Couture Officially Back with UFC / Signs Multi-Fight Deal

The waiting is over my friends. Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture has officially returned to the UFC under a new multi-fight contract.

UFC President Dana White made the announcement today at 4pm ET during a press conference call. On top of that White announced that Couture will take on Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 on November 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The event which was originally expected to take place at the Rose Garden.

White, who duked it out with Couture for a number of months inside the courtroom, also stated that the legal conflict between the two has been resolved.

“All I give a [expletive] about is that he’s back and fighting,” White said.

White and Couture had been emersed in a back and forth legal war ever since Randy resigned from the organization back in October. Couture originally left because he was dissatisfied with his pay and due to the fact that the UFC was unable to set up a fight with the undisputed heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko. Apparently both sides gave a little to forge this new deal.

“I think some compromises were made on both sides,” Couture said.

While White has made it clear that he wants Emelianenko in the UFC, the chances of the proposed mega-match happening in January or February are growing slim. Supporting this, White confirmed that the winner of Couture vs Lesnar will face the winner of Nogueira vs Mir for the unified heavyweight title sometime in 2009.

If all goes as planned for White, Couture could end up fighting Nogueira for the title as originally planned. Couture turned down the fight with “Minotauro” during their ongoing legal feud.