In a battle of MMA legends that turned out to be one of the all-time classic fights, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defeated Randy Couture Saturday night at UFC 102.
The first round was an epic, with a little bit of everything. Couture pushed the pace early and appeared to have a superior stand-up game. But Nogueira recovered, landed a hard right hand that knocked Couture down, and then appeared close to submitting Couture on the ground. Couture somehow pulled free from Nogueira's D'Arce choke and got back to his feet, and then they battered each other in the stand-up game some more. It was everything fans could have hoped for in a first round, and more.
The second round was also outstanding. Couture and Nogueira went to the ground, and Couture made the mistake of going down into Nogueira's guard. That gave Nogueira the advantage for most of the round, but Couture somehow got out of it and managed to get back to his feet to survive into the third.
But in the third, Nogueira showed once again that he was the superior fighter. He got the better of Couture on the ground, and left Couture bloodied and bruised. It was a brilliant battle that Nogueira won 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 on the judges' cards.
"He's a true champion of the UFC," Nogueira said of Couture afterward. "He's one of my idols in the UFC."
Nogueira, who improved his record to 32-5-1, showed that he deserves to be a major player in the UFC heavyweight division. He could be just one win away from another shot at the UFC heavyweight title.
Couture, who falls to 16-10, is now 46 years old and hasn't won a fight in more than two years, and yet with his performance Saturday night, he proved that he, too, is still a significant part of the UFC's heavyweight division. As crazy as it sounds to say about a 46-year-old, Couture could have several more good fights left in him. He said afterward that he thinks he does.
"I was disappointed to lose, but you've got to love this sport," Couture said. "I'm here, I'm ready to fight. I feel the best I've ever felt."
For full UFC 102 coverage, also check our UFC Twitter updates, and full UFC 102 results.
UFC 102 Photos
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Randy Couture (Bottom) battles UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (Top) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randy Couture;Antonio Nogueira
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Randy Couture (Bottom) battles UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (Top) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randy Couture;Antonio Nogueira
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Antonio Nogueira (L) battles UFC fighter Randy Couture (R) during their Heavyweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antonio Nogueira;Randy Couture
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Chris Leben (L) battles UFC fighter Jake Rosholt (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Leben;Jake Rosholt
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
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PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) knocks out UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
Getty Images
PORTLAND, OR - AUGUST 29: UFC fighter Nate Marquardt (L) battles UFC fighter Demian Maia (R) during their Middleweight bout at UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira at the Rose Garden Arena on August 29, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nate Marquardt;Demian Maia
Getty Images
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