UFC is becoming WWE, claims MMA legend

Randy Couture, a renowned MMA legend and former three-time UFC heavyweight champion, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of mixed martial arts. In his view, the sport has deviated from its traditional roots, becoming more similar to WWE, a professional wrestling promotion.

Couture argues that the best fighters in MMA should compete against each other regardless of their affiliations. He believes that promotions like the UFC and others have created their own exclusive fiefdoms, setting their own rankings and titles, and offering favorable treatment to fighters in their stable. This, he claims, is detrimental to the sport, leading to a closed system that is not true prize fighting.

Instead, Couture advocates for a system where the champions of different promotions, like the IBO and WBO belts, meet in the ring to determine the ultimate champion. He believes this traditional approach, reminiscent of boxing, would restore the integrity and excitement of MMA, rather than the current trend of trash talk and character-based promotions.