2010
Randy Couture was dropped on more than one occasion by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira © Getty Images
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Randy Couture has rubbished suggestions that his chin has deserted him ahead of his UFC 118 clash with James Toney.

Couture goes into the August 28 bout knowing one punch from three-time IBF champion boxer Toney could be enough to register a hurtful loss, not only for Couture but for MMA.

At 47 years of age, Couture has been dropped in three of his last four fights, and he has also seen long-time rival Chuck Liddell seemingly lose his ability to absorb serious damage. Against a boxer like Toney, Couture knows it is essential to close the gap untouched in order to complete the takedown, although he resents claims that his chin has gone.

"I don't know that I agree with that," he said. "You want to go back to the [Minotauro] Nogueira fight, yeah I got knocked on my can twice. Obliviously I was technically exposing myself in the fire fights that engaged in that fight. And probably I should have relied a little more heavily on my Greco background in that particular fight.

"But I've really only been knocked out one time in my entire career and that was by Chuck Liddell the second time we fought.

"Certainly I've been flashed and knocked on my butt a couple times but I don't think that's an indication that my chin is weak. I've recovered and finished the fight against Nogueira.

"Obviously Lesnar flashed me, but he's a great big guy, 290 pounds. I think he's probably going to flash a lot of guys if he hits you behind the ear but I don't think that's something you train, it's not something you worry about."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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