The hottest rumor swirling around the MMA world today is speculation on the return of former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural" Couture. According to wrestlingobserver.com, the 43-year old Couture is planning to announce he is going to come out of retirement, and could end up challenging Tim Sylvia for the heavyweight title at UFC 68 on March 3 in Columbus.

Couture has kept busy since losing his light heavyweight title rematch to Chuck Liddell at UFC 57 last February. He's served as a color commentator for the UFC; as an analyst for The Fight Network in Canada, and opened his successful Legends Gym along with Bas Rutten in Hollywood.

Why is The Natural returning? Money certainly must be a factor. Couture's heyday ended right around the time UFC started taking off. His sendoff was the first show for which UFC main eventers hit the seven-figure mark, including pay-per-view bonuses. No doubt he's seen Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie and Matt Hughes make the big bucks and wants another big payday.

But Couture wouldn't be returning if the didn't think he could still compete. Clearly the competitive itch is still there. On Nov. 17, Couture matched up against one of the world's top submission fighters, Brazilian Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, in a Professional Submission League match in Culver City, CA. PSL is a no-striking grappling promotion in which fights are won on submissions or points. Couture held Jacare to a scoreless draw after two four-minute rounds and two sudden-death overtime periods.

UFC, meanwhile, is looking for an opponent for Sylvia. Brandon Vera was in line for the March 3d title shot. But Vera has one fight left on his contract, he's at an impasse with UFC on a future deal, and UFC simply is not going to give a title shot to a fighter with in the final fight of his contract without having another contract signed first.  With Vera's future up in the air, Mirko Cro Cop fighting in February and the public having its fill of Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski, Couture becomes, well, a natural for the slot.

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One fighter who won't be fighting Sylvia anytime soon is PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko. According to PRIDE's website, Emelianenko reached an agreement for a contract extension, though terms weren't released.