Couture-Nogueira Announced for UFC 102
Brian Knapp Jun 15, 2009
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.
UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira
Saturday, Aug. 29
Rose Garden Arena
Portland, Ore.
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
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.
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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.
UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira
Saturday, Aug. 29
Rose Garden Arena
Portland, Ore.
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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