Randy Couture’s longevity up for discussion in today’s National Post

And over at the National Post I’ve written a little UFC 105 perspective piece on Randy Couture, the 46-year-old warhorse who just may be the greatest fighter over 40 of all time. Here’s an excerpt:

So when people speak of Couture’s longevity as a fighter, he’s often compared to other great fighters, namely boxers. Sometimes Evander Holyfield’s name comes up — Holyfield fought for the WBO heavyweight belt at 44 and the WBA belt at 46 — or Bernard Hopkins, who lost his light heavyweight tilt just last year at age 43. But usually, it’s grill salesman extraordinaire George Foreman.

Foreman was 45 when he reclaimed the WBA heavyweight crown by knocking out Michael Moorer in the 10th round of their title fight in 1994. It was an incredible accomplishment certainly, although Moorer was not exactly Mike Tyson and the 13-4 record Foreman had amassed over the five years leading up to the bout included more than a few tomato cans with soft chins.

Couture’s resume is not nearly so spotty, with bouts against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Vitor Belfort, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia, Kevin Randleman, Maurice Smith and Brock Lesnar, who won the UFC heavyweight belt off Couture one year ago.

A more accurate comparison might be to boxing legend Archie Moore, who won the light heavyweight title at age 39 and went on to defend it for seven years, then lost it and regained it at age 48. He finished his career with a staggering 185-23 record while also racking up more knockouts — 131 — than any fighter in history.

But then, comparing boxing and MMA is like apples and oranges. Boxing has been around a long time and has evolved little, and today the top contenders have their course to the title lined with journeyman opponents, which is why you see champions like Floyd Mayweather Jr. with a record of 40-0. That kind of unbeaten streak just wouldn’t happen in MMA, where fighters are constantly battling for the belt like it’s a game of King of the Mountain — as soon as a fighter is thrown off he’s scrambling to climb back up.