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Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage
Traces the life story of the six-time UFC champion from his fatherless childhood and early victory against Brazilian fighter Vitor Belfort to his defeat of Tito Ortiz for the light-heavyweight title and his post-retirement recapture of the heavyweight championship title.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 1900
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265 people want to read
About the author
Randy Couture
10 books5 followersRandy Couture is a retired mixed martial artist, UFC multiple time champion, actor and author.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 25, 2011
This book was written a few years ago when Randy Couture was supposedly in retirement from fighting. A few weeks ago he had what was probably his last fight when he was knocked out by Lyoto Machida in the second round by a Karate Kid style 'crane' style front kick. It's a pretty impressive looking knock out and the entire fight can be watched here (the sound is about one second out of sync with the video, and you get to hear some great Mike Goldberg manglings of the English language (which if you care, you can also go here to read some of the dumber things he has said: http://forums.fiveknuckles.com/showth...)) :
http://www.videolog.tv/estiloradical/...
Randy Couture seems like a decent guy. He's one of the dominant wave of UFC fighters who came to the sport after being an All-American wrestle, a background that for a while seemed to be the pedigree of most of the best fighters in the sport. He didn't trash talk or act out in immature ways and had the reputation of being a good-guy and a great fighter. Being a good-guy probably makes you an all around better person than being a total asshole, it doesn't make for the most exciting reading.
The first part of this book is a little painful to get through. I feel kind of like an asshole for saying it but I don't care too much to read about childhood hardships and stuff like that. I know, I'm a dick right? I have some sympathy for someone growing up looking for the approval of an absent father and things like that and I guess it's important to how someone develops and it shapes their later life but there was a bit too much of it in the start of the book for me. After reading a few of these MMA biographies I'm starting to wonder if the whole sport is basically just a bunch of guys with absent daddies growing up.
Between the not-so-intersting childhood confessional and the plodding writing style I had a really hard time getting into this book. I felt like someone decided that Couture's writing style should highlight his good guy image and the best way to do that was by giving it an aw-shucks, Leave it to Beaver sort of feel. Maybe this is really his voice, but it all felt a little to stilted, a little too sanitized and a little insincere, especially when in later parts of the book he has some marital problems and cheats on his wife it's still all told with too much of a nice guy feeling to it, as if to minimize the human complexities that are in each and every one of us.
I don't want to read a book like this though to get an insight into the psyche of the person, I read them to read about fighting and when the book gets into his career as a wrestler and later as a professional fighter the book picked up for me. The most interesting moments in the book were about the early history of the UFC and about some of the shadowy dealings that the current owners of the UFC engaged in and how it helped to shape the sport. I had been curious, for example, about why Affliction got banned from the UFC and I guess I could have just googled to find out why, but it was pretty fascinating to see how it all stemmed from disagreements between Couture and Dana White and Co (Zuffa). The relationship between Couture and Zuffa is a strange one, Couture is constantly treated as a poster-boy for the UFC when he is not on the outs with them but the UFC has also engaged in some heated battles to demonize their Hall of Fame fighter. After reading Couture's side of the story (the book was written when he figured he would never fight again because Zuffa were making it very difficult for him through contractual problems where they wouldn't release him so he could fight for other shows but he didn't want to continue fighting in the UFC (for money reasons) and mostly because at the time the only fighter he wanted to face was Fedor who has long refused to fight in the UFC) I was curious to read more about Zuffa's side of the story and even more interested to read an expose style book on the history of the UFC. Non-disclosure clauses in the fighters' contracts make this seem unlikely for the time being though.
This isn't a great book, or even really a good book, but it is entertaining at times but I'm sure none of my booknerd friends will ever want to consider reading it (or this review).
http://www.videolog.tv/estiloradical/...
Randy Couture seems like a decent guy. He's one of the dominant wave of UFC fighters who came to the sport after being an All-American wrestle, a background that for a while seemed to be the pedigree of most of the best fighters in the sport. He didn't trash talk or act out in immature ways and had the reputation of being a good-guy and a great fighter. Being a good-guy probably makes you an all around better person than being a total asshole, it doesn't make for the most exciting reading.
The first part of this book is a little painful to get through. I feel kind of like an asshole for saying it but I don't care too much to read about childhood hardships and stuff like that. I know, I'm a dick right? I have some sympathy for someone growing up looking for the approval of an absent father and things like that and I guess it's important to how someone develops and it shapes their later life but there was a bit too much of it in the start of the book for me. After reading a few of these MMA biographies I'm starting to wonder if the whole sport is basically just a bunch of guys with absent daddies growing up.
Between the not-so-intersting childhood confessional and the plodding writing style I had a really hard time getting into this book. I felt like someone decided that Couture's writing style should highlight his good guy image and the best way to do that was by giving it an aw-shucks, Leave it to Beaver sort of feel. Maybe this is really his voice, but it all felt a little to stilted, a little too sanitized and a little insincere, especially when in later parts of the book he has some marital problems and cheats on his wife it's still all told with too much of a nice guy feeling to it, as if to minimize the human complexities that are in each and every one of us.
I don't want to read a book like this though to get an insight into the psyche of the person, I read them to read about fighting and when the book gets into his career as a wrestler and later as a professional fighter the book picked up for me. The most interesting moments in the book were about the early history of the UFC and about some of the shadowy dealings that the current owners of the UFC engaged in and how it helped to shape the sport. I had been curious, for example, about why Affliction got banned from the UFC and I guess I could have just googled to find out why, but it was pretty fascinating to see how it all stemmed from disagreements between Couture and Dana White and Co (Zuffa). The relationship between Couture and Zuffa is a strange one, Couture is constantly treated as a poster-boy for the UFC when he is not on the outs with them but the UFC has also engaged in some heated battles to demonize their Hall of Fame fighter. After reading Couture's side of the story (the book was written when he figured he would never fight again because Zuffa were making it very difficult for him through contractual problems where they wouldn't release him so he could fight for other shows but he didn't want to continue fighting in the UFC (for money reasons) and mostly because at the time the only fighter he wanted to face was Fedor who has long refused to fight in the UFC) I was curious to read more about Zuffa's side of the story and even more interested to read an expose style book on the history of the UFC. Non-disclosure clauses in the fighters' contracts make this seem unlikely for the time being though.
This isn't a great book, or even really a good book, but it is entertaining at times but I'm sure none of my booknerd friends will ever want to consider reading it (or this review).
June 22, 2017
By the time I finished reading this book I felt I could be on a first name basis with Randy Couture. Randy is open about all his family problems and his life in and out of the Octagon. From the time his father left to joining the army to "becoming the natural" in the UFC.
Randy is open about his opponents and friends in the UFC, he gives great insight into what people can expect from life as a fighter, and how the UFC has changed from an almost outlaw organisation to the leading brand in MMA.
It was funny I always assumed that Randy did not cut weight during the time in the UFC. He does talk about how difficult it is to cut weight (when he joined the Light Heavy Weight division). Randy talks about his Legendary trilogy with Chuck, his fight against Tito, stopping Victor, and his comeback fight against Tim Silvia, I will admit I was one of those people jumping out of my seat when Randy hit that first overhand right. The book finishes with Randy's fight against Gonzaga. A great autobiography with detailed insight into MMA. The only book I liked more was Iceman: My Fighting Life.
Randy is open about his opponents and friends in the UFC, he gives great insight into what people can expect from life as a fighter, and how the UFC has changed from an almost outlaw organisation to the leading brand in MMA.
It was funny I always assumed that Randy did not cut weight during the time in the UFC. He does talk about how difficult it is to cut weight (when he joined the Light Heavy Weight division). Randy talks about his Legendary trilogy with Chuck, his fight against Tito, stopping Victor, and his comeback fight against Tim Silvia, I will admit I was one of those people jumping out of my seat when Randy hit that first overhand right. The book finishes with Randy's fight against Gonzaga. A great autobiography with detailed insight into MMA. The only book I liked more was Iceman: My Fighting Life.
July 25, 2022
I’ve had this book for a long time and for some reason never got around to reading it and it has just sat on the shelf. Later, I purposely avoided reading it because growing up an MMA fan, Randy Couture is one of my heroes. His underdog story has been inspiring for all and now that I am the same age as him when he was fighting for the titles, I can’t help but respect him all the more. The problem is Randy has been a disappointment as a person in recent years and it was hard to separate the person from the fighter.
The book is a quick read and does start off slow. Another reviewer has pointed out that most MMA books seems to lead you to believe that the sport is one aggressive way to make up for an absentee parent. Either way, I loved reading about his entry into the sport and all the behind the scenes look into his fights. I remember exactly where I was in Vegas when he fought Tim Sylvia and my mouth dropped to the ground with that big overhand right.
The book is honest but it is dated. I don’t know if there is an updated book on his life but it may be nice to see his views on fights with James Toney and induction into the UFC HOF, given his many battles with them.
The book is a quick read and does start off slow. Another reviewer has pointed out that most MMA books seems to lead you to believe that the sport is one aggressive way to make up for an absentee parent. Either way, I loved reading about his entry into the sport and all the behind the scenes look into his fights. I remember exactly where I was in Vegas when he fought Tim Sylvia and my mouth dropped to the ground with that big overhand right.
The book is honest but it is dated. I don’t know if there is an updated book on his life but it may be nice to see his views on fights with James Toney and induction into the UFC HOF, given his many battles with them.
September 19, 2019
Tragic that this is the written record of one of the most important MMA fighters of all time.
This was written by Loretta Hunt - of "banned by UFC" fame - and she goes into business for herself at every chance. Loretta, we get that you hate Dana White and the UFC, it's cool and you aren't alone in this. But surely there were times during Couture's decade plus with UFC that he actually liked the company who were helping him make millions? And wouldn't it be more honest and, I dunno, a better read if gradually we
A graduate decline in the relationship, a fall out and then a brief reconciliation is how Couture has described his dealings with UFC in interviews. But according to this book, it was crappy from the start, middle and end.
The first 100 pages are very dull. Couture is a product of a poor upbringing and there's clearly a story or five there. But Hunt simply isn't a good enough writer to tell us about it.
Hopefully, in the future, we'll get another book by a different writer
This was written by Loretta Hunt - of "banned by UFC" fame - and she goes into business for herself at every chance. Loretta, we get that you hate Dana White and the UFC, it's cool and you aren't alone in this. But surely there were times during Couture's decade plus with UFC that he actually liked the company who were helping him make millions? And wouldn't it be more honest and, I dunno, a better read if gradually we
A graduate decline in the relationship, a fall out and then a brief reconciliation is how Couture has described his dealings with UFC in interviews. But according to this book, it was crappy from the start, middle and end.
The first 100 pages are very dull. Couture is a product of a poor upbringing and there's clearly a story or five there. But Hunt simply isn't a good enough writer to tell us about it.
Hopefully, in the future, we'll get another book by a different writer
June 17, 2025
Was and have always been a fan of Randy Couture by the way he carried himself inside the octagon. And it was interesting to hear about his whole upbringing having not known it before reading and learning about his dad step dad and the way he was brought and and how he got into the military and wrestling was interesting but was always kinda contradicting things he said about things with his previous divorces and how things were handled and he went into detail about how relationships can fall apart and how shady people can be when things don’t go as planned. This book is a real insight to relationship breakdowns and the unfortunate reality that comes with break ups in marriage but he did seem to be a big reason as to why those happened. In saying all of this it is a great book to read for mma fans to realise how things were run and handled in the earlier days of the UFC and how the sport has evolved but there is more to this story obviously as Randy did go on to have more fights in the UFC and the breakdown of the relationship between himself and the UFC.
June 6, 2025
Great read. I wish he had held off writing it for another year or so, when he left UFC for the final time. Even so, there was some info and perspectives in here that I didn’t know even as a huge fan of The Natural himself. Was a little disappointed how he was as a husband in his early marriages, but I can’t judge too much. Definitely a great read if you’re an MMA fan.
January 6, 2021
A very accomplished wrestler he chose to join the Army as an air traffic controller, before wrestling for the service. Eventually he joins the UFC. He takes you some of his biggest fights, including the Tito fight, his trilogy with Chuck and winning the title from Tim. A good read.
November 28, 2023
Interesting if you want to know more about (college and military) wrestling in the US, or to get some incipient UFC inside info, but not a lot beyond that. Gets very sloganesque towards the end. Probably great stuff for big fans.
February 3, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Didn’t expect such a personable read.
April 16, 2010
First off the book has a very funny, short (foreword) written by comedian/actor Kevin James!
"Becoming the Natural" is right up there with Chuck Liddell's book "Iceman / My Fighting Life", which I consider to be the best MMA/UFC book out there.
Randy tells his childhood story and how he got into wrestling and MMA. He had a very sordid childhood as far as his parents were concerned. Randy talks about alot of very personal issues in the book, that he didn't have to tell us the readers. He really lays it all out there! He goes into detail about his ex-wives, cheating and being a parent.
Randy goes into detail about the UFC, Dana White and his current legal battle with the UFC. Couture's 16-8 record doesn't stand out like that of a champion, but read the book and you'll see just where that record comes from. Randy was fighting heavyweights with 40-50 pds. over him, in many fights once they got on top, he was simply pinned beneath them.
Randy is one of my favorite fighters simply because he seems to be a genuinely good guy and this book gave me that same feeling about him! Randy has beaten the best and been beaten by the best.
Throughout the book, even when describing his losses, he never bad mouths his opponents, in one fight he loses, he later learns the other fighter failed a steroid test, Randy is given the chance to have the fight changed from a (loss) to a (no contest), he refuses, saying a loss is a loss!
As a fan, I hope to see Randy get his chance to fight Fedor. As Randy says in his book, it's about taking on the best possible opponent and that man is Fedor!
Randy is still training, but not currently fighting, he is pursuing his acting career, with his first leading role movie, "Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior" due on DVD this Tuesday!
The book also provides alot of nice pictures to give you a better sense of his past and family!
Another good MMA bio. for fans collections!
"Becoming the Natural" is right up there with Chuck Liddell's book "Iceman / My Fighting Life", which I consider to be the best MMA/UFC book out there.
Randy tells his childhood story and how he got into wrestling and MMA. He had a very sordid childhood as far as his parents were concerned. Randy talks about alot of very personal issues in the book, that he didn't have to tell us the readers. He really lays it all out there! He goes into detail about his ex-wives, cheating and being a parent.
Randy goes into detail about the UFC, Dana White and his current legal battle with the UFC. Couture's 16-8 record doesn't stand out like that of a champion, but read the book and you'll see just where that record comes from. Randy was fighting heavyweights with 40-50 pds. over him, in many fights once they got on top, he was simply pinned beneath them.
Randy is one of my favorite fighters simply because he seems to be a genuinely good guy and this book gave me that same feeling about him! Randy has beaten the best and been beaten by the best.
Throughout the book, even when describing his losses, he never bad mouths his opponents, in one fight he loses, he later learns the other fighter failed a steroid test, Randy is given the chance to have the fight changed from a (loss) to a (no contest), he refuses, saying a loss is a loss!
As a fan, I hope to see Randy get his chance to fight Fedor. As Randy says in his book, it's about taking on the best possible opponent and that man is Fedor!
Randy is still training, but not currently fighting, he is pursuing his acting career, with his first leading role movie, "Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior" due on DVD this Tuesday!
The book also provides alot of nice pictures to give you a better sense of his past and family!
Another good MMA bio. for fans collections!
November 10, 2009
A revealing self portrait of Randy Couture, including some revelations from his early childhood and personal questions about his father that have never been fully resolved.
Randy admits he was not always the true-blue Captain America that the media made him out to be. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, ‘Becoming The Natural’ shows the real character in the man who has come to represent all that is admirable about the sometimes brutal sport of MMA.
Unlike many other MMA fighters, Couture has no background in traditional martial arts, however his approach to his fights, his opponents and the whole fight game – which he calls simple sportsmanship – reveal a character and spirit that should educate and inspire martial artists from all styles.
All in all, ‘Becoming The Natural’ offers a great insight into a great champion and is an easy and engaging read. Recommended.
Randy admits he was not always the true-blue Captain America that the media made him out to be. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, ‘Becoming The Natural’ shows the real character in the man who has come to represent all that is admirable about the sometimes brutal sport of MMA.
Unlike many other MMA fighters, Couture has no background in traditional martial arts, however his approach to his fights, his opponents and the whole fight game – which he calls simple sportsmanship – reveal a character and spirit that should educate and inspire martial artists from all styles.
All in all, ‘Becoming The Natural’ offers a great insight into a great champion and is an easy and engaging read. Recommended.
August 9, 2008
It's admirable how honest Couture is throughout the book. He openly talks about cheating on his first two wives and how his family suffered because of the choices he's made. The parts about his amateur wrestling career provide some great insight into how he incorporated his wrestling into his overall MMA game. However, perhaps because I have been watching his career for the past six years, I felt I knew all of the information concerning his time in the UFC and elsewhere. I have to remember that this is a book for someone who wasn't paying attention during the darker days of MMA when it looked like the UFC was on its last legs. For those who might be wondering why Randy Couture is a big deal, this is definitely worth reading.
May 25, 2009
Color me biased but I didn't think this book provided a good approach to MMA.
Sure Couture is the golden boy of the UFC. But I think that's more being a marketable personality than being a top fighter. If Couture won a close fight or won on decision, I consider that a loss because UFC brass is pulling all the way for a face they can throw onto a brandname.
Regarding the quality of techniques, I guess they could work for someone. I just don't think they're effective against top-notch BJJ/Strikers.
Sure Couture is the golden boy of the UFC. But I think that's more being a marketable personality than being a top fighter. If Couture won a close fight or won on decision, I consider that a loss because UFC brass is pulling all the way for a face they can throw onto a brandname.
Regarding the quality of techniques, I guess they could work for someone. I just don't think they're effective against top-notch BJJ/Strikers.
December 12, 2008
I just realized by going into goodreads that he has other books describing actual fighting... This book is all about his trailer trash life that he is happy to go into detail about. I kept reading it to get some insights into fighting, but it was more about his relationships and bitching about his family life. I guess it wasn't too bad as I actually finished his book in 2 nights. Maybe I need to buy a TV?
June 21, 2010
A well written book but I really wish I have never read it.
Captain America is the name given to Randy in his prime. That name for me conjures up a lot of positive, inspiring, and "good" images.
Fair play to Randy for his honesty, but his incessant cheating on his wives, for me, ruined my opinion of the man and he no longer stands for everything I believed him to.
Still a very interesting read.
Captain America is the name given to Randy in his prime. That name for me conjures up a lot of positive, inspiring, and "good" images.
Fair play to Randy for his honesty, but his incessant cheating on his wives, for me, ruined my opinion of the man and he no longer stands for everything I believed him to.
Still a very interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2015
This is THE BOOK to read for MMA fans. It is very well written, and the ultimate underdog tale in the fight world. Couture's story is so relatable because it is the story of a regular guy. He shows his weak side by discussing in depth his marital problems and family problems growing up. He shows his strong side by discussing how he went from a medoicre wrestler to an alternate in the olympics to multiple time UFC champion. This was an amazing book.
August 25, 2008
Wow, for a guy who's made a career out of fighting, Randy Couture is actually really sensitive and intense. I enjoyed it, even though I'm not super interested in all the facts and figures behind the UFC, but there was a lot of expose type stuff that made it cool. And his life is pretty neat to read about.
Read
December 8, 2009One of the best books ive read in a long time. Being a wrestler and a wrestling fan, this really catches my attention and fast. Randy does a great job of portraying a wrestler,husband, and dad. It really shows what a little passoin, heart, and desire can do for you. He has made his HALL OF FAME imprint
August 4, 2010
definitely a "warts and all" tale. dude is an amazing fighter/competitor who has a severe impediment in dealing with the women in his life. this book ends with his marriage to his third "soulmate", though wikipedia says they have since filed for divorce. i'd love to see him beat toney at the end of august......
September 2, 2011
Found the 1st 100 pages dragged but they told the story of Randys upbringing before he made headlines as a MMA star. A very open and honest read. Liked the insight into how he prepares himselfs for his fights and the guy comes over as classy by book as he does on tv...In the words of Joe Rogan "That man is my hero"
February 16, 2012
Randy had found his calling in the UFC. The owner of the first U.S. publication to ever cover the fights exclusively called and asked if it would be all right if he nicknamed him "the Natural". He said he had never seen anyone adapt to fighting so quickly. This was after only fighting in the octagon three times. He went to Japan and won the title of the new UFC heavyweight champion.
July 29, 2015
All in all, this was a good book and I enjoyed it. If you like autobiographies and mixed martial arts you will probably enjoy this book.
It gave a really good insight into Randy Couture as a person, a lot of which was surprising because he had such a quiet fight persona.
I love these kinds of books for quick reads, so I give it a thumbs up.
It gave a really good insight into Randy Couture as a person, a lot of which was surprising because he had such a quiet fight persona.
I love these kinds of books for quick reads, so I give it a thumbs up.
August 27, 2008
Quick read I chose to do. He does a lot of self-loving of course. But how are you supposed to see yourself as the bad guy?
September 3, 2010
Quickie as-told-to that does no justice to the subject. Not enough about what it's like to be in a fight, too much feelings-talk.
March 1, 2021
Such a good read! I couldn't out it down.
February 18, 2015
A solid quick read in one of the MMA OGs. Trying to understand MMA culture-pretty in depth
May 24, 2012
AMERICAN HERO THE REAL LIFE CAPTAIN AMERICA
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