But for Couture to even get this far has been nothing short of amazing.

In March, Couture came out of a 13-month retirement to defeat 6-foot-8, 263-pound Tim Sylvia to win the UFC Heavyweight Title for a third time. After the fight, in front of one of the loudest crowds I’ve ever been a part of, he quipped, “Not bad for an old man!”

Yet, with Couture, it’s evident that age doesn’t mean a thing.

Most fans didn’t expect Couture to defeat Sylvia. Many fans didn’t expect Couture to defeat Gonzaga.

And he didn’t just defeat either of them. He dominated and manhandled both of them like they had never been before.

Couture is, simply put, a genetic freak. His physical conditioning is second to none and his biggest asset, his brain, allows him to come up with incredible game plans capable of turning the age disadvantage around.

In the fight Saturday, Couture came out and staggered Gonzaga twice in the opening minute and seemingly shook off several hard shots from the powerful challenger. Then Couture locked up and employed his now-famous clinch game, using dirty boxing to get to Gonzaga inside. Outside the clinch, Couture used superior head movement to evade Gonzaga’s strikes.

Then, in what turned out to be the defining moment of the contest, Couture picked Gonzaga up, and even though he tried to illegally hold the fence, slammed him to the mat.

In the process of the violent takedown, Gonzaga broke his nose on Couture’s head and when he scrambled back to his feet, blood began pouring all over Couture’s back.

From there, Gonzaga’s will was all but broke.

In the second round, he complained to referee Herb Dean that he couldn’t see, leading Dean to break the fighters from the clinch and question Gonzaga about whether he wanted to continue or not.

He did, but the writing was on the wall. Gonzaga survived the round, but didn’t make it far into the third.

Couture secured a takedown and pounded on an already defeated Gonzaga, forcing Dean to call a stop to the contest at 1:37 of the third round, sending the crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center into a frenzy.

After such a lengthy and storied career, it’s tough to be surprised at anything Couture does anymore. But he does just that: He keeps on surprising.

As it stands right now, Couture is the two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and already in the UFC Hall of Fame.

And the thing is, his legend is growing by the minute. He’s the face of the UFC and his gym, Xtreme Couture, is in the process of becoming the best gym in the sport, attracting some of the top fighters in the game.

I guess UFC announcer Joe Rogan put it best for all of us after Couture dismantled Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 44: “That guy is my hero!”

Matt Bishop is the State News hockey reporter and an avid Randy Couture fan. E-mail him your favorite fighter at bishop20@msu.edu.