★ Championship Bout · Heavyweight
UFC - Ultimate Japan
Yokohama, Japan
21 Dec 1997
Heavyweight
VS
49%
Couture
51%
Smith
Win Probability
Decision
Round 3 · 3:00
RC
Randy Couture
"The Natural"
19 – 11
6'1"75" reachOrthodox62 yrsWell-Rounded
CFR 21
MS
Maurice Smith
12 – 14
Well-Rounded64 yrsOrthodox6'2"
CFR 21

Combatrics Intelligence

Data-driven breakdown · fighter metrics

Edge: Smith

This is a genuine toss-up — Couture at 49% vs Smith at 51% (CFR ratings). One of the hardest fights to call on the card.

Key angles

Striking split: Couture throws more volume but Smith connects at a higher rate — quality vs quantity.

Risk flags

Couture's chin rating of 0 flags durability concerns based on KO history.

Couture
Smith
Physical Matchup
Height · Reach · Age · Stance
6'1"
Height
+6'2"
75"
Reach
62+
Age
64
Orthodox
Stance
Orthodox
Couture
Smith
Composite Fighter Rating
Overall score combining performance, win quality, momentum & durability
20.6
21.2
62.4
Performance Avg
53.4
60
Quality of Victory
51
72
Momentum Score
76
Couture
Smith
Striking
Significant strikes per minute & accuracy
0.9
0.8
61%
Strike Accuracy
75%
5.1
Striking Style Score (/10)
3.6
6 KOs
KO Finishes
1 KOs
Strike targetStrike target
4
Head
2
0
Body
1
0
Leg
0
RangeRange
0Distance3
0Clinch0
4Ground0
Couture
Smith
Grappling
Takedowns, submissions & wrestling
—
—
0.1
Sub Attempts / fight
—
2.8
Grappling Style Score (/10)
3.2
1.9
Wrestling Style Score (/10)
2.2
0:00
Control Time (this fight)
0:00
0
Reversals
0
Couture
Smith
Durability / Chin
Resilience against knockouts and stoppages
0
94
2 consec. KOs
Verdict
Never stopped
6
KO/TKO Losses
0
0
Sub Losses
0
Avg R2.3 stoppage
KO round context
—
Most recent fight
Last KO loss
—
—
Strikes absorbed / min
—
24/30 fights
Chin rating based on
7/26 fights
Couture
Smith
Form & Momentum
Recent fight performance — most recent weighted 30%
72
76
L · KO · R2
W · Sub · R1
W · Sub · R2
W · Dec · R3
L · Dec · R3
Last 5
L · Dec · R3
W · Dec · R3
W · KO · R1
L · Dec · R2
L · Dec · R3
Couture
Smith
Finish Rate
Percentage of wins by KO/TKO or Submission
63%
50%
6
KO / TKO Wins
1
4
Submission Wins
1
6
Decision Wins
2

Style Fingerprint

Combatrics radar — 6 fighting dimensions scored 0–10

Couture
Smith
Striking5.1 / 3.6Volume3.8 / 5.1Grappling2.8 / 3.2Wrestling1.9 / 2.2Submission2.5 / 2.5Pressure6.4 / 5.2
Fighter 1
Fighter 2
5.1
Striking
KO power & stand-up volume
3.6
2.8
Grappling
Ground control & clinch
3.2
1.9
Wrestling
Takedown threat & defence
2.2
2.5
Submission
Submission attack frequency
2.5
6.4
Pressure
Clinch/ground work rate
5.2
3.8
Volume
Decision-pace fighting
5.1
Couture
Strike Zones
Smith
Couture
Attacking
4HEAD0BODY0LEGS4 landed
Absorbing
2HEAD1BODY0LEGS3 absorbed
Smith
Attacking
2HEAD1BODY0LEGS3 landed
Absorbing
4HEAD0BODY0LEGS4 absorbed
Targeting Overlap
🎯Couture targets the head (100% of attacks) — Smith absorbs 100% of strikes there
🎯Smith targets the head (67% of attacks) — Couture absorbs 67% of strikes there

Round by Round

This fight · per-round breakdown

Couture
RND
Smith
0/0R00/0

Couture · QOF Timeline

Avg: 4.3
0105.0W5.0W5.0W4.5W5.2W4.5W5.2W2.1L4.0L5.2W4.5W4.0L4.2W1.5L5.5W2.1L4.5W5.2W2.1L5.5L4.5W5.2W5.0W2.8L1997-052001-112004-082008-112011-04
WinLossTrend

Smith · QOF Timeline

Avg: 5.0
0104.5W5.0W5.5L4.8L5.0W4.5W5.5L1997-071997-121999-072000-11
WinLossTrend

Couture · Last 5

L · KO · R2
Lyoto MachidaRating 2.8
KO/TKO
UFC 129: St-Pierre vs Shields · 2011-04
W · Sub · R1
James ToneyRating 5
Submission
UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2 · 2010-08
W · Sub · R2
Mark ColemanRating 5.2
Submission
UFC 109: Relentless · 2010-02
W · Dec · R3
Brandon VeraRating 4.5
Decision
UFC 105: Couture vs Vera · 2009-11
L · Dec · R3
Antonio Rodrigo NogueiraRating 5.5
Decision
UFC 102: Couture vs Nogueira · 2009-08

Smith · Last 5

L · Dec · R3
Renato SobralRating 5.5
Decision
UFC 28: High Stakes · 2000-11
W · Dec · R3
Bobby HoffmanRating 4.5
Decision
UFC 27: Ultimate Bad Boyz · 2000-09
W · KO · R1
Marco RuasRating 5
KO/TKO
UFC 21: Return of the Champions · 1999-07
L · Dec · R2
Kevin RandlemanRating 4.8
Decision
UFC 19: Ultimate Young Guns · 1999-03
L · Dec · R3
Randy CoutureRating 5.5
Decision
UFC - Ultimate Japan · 1997-12

News & Media

Randy Couture · Maurice Smith
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