Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Randy Couture has had a lot of titles in his day.

College wrestler, Army soldier, Olympic alternate, UFC champion. Now, he can add best selling author to the list.

Couture’s autobiography, Becoming the Natural, will debut at No. 33 on The New York Times extended bestseller list on the Aug. 10 edition.  

The book, co-authored by longtime MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, was released on July 22 by Simon Spotlight Entertainment, a division of Simon & Schuster.

It follows in the successful footsteps of other recent MMA autobiographies, including those of Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes and Tito Ortiz.

In other Couture news, A&E will give the legend the "Biography" treatment on its long-running, critically acclaimed series. The show will debut on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 10 pm ET.

Title Shot worth a read
If you get through Couture’s book and still find yourself wanting to read more about the MMA world, you might be interested to read Kelly Crigger’s Title Shot: Into the Shark Tank of Mixed Martial Arts.

Crigger – an Army officer like Couture – spent a year traveling to several of the most well-known MMA camps in the country, including Greg Jackson’s MMA, Team Quest, American Top Team and more, in an effort to get inside the heads of fighters and find out what makes them tick.

During his journey, Crigger spent time with big names in the sport like Rashad Evans, Kenny Florian and Dana White in their own environments, catching them not as a reporter but as a curious acquaintance interested in their candid take on their chose occupation.

Title Shot is an interesting journey through the gyms of MMA.

Rampage back at home
Rarely a day goes by without MMA fans wondering about the state of former light-heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

Understandably, his friends are keeping tight-lipped about the situation, but just a few days ago, MMA photographer Tracy Lee spent some time with Jackson as he hung out with his children.

It gives a glimpse into his life, and it appears that he’s doing better.

For a look at the photos, click here.

Of all the subjects…
Yesterday, The New York Times published a story about MMA and “Cauliflower ear,” the injury that often occurs in combat sports that makes the ear appear mangled.

The story portrayed the condition as a badge of courage for mixed martial artists, while mentioning several top fighters who suffer from the condition.

The story notes how in the May 31 CBS match pitting Kimbo Slice against James Thompson, America got a hideous look at the phenomenon when Thompson’s ear exploded “in a shower of blood and pus.”

The story claims that “one popular theory held that his ear had been pumped full of blood for dramatic effect.”

There were certainly questions afterward about why Thompson entered the cage with an ear that needed draining, but I’ve never heard the theory prescribed by the Times.

While the Times is at least paying some attention to MMA – unlike some other major newspapers – they still seem to be searching for fringe angles rather than covering the nuts and bolts of the sport.

In recent months, they’ve featured bylined stories about Shad Smith, a journeyman fighter who is more noteworthy as the first openly gay mixed martial artist, the U.S. Army Combatives tournament, and now cauliflower ear.

Yet, when Forrest Griffin defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the UFC light-heavyweight title last month, there was not a word to be found on it.

The New York Times is in many ways a barometer of the newspaper business, and until their coverage pattern changes, it is fair to assume they still view MMA as a fringe sport.

Countdown to UFC 87
Countdown to UFC 87 premieres Aug. 7 at 11 pm on Spike. I had a chance to watch the show and it’s an excellent preview as it really puts over the human sagas of some of the key participants, particularly co-main event fighters Roger Huerta and Kenny Florian.

I’ve had the chance to talk with both fighters at length during my time covering the sport, and they are both great ambassadors for the sport. Florian recounts his near-death experience that led him to follow his true passion for fighting, while Huerta’s excruciating childhood is recounted in heart-wrenching detail.

Jon Fitch also gets some significant camera time in the leadup to his challenge to Georges St. Pierre. One nice clip on the show is Fitch’s black belt presentation, which took place just a few weeks ago.

In case you missed it...

Have a great weekend, and don't forget WEC on Sunday.

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