UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira

[Snail Shell]

Record to date: 32/42, but after Saturday, I have a feeling this is going down the crapper. All five fights on the main card could easily go either way, which means these calls are all pretty much a coin flip. 🙁

Chris Leben def. Jake Rosholt by Decision

Nate Marquardt vs. Damian Maia
Marquardt is bigger, stronger and better-rounded than anyone Maia has faced to date, but when you've got a BJJ pedigree like Maia, that doesn't mean much. Marquardt should be smart enough to keep it standing, stay out of Maia's reach and pull it off. Whether it will be impressive enough to land a rematch for the belt before Dan Henderson is the real question. Marquardt by Decision.

Brandon Vera vs. Krystoff Szozinski (Spelling???)
Two of the hottest young talents at 205. The winner enters the title race. Vera's got superior striking and ground skills, but he's not as strong or big as KS. Vera will win if he uses all the skills he's got and shows us the Brandon Vera that KO'd his way through the HW division. KS will win if he can put Vera on his butt, climb on top of him, contain Vera's BJJ and keep him there. Vera by Decision.

Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
The winner stays in the title race. The loser re-tools his strategy. I like Keith Jardine and I always have. There's no doubt he can take a solid hit, but his style and skills never really caught their full potential. Silva is the opposite. Solid skills, but a suspect chin. This is really going to boil down to who controls the match early on and who lands the first big hit. Silva by KO/TKO, which breaks my heart, because Jardine would have been my choice to beat Lyoto Machida. Oh well.

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Nogueira
This is going to be a close fight, simply because these two are so equal. Solid standup and sick ground skills. If Couture does what he's known for, drains Nogueira's tank and pounds it out while watching the BJJ, he'll win. If Couture makes one bad mistake on the ground, he's tapping. But honestly; do you really think Couture's going to lose in his hometown? Couture by Decision.

See you Saturday!

Snail Shell

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Chris Leben def. Jake Rosholt by tko

Nate Marquardt vs. Damian Maia
Maia by submission

Brandon Vera vs. Krystoff
Vera by knockout, he really needs to win this fight

Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
Jardine by split descion

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Nogueira
couture by descion

 

[Bizkit]

Record to date: 32/42, but after Saturday, I have a feeling this is going down the crapper. All five fights on the main card could easily go either way, which means these calls are all pretty much a coin flip. 🙁

I have been thinking the same thing.I can't remember a card in recent history where the bouts had so many question marks surrounding them and they are all quality match-ups.

Leben/Rosholt
Leben by TKO

Marquardt/Maia
Maia by submission

Vera/Soszynski
Vera by dec.

Jardine/Silva
Jardine by dec.

Couture/Minotauro
Dream match-up but,Minotauro by submission.

I didn't go to much into breaking down the bouts but I'm stoked for this event.The outcome of the bouts will all have meaningful impacts on their respective divisions.Minotauro is one of the fighters that I really get excited to watch compete and I'm gonna be on the edge of my seat for that one.

Here's looking forward to hopefully a great night of fights.

 

[Snail Shell]

I can't remember a card in recent history where the bouts had so many question marks surrounding them and the are all quality match-ups.

I know, eh?! I mean, I stand by my calls, but I won't lie, I could EASILY go 0/5 on Saturday. Literally, any of those 10 guys can win by any method and it wouldn't be wholly unexpected.

Snail Shell

 

[Snail Shell]

35/47 on the year.

Hugely impressed by Rosholt and Nogueira. And Marquardt? O.O!!!! OMG! I thought he'd win, but by knocking Maia out a foot and a half off the ground in 20 seconds?! Title shot please!

Now, I know I'm going to Hell for the following, but permit me a brief editorial...

I sincerely hope that tonight was Randy Couture's last fight. At 46 and after getting knocked down and nearly submitted by Big Nog, I can't see him holding his own any more. Couture looked tiny compared to Nogueira and Nog's a mid-range heavyweight. Add in all of the newbies coming in (did you see Todd Duffee?!?!), Couture just doesn't have the physical size to compete as a heavyweight.

So, why not go down to 205? It's the UFC's deepest division and carries some of the biggest names in the game. I believe Couture could hold a better competition at 205, but I can't see him making a serious title run again. Especially considering the names he'd have to go through include Rampage, Rashad Evans, Shogun, Lyoto Machida and, oh yeah, Anderson Silva, to name a few.

I truly do appreciate everything Couture has done for this sport and for combat sports in general, but with very little left to fight for and the competition as dense as it is in his two weight classes, I think now would be the optimal time for him to hang up the gloves.

Just my two cents.

Snail Shell

 

[Bizkit]

Great night of fights.Marquardt looked precise as ever but rather than see him fight Anderson,I would rather see him fight Hendo.They are both coming off BIG ko's and they have both lost to Anderson previously so personally that is what I would like to see.That fight is more appealing to me and let Anderson fight at 205 or HW in the mean time.Maia got corked but hopefully he will bounce back because he is an entertaining and quite frankly a very unique fighter.


F**kin' Minotauro!I wasn't watching it live,all I had was an audio stream but I was going nuts.Good stuff.The outcome of Crocops next bout may very well determine the the next number one contender.I would prefer to see Crocop fight Lesnar,providing he beats Carwin,but I wouldn't complain about seeing Nogueira fight for the title.The UFC's HW division is finally getting some momentum.


Thiago Silva looked great.Vera,despite his potential,looked unsurprisingly lackluster.I actually wouldn't mind seeing those two fight and looking at the division we may see it in the future.

I truly do appreciate everything Couture has done for this sport and for combat sports in general, but with very little left to fight for and the competition as dense as it is in his two weight classes, I think now would be the optimal time for him to hang up the gloves.

As long as the UFC can put Couture in appealing bouts I am still interested in seeing him fight.He lost tonight but to his credit he lost to the second best HW in mma history.As unlikely as it is to see him ever hold a belt again,you can never count him out.I was surprised to see him get dropped by Nog so I can only imagine what Anderson or Machida would do to him.We'll see what the UFC lines up for him next.

UFC 103 looks good as well.Aside from the Crocop bout,I am interested in seeing how Belfort performs.He is certainly the most explosive,inconsistant fighter ever and we will also find out who GSP's next victim will be.

 

[natural tickler]

I wanna see a Rampage/Anderson Silva matchup...

 

[Bizkit]

I wanna see a Rampage/Anderson Silva matchup...

That is the fight I find most appealing at 205 for Silva as well but I would favor Anderson heavily.

 

[Snail Shell]

I wanna see a Rampage/Anderson Silva matchup...

If Rampage beats Evans in December, you just might see it as a #1 contenders match in early '10.

Also, news regarding the results of the event:

Henderson/Marquardt is being tossed about for a future #1 contenders match at 185.

And, the day after the event, Couture and Dana White re-inked Couture's contract. He now has a six-fight, 28-month contract extension to fight in either/both HW and LHW weight classes. With few injuries from the Nogueira fight, we may see Couture fight again at UFC 107 in December (same card as Rampage/Evans).

Snail Shell

 

[Bizkit]

If Rampage beats Evans in December, you just might see it as a #1 contenders match in early '10.

Also, news regarding the results of the event:

Henderson/Marquardt is being tossed about for a future #1 contenders match at 185.


Snail Shell

I would rather see the Hendo/Marquardt bout then either one of them fight Anderson right away.That's a very appealing bout,to me at least.

Depending on what happens at 104,we may see Anderson make a run for the belt.Everyone is sleeping on Shogun and he may very well be the guy to derail Machida's run for glory.That fight is gonna be fuckin' nuts and if Shogun does manage to pull the victory we might see Anderson thrown in the mix rather quickly.I may be proven horribly wrong,but as far as the UFC is concerned,I'm picking Shogun/Machida to be fight of the year.