Randy Couture Book Signing, Times Square New York City

The first time I met MMA legend, Randy "The Natural" Couture was during a sponsor promotion at a GNC store in Herald Square, NY just a couple of years ago. It was just after he had retired. At the time, MMA was starting to make a buzz in the mainstream, but not enough to generate a big turnout at his GNC appearance. It was great for me and my friends because we took a couple of pictures and engaged in some small talk and didn't have to wait in line, go through any kind of security or even purchase a product. It seemed more personal and it was very nice.

Fast forward to today, as mixed martial arts is more mainstream than ever. The UFC airs on Spike TV, EliteXC is airing events on CBS, Strikeforce on NBC and Affliction is coming off a successful debut event. Within that time, Randy briefly came out of retirement and beat two tough and much younger fighters in Tim Sylvia and Gabriel Gonzaga. Then last October, he quit the UFC. During his fighting hiatus, he has written a book, Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage,which was just released on July 22nd. This past Monday, he started his book signing tour at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square, New York and I was going to be there.

This time it was not like the GNC appearance. There was a table, some posters and banners from the book cover. There was a line of people, Virgin employees checked everyone's receipts and opened our books to the page where he was to sign. It's 6:00pm and in walks Randy with a small entourage that included his wife Kim, a very serious security guard and a camera man who was recording the entire book signing event.

I finally made it up to the table and greeted "The Natural" with a firm handshake. He looked very dapper in his long sleeved striped shirt and dark tan. He smiled, signed my book and put his arm around my waist as we posed for a picture. I wished him luck in his fighting and movie career and asked him to kick Fedor's butt if he ever got the chance.

It was great to meet one of my favorite fighters for a second time. Even though the occasion was more formal than the first time, he was as friendly and gracious as he was just a couple of years back.