Heavyweights leave hole

Now, the organization is left with neither fighter and a big hole at the top of the division, as Fedor Emelianenko has signed with a Russian promotion and UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture responded by resigning from the Las Vegas-based UFC.

A brief statement released by Couture’s camp cited the champion’s many opportunities outside the octagon as the reason for the decision: "Randy is very excited to embark on a promising career in acting. He’s currently shooting a lead role in Universal’s ‘The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian,’ in South Africa and has more offers on the table."

However, the UFC’s failure to sign Emelianenko appears much more likely to be the cause of Couture’s sudden decision.

Reports surfaced Wednesday that Russian promotion M-1 Mix-Fight Championship had landed the rights to the man most experts rank as the best heavyweight in the world.

The 44-year-old Couture’s decision followed Thursday morning from the set of his movie. The statement went on to address his disappointment with the UFC’s inability to land Emelianenko: "(Randy’s) heart will always belong to the sport … but it was a matter of respect, and Randy felt the need to move on. Fedor Emelianenko was Randy’s last great challenge, and with that prospect gone, he feels he has accomplished all that he can in mixed martial arts."

Couture’s resignation from the company includes not only his fighting but also his duties as a broadcaster on select UFC telecasts. It marks the second time he has stepped away from the sport.

Couture, a Las Vegan, retired for more than a year after losing the rubber match of his trilogy of bouts with Chuck Liddell in February 2006. He returned to win the UFC’s heavyweight belt from Tim Sylvia in March, a title he successfully defended with a knockout of Gabriel Gonzaga Aug. 25 at Mandalay Bay.

The organization’s president, Dana White, was not as shocked by Thursday’s decision as most fans and observers, according to his statement on the UFC’s Web site: "I’m not surprised at all by Randy’s decision. I talked to Randy several weeks ago and he said that if he couldn’t fight Fedor, then he has nothing left to prove in the sport of mixed martial arts."

The desire to make that fight a reality leaves open the possibility that Couture, a five-time UFC titleholder in two weight classes, could be stepping away only to resurface elsewhere in a bout with Emelianenko.

White appeared to address that in his statement: "As we all know, Randy retired before. The landscape in MMA changes every day. So when he is ready to come out of retirement again, he is still under contract with me, and I’m ready to promote him."

In addition to acting, Couture will have more time to spend on his business ventures. He runs the Xtreme Couture gyms in Las Vegas and three other cities and also operates a clothing line by the same name.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.