On Thursday, TMZ reported that former UFC champion and Hall of Fame fighter Randy Couture suffered a heart attack on Wednesday.
The outlet reported that Couture “felt off” following a workout in Los Angeles at the Unbreakable MMAgym and walked to a nearby hospital to be checked out. The site reports he is expected to make a full recovery.
After the news spread, Couture’s girlfriend Mindy Robinson issued the following update:
Yes, Randy had a heart attack yesterday, it’s an issue with him having naturally but unusually thick blood. We’ve been in the hospital for tests and observation and he is recovering well.
He has and always will be…the toughest man I know. ?? ♥️ ??https://t.co/5KLDwwWEbm pic.twitter.com/AQ1mCeE3Ch
— Mindy Robinson ?? (@iheartmindy) October 24, 2019
The 56-year old Couture last fought in April 2011 when he was knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in Toronto at the Rogers Centre.
Couture was a three-time UFC heavyweight champion and two-time light heavyweight champion in a career that spanned fourteen years. He was instrumental during the dark days of the sport and into the Zuffa era when Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta bought the company in 2001 along with Dana White.
As light heavyweight champion, he coached alongside Chuck Liddell on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter that premiered on Spike TV in January 2005. Couture and Liddell fought on pay-per-view at the season’s end at UFC 52 in April 2005 where Liddell stopped Couture and won the title. They had a rematch in February 2006 that Liddell also won.
Couture retired after the second loss to Liddell but returned in March 2007 for one of the most memorable fights of the era. Couture returned to the heavyweight division and defeated champion Tim Sylvia in March 2007 with an electric atmosphere in Columbus, Ohio as the crowd counted down the final seconds of the fifth round to signal Couture’s improbable win.
After one title defense in August, Couture and the UFC’s relationship splintered with the champion wanting out of his contract but failed to do so. In the end, Couture returned to the company and fought Brock Lesnar in November 2008 where the rising heavyweight unseated the lineal champion.
Couture would go between heavyweight and light heavyweight in his final years and went into the Machida fight following a string of victories over Brandon Vera, former heavyweight champion Mark Coleman, and boxer James Toney.
Couture currently serves as an analyst for the Professional Fighters League.
We send our best wishes to Couture for a fast and full recovery.
