MMA legacy: Coleman vs Couture

I had an idea that I thought would create a lot of great debate amongst the us. Basically, im going to get two Armbar HOFers, and compare there legacy. Im then going to see who everyone on the forum think has the greater legacy and is the better fighter. This isn't a case of who would win a fight, just who has had the greater career. I'm going to see how many votes each fighter gets and im also going to consider everyone's reasoning behind there decision. Id also like people to try and be as objective as possible.

First up are two HOF favorites, The Natural and the Hammer. I chose this one because I know both have there fans and I think there is a good case for both. So who do you think has the better legacy?


Randy Couture

Age: 47

Record: 19-10

Accomplishments: UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament, 3 time UFC Heavyweight champion, 2 time UFC LHW champion, UFC HOF, Armbar HOF

Notable wins: Vitor Belfort 2x, Randleman, (prime) Maurice Smith, Kohsaka, Horn, Rizzo 2x, Liddell, Ortiz, Sylvia, (prime) Gonzaga and Coleman.

Mark Coleman

Age: 45

Record: 16-10

Accomplishments: Pride 2000 Grand Prix Champion, UFC 10 Tournament Champion, UFC 11 Tournament champion, 1st ever UFC HW champion, UFC HOF, Armbar HOF

Notable wins: Don Frye x2, Dan Severn, Igor, Fujita, Stephan Bonnar


I think most can agree that there fight has little bearing on this. Both were past there prime and Coleman put on the worst performance of his career.

With that being said I would still have to give it to Randy Couture. While Coleman had a better start to his career, Couture has had the better overall Couture. I think he has the bigger and better wins. He has had more titles as well and has been a bigger overall superstar.

So Coleman or Couture?

I don't think these two can even be compared, especially when you look at Coutures notable wins as opposed to Colemans!

yeah they are two decorated fighters but im saying randy.

And also Coutures achievements are much more impressive, AND i also believe that Coutures win over Coleman shouldn't be discredited as Couture was actually the older competitor!

the coleman - couture fight was colemans worst preformance if you ask me,

So? Thats not Coutures fault is it?

The_Axe_Emperor wrote:So? Thats not Coutures fault is it?

never said it was, the ufc built it up like it was going to be a war of two hall of famers and it was just one sided.

Again, thats not Coutures fault, so i dont think it should be discredited as a good win.

Couture is a freak and I doubt any fighter will be able to compete at the level he does at his age. There Career's were decided a long time before they fought, so for me there is very little relevancy.

im trying to think of who else was in the pride 2000 GP. coleman was at his best during his first stint in ufc and a bit in pride while randy peaked later on.

Goodridge, Satake, Fujita, Igor, Sakuraba, Gracie, Mezger, Inoue and Kerr were the key names who competed in that Gran-prix. Lot of talented fighters.

ChelseaQuinsfan wrote:Couture is a freak and I doubt any fighter will be able to compete at the level he does at his age. There Career's were decided a long time before they fought, so for me there is very little relevancy.

Maybe they will if they abuse HGH like he does.


i voted for Coleman.

i think, to an extent he revolutionised fighting, being the first fighter to use "ground and pound" as his principle weapon.

the only other successful wrestler in MMA before was Dan Severn, who really was a well rounded grappler with a submission background too....(coleman made him tap).

If you are going to count Randy's win over Mark as a notable win, given that it was barely the same fighter, and the only time he hasnt tried to take his opponent down in a fight.....
then you must count Marks win over Shogun.


if you count their accomplishments, you have to agree that it takes away from the credibility of Randy's heavyweight career that he was forced down to 205 due to being beat down, then forced to move back up to a very weak HW division, due to being knocked out.


also, to the person who said "just look at their notable wins" thats a subjective list.
Coleman also beat Ricardo Morais. which was an incredible win considering he had just dropped 4 on the bounce and Morais is like...massive monster.
equivalent to Randys win over Tim.

mark also beat sataake, shoji and goes...and faced much better competition over the course of his career.

Coleman beat 2 world number 1s in his later career by the way.

i give it to Coleman.
he won the pride gp man!

using HGH as a way to try and discredit Randy,in something he's being compared to Coleman

It's not even close,Randy beats Coleman in every way,be it who's the better fighter,who accomplished more,who has the greater following,to who has the better wins etc.

He's captain America for fucks sake,loved by millions not a rioded up guy that trains on his front porch and scares his little girls after taking a beating

Randy has won the hearts and respect of a nation,with his achievements and performances,so there is no doubt in my mind that when Randy actually leaves MMA,He'll be leaving behind a far greater legacy that he has built for himself compared to the one Coleman leaves behind.

I believe Randy's name and achievements will be in the memories a far more MMA fans in 20 years time than Coleman's will.

In both of their primes, in a fight at HW, Coleman would have smashed him.

Over the course of their careers Randy has been handed many more opportunities but he has taken advantage of them and Couture has had the better career IMO.

Randy leaves the better legacy but Coleman changed the sport more.

"If you are going to count Randy's win over Mark as a notable win, given that it was barely the same fighter, and the only time he hasnt tried to take his opponent down in a fight.....
then you must count Marks win over Shogun."

Randy battered Coleman fairly. Coleman beat Shogun in a fluke, its a not a comparison. I didn't include Randy's win over Vera because many thought he lost. I also said that there fight have very little bearing on the fight and it doesn't matter who would beat who. It's all about there careers.


"beat Ricardo Morais. which was an incredible win considering he had just dropped 4 on the bounce and Morais is like...massive monster.
equivalent to Randys win over Tim.

mark also beat sataake, shoji and goes...and faced much better competition over the course of his career."

Morias had a record of 10-4. A bit speculative to equivalent to Tim.

Sataake was 8-9 overall ( I don't know his record when he faced Coleman) Goes was 10-5 and Soji was 14-16. Not as good as Coutures wins. There's no doubt Coleman faced better competiton, but he didn't win against the top guys.

payneNglory1 wrote:using HGH as a way to try and discredit Randy,in something he's being compared to Coleman

It's not even close,Randy beats Coleman in every way,be it who's the better fighter,who accomplished more,who has the greater following,to who has the better wins etc.

He's captain America for fucks sake,loved by millions not a rioded up guy that trains on his front porch and scares his little girls after taking a beating

Randy has won the hearts and respect of a nation,with his achievements and performances,so there is no doubt in my mind that when Randy actually leaves MMA,He'll be leaving behind a far greater legacy that he has built for himself compared to the one Coleman leaves behind.

I believe Randy's name and achievements will be in the memories a far more MMA fans in 20 years time than Coleman's will.

well of course because he was a star during the time when MMA was a big sport.

that doesnt really mean anything.

and he doesnt beat coleman in every way, Coleman was ranked #1 at heavyweight TWICE. was Randy ever?
also Coleman (like anfield said) changed the sport more, for the better.
unlike randy who showed everyone the flaws in the judging system