A legendary UFC Hall of Famer announced his octagonal arrival in style on this day in 1997.
Although no longer the case, the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments came out with hunters who compete several times on one night.
Royce Gracie saw the very first history at UFC 1 in 1993, where the Brazilian legend Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau defeated to take the crown.
One of the most memorable tournaments went four years later at UFC 13, and it contained the debut of a man who would become a six -time champion and enter the 'Pioneer Wing' of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Randy Couture forced 300 pounds of heavyweight to tap on the way to winning UFC 13 tournament
UFC 13 took place in the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Georgia, on 30 May 1997. The event is synonymous with the debut of Randy Couture.
'The Natural' was one of the four names that participated in a heavyweight tournament from the same night, and the then star wasted little time to impress.
In the semi-final, Couture was given the task of beating Tony Halme, a Finnish heavyweight of 300 pounds that at the time had a 4-2 record in professional boxing.
Despite an abnormality of almost 100 pounds, Couture comfortably dominated the man who is known as 'The Viking', so that he quickly brought down and submitted him a second choke in just 60 seconds.
The UFC debut from Randy Couture was unforgettable!
The first moments of a legend in the Octagon! Randy Couture's UFC debut was unforgettable 👊📺📱 Experience the most iconic moments of the UFC in the last 30 years at UFC Fight Pass again
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Couture then beat another big opponent in the final and stopped Steven Graham in just over three minutes to win the heavyweight tournament.
Joe Rogan described Randy Couture as 'Captain America' during UFC 34 Walkout
Couture did not look back in the UFC after his debut performances. He became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, double UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and one-off interim-PUC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Under a number of awards and records, the 61-year-old in the history books is the first hunter to win titles in two separate weight classes in the UFC.
Couture achieved the top on heavyweight for the first time, with one of his most memorable results that came in the defense of the title at UFC 34, the first event that took place after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Before Pedro Rizzo was eliminated in their rematch, Couture ran away in the colors of the United States, calling Joe Rogan to make comparisons with Captain America on comment.
“Joe Rogan was in the announcement team [at UFC 34]… I fight Pedro Rizzo, “Couture told MMA Junkie in 2020.” It was my first time I saw my name and face on billboards and it was a huge experience. That fight also took place after 9/11 and the first show we had after 9/11.
“They still did pyrotechnics for inputs in the show. I chose to wear a red, white and blue track suit when I walked away. And when I walked away, I greeted the crowd and Joe Rogan said:” That is Captain America. That guy is my hero. “And that's where it came from.
However, one man was apparently not a fan of the name …
Dana White, whose relationship with Couture often deteriorated, rejected Rogan's description of the UFC star during a MediaSchrum, and insisted that he was “the furthest of Captain America.”