10 Most Anticipated Returns In UFC History

2. Randy Couture (UFC 68)

Randy Couture celebrates his win against James Toney during their UFC fight at the TD Garden on Saturday, August 28, 2010 in Boston, MA. Couture won via first round triangle choke. (Gregory Payan/AP Photo)
Gregory Payan/AP

Anyone who decides to step out of retirement to fight (and win) inside the Octagon - at the age of 43 - deserves all the acclaim that comes their way.

To do all that and become the UFC Heavyweight Champion should be damn near impossible, yet that's exactly what Randy Couture did.

On the same UFC 57 card that Frank Mir made his motorcycle crash return, Couture would be knocked out by Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck Liddell, in the second round. He announced his retirement shortly after.

Many felt that this was in fact the end for Couture and - after falling to Liddell twice - he had nothing else left to give to the sport.

He would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, but Captain America had other plans than just simply stewing in retirement. He announced in January 2007 that he'd be coming back to fight inside the Octagon.

Fans were anxious to see how the old warrior would get on but - after just over a year of retirement - Couture returned to capture the Heavyweight title for the third time in his career, defeating Tim Sylvia at UFC 68.

He would finally go on to call it quits four years later, but Couture managed to prove all those doubters in 2006 wrong.

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Gareth has 6 years experience writing and presenting articles/videos covering all things professional wrestling within the fantastic WhatCulture team. Gareth is also a life long wrestling fan, so is clearly living the dream!