By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 29, 2007
Randy Couture, the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion who successfully defended his belt Saturday, suffered a broken bone in his left arm during the fight, his personal assistant confirmed today.
Couture, 44, who defeated contender Gabriel Gonzaga by technical knockout in the third round, broke an ulna bone in his left forearm during the third round, said his assistant Valerie Haney.
"It happened on [Gonzaga's] high leg kick at Randy's head," Haney said. "Randy blocked the kick with his left arm."
Couture, a five-time UFC champion in two weight classes, will have a splint on the arm for six weeks, a period that will extend into his plans to appear in a film being shot in South Africa.
The broken bone was discovered Sunday, Haney said. Couture was visiting a chiropractor in Las Vegas when he reported the arm was "sore, tender, swollen," Haney said. An X-ray confirmed the break.
"He'll still be able to get on the treadmill, but he'll mostly just take it easy for the next six weeks," Haney said.
lance.pugmire@latimes.com
