By: Jim Amato

Photo: Cliff Campbell

Randy ” The Natural ” Couture by his own admission, did not do bad for an old man. The 43 year old Couture dominated defending heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia to win a one sided five round decision. Couture at 6’1″ and 222.5 pounds was dwarfed by the 6’8′-268 pound Sylvia. Nevertheless Randy had Sylvia down early in the first and proceeded to control the round. Couture picked up where he left of in the second and again floored his giant opponent at the end of the round.

Sylvia gamely rallied in the third but Couture still controlled the session. Randy then pulled away in rounds four and five to make the decision a forgone conclusion. Couture won 50-43 on all cards. Randy is now 19-8 and Sylvia falls to 23-2.Couture was crowned the heavyweight champion for a third time.

Ohio’s own former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin got back in the win column halting Jason McDonald. The bout was stopped between rounds two and three by McDonald’s corner. Rich is now 23-2 while McDonald slips to 19-8.

Former welterweight champ Matt Hughes is on a campaign to regain his title from Georges St-Pierre. Matt outfought Chris Lytle over three rounds and swept all cards by a 30-27 margin. Hughes improves his ledger to 43-5. The game Lytle is now 32-14-4.

Light heavyweight Jason Lambert won at 3:35 of round two over Renato ” Babalu ” Sobrol. Lambert moves his record to 23-6 while Sobrol slips to 27-7.

In a middleweight bout Martin Kampmann forced a submission from opponent Drew McFedries at 4:06 of the first round. Kampmann is now 12-2 and McFedries falls to 5-2.

Two former Ohio college wrestlers hooked up as former Division III National champion Matt Hamill proved to be the better UFC fighter taking out former Division I National champion Rex Holman ( Ohio State ) at the 4:00 mark of the first round of their light heavyweight bout. Hamill remains unbeaten at 5-0. Holman goes to 4-2.

In a welterweight contest Jon Fitch raised his record to 18-2 with a submission at 3:05 of the second round over Luigi Fioravanti. The loss puts Luigi’s record at 11-2.

Lightweight Gleison Tibau won by scores of 30-27 across the board in his three rounder with Jason Dent. Gleison goes to 24-3 while Dent drops to 12-8.

Jamie ” The Worm ” Varner improved to 10-1 with a submission at 1:34 of the first round over Jason ” The Gizzard ” Gilliam. The ” Gizz ” is now 11-1.

A packed house at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio enjoyed the action filled show.