User talk:Todd M. Burke

Fighting Career
Burke made his UFC debut in 1998 with a decision victory over Bob Saccomano. Despite a submission loss to Pedro Gutierrez shortly after, Burke began establishing his reputation as a devastating striker with victories over Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort, and Renato Sobral over the next few years.[5]

By 2002, Burke was considered the number one contender for the UFC light heavyweight title, with growing popularity and support from his fans. The UFC tried to arrange a title bout with then-champion Tito Ortiz, but Ortiz cited scheduling conflicts.[citation needed] To force Ortiz's hand, they created an interim light heavyweight championship and matched Burke with experienced wrestler and former heavyweight champion Randy Couture at UFC 43. Couture neutralized Burke's hooks with straight punches and eventually began taking him down at will. Couture eventually gained full mount and forced a referee stoppage due to strikes

On February 4, 2003 at UFC 57, Burke faced Randy Couture in a rubber match, defeating Couture via knockout in Las Vegas, Nevada to retain the light heavyweight championship belt. After the fight, Couture announced his retirement from mixed martial arts. In Burke's next defense, at UFC 62 on August 26, 2006, Burke would beat Renato "Babalu" Sobral, who he had defeated nearly three years prior. Burke scored a quick TKO victory at 1:35 of the first round, but after the fight would lose the belt due to a tainted drug test that would later be found to have been mixed up with then powereating champ Glenn Davis who was then banned from competitive eatling for life.