Two of the sport’s most decorated and beloved heavyweights will cross paths for the first time when
Randy Couture locks horns with
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the
UFC 102 main event on Aug. 29 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore. The UFC made the bout official on Monday.
Couture (16-9), one of only two men to win UFC championships in two weight classes, has not competed since he surrendered the heavyweight crown to former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar
Brock Lesnar in November. The hall of famer turns 46 later this month. Couture has competed against and defeated some of the sport’s premier fighters, including
Chuck Liddell,
Tito Ortiz and
Vitor Belfort (twice). In 13 of his last 14 bouts, he has either defended or fought for a championship. Furthermore, nine of the 20 men against whom he has battled wore UFC gold at some point in their careers.
Nogueira (31-5-1, 1 NC), meanwhile, finds himself on the rebound, as well, after he was finished for the first time in his career in a technical knockout loss to
Frank Mir at UFC 92. The 33-year-old Brazilian has posted seven wins in nine fights and holds victories against former UFC heavyweight champions
Josh Barnett,
Mark Coleman,
Tim Sylvia and
Ricco Rodriguez, 2006 Pride open weight grand prix winner
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and two-time Olympian
Dan Henderson. A decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Nogueira has secured 20 of his 31 career victories by submission.
Other bouts slated for UFC 102 “Couture vs. Nogueira” include a pivotal middleweight showdown pairing the unbeaten
Demian Maia with former King of Pancrase
Nate Marquardt and a light heavyweight tilt between
Thiago Silva with
Keith Jardine.
Randy Couture vs.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Nate Marquardt vs.
Demian Maia
Keith Jardine vs.
Thiago Silva
James Irvin vs.
Wilson Gouveia
Chris Leben vs.
Jake Rosholt
Gabriel Gonzaga vs.
Chris Tuchscherer
Todd Duffee vs.
Michael Russow
Matt Veach vs.
Evan Dunham
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