Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) That's odd... The UFC hasn't really promoted this card as heavily as they have the last 2 cards, and it's weak on "names" past Couture. It doesn't surprise me, but also the fact that Couture is fighting, it is kind of surprising that they didn't sell well. I'll be buying the PPV tonight though, excited for this card.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) [video=youtube;hhoGRhxEdAo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhoGRhxEdAo[/video]
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) I've noticed these weaker cards actually crank out some of the better fights. I also don't see Nog being able to take Couture down, especially if Randy has that jab going like he did against Sylvia.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) You know you're good when you question a seven second knockout. Todd Duffee walked across the Octagon and floored Tim Hague with a jab. Down went the big Canadian where he was greeted with eight more shots in five seconds. A left on the ground made Hague go limp, that's when referee Mario Yamasaki jumped in to give Duffee the knockout victory in UFC debut at 4:53 of the first round in the third fight of the night at UFC 102 in Portland. When asked about the seven second win, Duffee said, "I think it was six seconds." Edit: I believe that is a UFC record. Can anyone get video of it?
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Catone probably didn't get enough credit for stopping the many takedown attempts by Munoz throughout the fight. Oddly judge Marcos Rosales had it 30-27 for Munoz but the other two judges split the cards 29-28 for each fighter giving the former Cowboy wrestling great a split decision victory, his first in the UFC.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Marcus Aurelio is the old breed of mixed martial artist. Four years ago, a one-trick pony could survive and thrive at the highest levels, but not anymore. Aurelio met the new breed in 28-year-old Evan Dunham. Dunham (9-0, 2-0 UFC) was slicker on the feet and thwarted 7-of-10 takedown attempts by the jiu-jitsu ace to roll to a split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) victory to open the night at Rose Garden Arena in Portland.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) So far: -Soszynski fought kinda like KenFlo did vs. BJ, very tentative with the striking, unwilling to commit to anything on the feet. Vera won, but wasn't overly impressive at all. -Maruqardt drilled Maia and said he could whip Anderson's ass . IMO him vs. Hendo would be the best thing they can do right now. -Rosholt and Leben was kind of a snoozer, but Rosholt had a nice finish. -Thiago just made a statement, should be getting a big fight after kicking Jardine's ass, I really wanna see him and Rampage go at it at some point in the future, maybe they give him Luiz Cane?
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) He just doesn't look like the same fighter against the smaller guys. In an era where the heavyweight division is filling up with 240-260 pound fighters, 222-pound Brandon Vera thought it would wise to drop down to light heavyweight. It's been a mixed bag so far. He won for the third time at the weight but he lacked the explosion and speed that appeared to be his hallmarks against the big guys. Vera was clearly the faster fighter landing solidly with some punches and even a few more leg kicks as he rolled to a unanimous decision (30-27 on all three cards) over Krzysztof Soszynski to kick off the pay-per-view portion of UFC 102.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Demian Maia's jiu-jitsu is world class but that's where it ends as far as "world class" mixed martial arts for the Brazilian. He found out what it's like to face a well-rounded fighter with 38 fights under his belt. During a short feeling out process, Maia threw two leg kicks then he tried a flying left knee and kept his chin exposed. Nate Marquardt unloaded a huge right. Maia spun around in the air and fell face first onto the ground. Marquardt jumped into to throw a few more shots on the grounded Maia (10-1, 5-1 UFC) but pulled his punch forcing referee Dave Hagan to step in and stop the fight at 0:21 of the first round. On any other night, Marquardt would be due a fat check for Knockout of the Night. Unfortunately Todd Duffee recorded the fastest knockout in UFC history (seven seconds) earlier in the evening.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Minotauro doesn't look anywhere near as pudgy as he did for the Mir fight.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Results: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Randy Couture by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Thiago Silva def. Keith Jardine by KO (Punch) at 1:35, R1 Jake Rosholt def. Chris Leben by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 1:30, R3 Nate Marquardt def. Demian Maia by KO at :21, R1 Brandon Vera def. Krzystztof Soszynski by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Aaron Simpson def. Ed Herman by TKO (Injury) at :17, R2 Gabriel Gonzaga def. Chris Tuchscherer by TKO (Strikes) at 2:27, R1 Mike Russow def. Justin McCully by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27) Todd Duffee def. Tim Hague by KO at :07, R1 Mark Munoz def. Nick Catone by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) Evan Dunham def. Marcus Aurelio by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) Nog vs. Couture was a very special fight, awesome to watch. I think Nog gets either Cain if he wins @ 104 or winner of Mir/Kongo at this point. I want him to have a rematch with Mir, Nog looked badass tonight.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) The main event was fantastic. Nogueira came so close to finishing Randy, twice with submissions, once with strikes. I don't think the lone judge who scored it 29-28 was watching very close. Nogueira's reverse/sweep into mount was sick. Keith Jardine was protesting after the fight but he got KTFO. He has repositioned himself as a contender in that weight class. I'd like to see him fight Cane, Franklin, the loser of Evans/Rampage, or another heavy hitter. But he'll probably fight Vera next because the timing is good. Jake Rosholt's choke-out of Chris Leben should pretty much be the end of Leben in the UFC. The guy's been given more chances than anyone. Actually I know it won't be but I'm just not a fan. Nate Marquardt's knockout of Demian Maia was epic, though not totally unexpected. Maia's stand up game is very raw. Marquardt's is very sharp. Maia was going to have difficulty getting him down in the fight and he was bound to get tagged a few times. I don't know what the hell Maia was trying with the jump but he paid for it pretty severely. Consider Maia's hype train derailed. Marquardt against Silva again isn't terribly appealing--maybe Marquardt vs. Henderson at the NYE show? Todd Duffee looks like another big blue chip prospect for the HW division. Brandon Vera is just not the fighter he used to be. Where is the excitement?
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) And where does Randy go from here? Only thing that would make the most sense right now would be to end both his and Chuck's career on some sort of tribute night, where Randy dumps down to LHW and they go at it then retire. That fight would make both dudes truckloads of moneys.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) You're right, a rematch with Mir makes sense for Big Nog. But Mir has a tough fight ahead. If he loses to Kongo, a rematch with Nog doesn't make as much sense. "Handy" has a tough road ahead. I don't think anyone is very interested in a fourth Liddell/Couture fight. I really don't know where he goes from here, as you said.
Re: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira (Aug. 29th) I wouldn't be interested in it typically, but if it's going to be a last fight type of deal with both guys, I think that it could be one of the biggest draws in the UFC history, if not the biggest, especially surrounded with a good card.
Randy wants to drop down to LHW and fight Machida. I'd watch that. I'd rather see him @ LHW, now. I don't know if he's got what it takes for the HW division any more. Nog looked damn good. If Mir gets by Kongo, Nog deserves a rematch. Or Nog should get the winner of Cain/Rothwell (Cain). I've got a feeling the UFC is going to make Marquardt/Henderson. Lame.
Randy wants to drop down to LHW and fight Machida. I'd watch that. I'd rather see him @ LHW, now. I don't know if he's got what it takes for the HW division any more. Nog looked damn good. If Mir gets by Kongo, Nog deserves a rematch. Or Nog should get the winner of Cain/Rothwell (Cain). I've got a feeling the UFC is going to make Marquardt/Henderson. Lame.
