Shameless Pockets-Lining of the Night Award: Brock Lesnar, for shouting encouragement to Couture knowing full well that rematch would put a few extra shells in his shotgun.

Impenetrable Product Sponsor of the Night Award: “Sytha-6 RTD,” which sounds like something we sprayed over Vietnam and not a sports supplement.

Heart of the Night Award: Couture, for escaping positions and submission attempts by Nogueira that many would have found hopeless.

Ominous Comparison of the Night Award: To Demian Maia, repeatedly referred to as “the new Royce Gracie,” or “Royce Gracie 2.0.” Royce Gracie is a dangerous man, but would lose a kickboxing match with a heavy bag. In 2009, it’s not a flattering statement.

Some bullet points for Saturday’s UFC 102 card and their likely counters. And yes, this is more or less playing my own Devil’s advocate. Call a doctor.

Randy Couture hung with Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a grappling tournament and didn’t get submitted. Antonio Nogueira won’t catch him.

But: There’s no striking in grappling -- similar to the no-crying-in-baseball-rule; punching Nogueira leaves Couture open for a different set of problems, as well as the additional 50 lbs. of horsepower than middleweight Souza.

Demian Maia has submitted nearly everyone he’s fought.

But: Ed Herman and Chael Sonnen get trapped with the regularity of tuna; Marquardt is light years beyond Maia’s previous conquests.

Second prize is, you’re fired.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Having observers in a barbaric, blood-soaked industry concerned for your health is never a good sign: Nogueira needs to reassure the sport he’s more a danger to others than to himself.

Marcus Aurelio: The ground specialist has dropped his last two UFC fights in one of the most stacked divisions in the sport, but picked up two wins on the regional circuit. UFC results speak loudest, though, and a poor showing might demote him back to the minors.

Nate Marquardt and Demian Maia: Neither is going anywhere, but a snooze-button win will keep Dan Henderson leading the charge against Anderson Silva’s 185 belt; a spectacular finish here might allow the winner to cut in line.

Is Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira done?

Nogueira is like something out of children’s television -- a leather boot that talks. Active since 1999, he’s taken more physical abuse than a crash test dummy. (Watch his 2002 fight with Bob Sapp, then marvel at how he can still dress himself.) A career in the trenches seemed to have caught up with him against Frank Mir last December; he’s had the better part of the year off to gather his bearings.

He can afford a loss -- a 2-2 UFC record isn’t cause for extradition -- but he can’t afford an ugly one.

Is Demian Maia the best jiu-jitsu artist in MMA?

There is a fluidity and arrangement to Demian Maia's jiu-jitsu that is often found in high-level grappling tournaments but not nearly as much in MMA. This is because intricate set-ups often fall victim to their orchestrator getting punched in the eye. Maia makes it work: he manages to fight his fight, manipulating opponents like a Rubik’s Cube while avoiding trouble.

Following record business for UFC 100 and 101, what can the world’s leading fight promotion do for a late-season encore?

Visit Portland, Oregon.

Yes.

Having exhausted three of five titleholders in its previous two summer shows (four, if you count Anderson Silva’s pillaging of Forrest Griffin) the only gold up for grabs is what you find during a prospecting trip: UFC 102 will have to make do with bouts that have consequences only for contenders -- and the highly manipulative tactic of using Oregonian Randy Couture as a feature attraction.