Couture stops Sylvia for UFC heavyweight crown

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Randy Couture added to his resume Saturday night, winning the world regaining the world heavyweight title of mixed martial arts with a five-round decision over Ellsworth native Tim Sylvia before a sellout crowd of 19,049 at Nationwide Arena.

Couture, 43, spotted 6 inches of height and 41 pounds to the 6-foot-8, 263-pound Sylvia but took immediate control of the fight by sending the champion to the mat with a right hook seconds into the first round. Couture dominated each of the five-minute rounds and claimed the heavyweight championship for the third time.

He also is a two-time UFC light-heavyweight champion.

Sylvia’s record fell to 25-3, while Couture – who came out of a 12-month retirement for the fight – improved to 15-8.

“He kept me off balance all night,” said Sylvia, a two-time champion. “He kept me guessing the whole 25 minutes.”