The first two-time UFC champion, in a burn center after a horrific accident in Kansas while preparing to compete in drag racing

Mixed martial arts icon Randy Couture, the first fighter ever to hold UFC titles in two different weight classes, has been hospitalized after a serious accident during a drag racing training session in Kansas City. The 62-year-old sustained first- and second-degree burns, multiple injuries, and smoke inhalation, according to TMZ. He was airlifted to a specialized burn center for emergency treatment.

What caused Randy Couture’s accident?

The accident occurred while Couture was preparing to compete in an upcoming National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) event behind the wheel of a customized 1937 Chevy Pro Mod, nicknamed “Al Capone.” The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

UFC icon turns to racing to “tap into competitive spirit”

Couture was in the process of earning his professional drag racing license. Just days before the accident, the UFC Hall of Famer spoke about how motorsports had rekindled his competitive fire: “Racing is a new way to tap into the competitive spirit that’s always driven me—a new arena to leave my mark.”

One of the most respected figures in MMA history, Couture won the UFC heavyweight title three times (plus one interim belt) and captured the light heavyweight championship twice. He retired with a professional record of 19 wins and 11 losses, becoming the first dual-division champion in the promotion’s history.

Couture was set to race in the NHRA’s newly formed Pro Mod class with Scag Racing. Even after retiring from fighting, he stayed deeply connected to the sport—serving as a commentator for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and running Xtreme Couture, a top MMA training facility in Las Vegas.

A lifelong motorsports enthusiast, Couture saw drag racing as the next chapter in his competitive journey.

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