UFC 102: 'Couture vs Nogueira' main event confirmed for August 29
by Jesse Holland on Jun 15, 2009 4:36 PM EDT
84 comments
The Ultimate Fighting Championship today confirmed the blockbuster main event between Randy Couture (16-9) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1) for UFC 102 from The Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, August 29.
The dream match-up between "The Natural" and "Minotauro" was one that many fans expected to be for the UFC Heavyweight Championship -- until Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir played spoiler roles in the opening round of the mini heavyweight tournament created in late 2008 to crown an undisputed division champion.
Now the MMA veterans will square off in a battle of legends to see which warrior still has the goods in the trimester of their respective careers.
Also slated for the main card is perennial light heavyweight contender Keith Jardine who has been tapped to replace Forrest Griffin in a 205-pound slugfest against hard-hitting Brazilian import Thiago Silva, as well as a potential middleweight title contender eliminator match between Demian Maia and Nate Marquardt.
Here is the current lineup and rumors for UFC 102:
Main event:
265 lbs.: Randy Couture (16-9) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1)
Main card (Televised):
205 lbs.: Keith Jardine (14-5-1) vs. Thiago Silva (13-1)*
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (28-8-2) vs. Demian Maia (10-0)*
185 lbs.: Chris Leben (18-6) vs. Jake Rosholt (5-1)*
265 lbs.: Junior dos Santos (8-1) vs. Justin McCully (9-4-2)*Under card (May not be broadcast):
185 lbs.: James Irvin (14-5) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-6)*
*Fight not yet official by UFC.com.
Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. PT.
UFC 102 tickets can also be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on pay-per-view (PPV) at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.
Here is the UFC 102 tickets sales schedule (all times are PT):
UFC Fight Club presale: Thursday, June 18 at 10 a.m.
UFC Newsletter presale: Friday, June 19 at 10 a.m.
General tickets sale: Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m.
For more on UFC 102 stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out our event archive right here.
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Two Senior Citizens fighting. Not interested.
by roberto on Jun 15, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Captain paycheck is getting subbed in rd 3. It’s going to be sad when Nog retires next year. But he’s given us fans more than enough great moments.
by NameNotRequired on Jun 15, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NNR, Methuselah hasn’t been subbed since 2001.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy is going to win. Its up to Randy where the fight goes. Nog CAN NOT take randy down, and Randy is a better kickboxer and all around striker. And if Randy does decide to take it to the ground im sure he is good enough to avoid submissionfor three rounds.
by belfort_fan on Jun 15, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haters, you guys are all haters:) As BJ put it quaintly-i am with nog “to the death.”
by NameNotRequired on Jun 15, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im with you NNR!!! I gotta Rock with the true Legend Nog, not a guy like Randy who loses every other fight in his entire career!
whats Randy’s record? 18-9? Randy was a great fighter overall, but one of the most OVERATYED heavyweights in MOdern day mma! He was a great HW back in the day, when he was fighting 1 dimensional guys like Pedro Rizzo, Randleman, and Mo Smith…..ever since fighters became well rounded, he has been…meh!
by JOhn G on Jun 16, 2009 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’m a fan of Nog’s but that is funny.
by James S on Jun 15, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats probebly true lol. he does seem to be alittle slow in the head for a 33 year old.
by belfort_fan on Jun 15, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, don’t hate. This will be a great fight. Randy may be old, but he can still hang w/ almost anybody. I got Randy by UD.
by LJ on Jun 15, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What is with all the negativity on this site lately?? Both these guys may have lost a little speed in their step, but it is still a great matchup. Damn I will always look forward to seeing Nog fight.
by stevo on Jun 15, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I will always look forward to seeing Randy fight.
by belfort_fan on Jun 15, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WTF i thought james irvin was fighting gouveia???? but anywho randy is going to make nog his bitch you can mark my words
by Jared on Jun 15, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
my bad, never updated the card, fixed it
by Jesse Holland on Jun 15, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im totally with you on that man!!!! These guys were great but arent anymore and honestly with all the young talent out there these two would make the least want to see list at this point.
by the spyder on Jun 15, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
although they are too great fighters, this doesn’t belong as a main event. this was a main event fight maybe 5 years ago.
UFC really seems to be milking there talent lately, time to give some other fighters there push.
by Jesse on Jun 15, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
even one year ago when randy had the belt it was main event quality but now I agree with you its not main event quality. But then again neither is Rich Franklin vs anybody and we get that time and time again so wtf should we expect? Atleast we are getting a solid card underneath to really deliver one of the best cards of the year.
by JRE on Jun 15, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All Randy fights have to be main event fights because of his popularity with the commoners and his huge contract.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they (ufc) do seem to be milking the fighters of yesteryear as it were..as much as i do enjoy watching some of the fighters they dredge up..they could most def freshen up the main events.
by sarah on Jun 16, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you cant call “captain america”old!as far as nog, there still great fighters and you cant really go off of a fighters last fight either.if you watch any combat sports youd know that!
by ttrain on Aug 29, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couture
Silva
Marquart
Leben
Junior
Willy G
by McArthur on Jun 15, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I like those picks Mc… I am not so sure Marquardt won’t get subbed like all the rest. He may even get KOed. :) Can anyone say Maia’s standup game sucks? We have never seen it.
by BNF on Jun 15, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is when I like to say, no sir, you suck. But you are probably right. Then again, Marquardt almost got KTFO by Thales’s stellar stand up game.
by BNF on Jun 15, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just hope Nate doesn’t get duped into going to the ground…he’s much much stonger than Maia but strength does little when your jits is as good as his
by McArthur on Jun 15, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nate’s getting subbed- RNC Rd 2 after getting clowned on in Rd1. So is captain paycheck.
by NameNotRequired on Jun 15, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thats the one bet I’m takin NNR…You got Maia and I’m takin’ Nate
by McArthur on Jun 15, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maias standup does not suck. Its just not the best.
by belfort_fan on Jun 15, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Im taking
Couture by decision
Maia by submission
T.Silva tko (goes 13-0 then loses 2 straight?)
Leben
Cigano
Willy~G
by Syn on Jun 15, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
duly noted McArthur. You’ll see that no amount of TD defense can stop Demian’s BJJ. His wrestling game isn’t up to par but it’s still very technical which is why he always finishes takedowns if he gets his legs around yours. Regardless, Nate’s gonna spend the whole fight trying to stay tight and defend while maia racks up points until rd 2 sub. No need for standup.
by NameNotRequired on Jun 16, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Syn I didn’t got your message on PSN the other day!
by Alpha Male 360 on Jun 16, 2009 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your right. just look at the fight with Sonnen, a great wrestler who got THROWN by Maia.
by belfort_fan on Jun 16, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nate by total domination!! Then they need to give him his rematch for the belt.
by LJ on Jun 15, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This would have been epic three years ago. Now? Meh. Couture would have lost back then, but Nog is finished. All that punishment has caught up to him. Methuselah by UD.
Looks like the UFC is giving us six main card fights now, when there’s no five-rounder main event. That’s cool.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
after this weekends main event I’m convinced the UFC needs to make ALL main events (if not main card fights) 5 rounders…3 rnds is not enough in many cases
by McArthur on Jun 15, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the other hand some 3 round fights seem entirely too long. Imagine a 5 round Maynard fight. No thanks…
by BNF on Jun 15, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I dont know. The 4th and 5th rounds kind of drag on. I dont think I could handle watching Cain lay on Kongo for 25 minutes. Maybe Rich and Franklin could have used an extra round, but 2 more? They would both drop dead of exhaustion.
by stevo on Jun 15, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true guys…just seems as though we occationally get stuck with discussions surrounding who won and who didn’t…ie. Rich/Wand, Rich/Hendo etc. Tough call I guess…
by McArthur on Jun 15, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hope the winner of this gets a title shot, although I don’t really want to see a Lesnar/Couture rematch.
by MMAMoneyLine on Jun 15, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think if randy wins this, he should go back and finish at 205…heavyweights now are too large for him. I think another run at 205 would suite him well
by Drew C on Jun 15, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guys like Carwin and Lesnar are too big for him. But He did handle the VERY large GG and Tim Sylvia.
Couture/NOG winner vs Cain Velasquez LOSER vs Kongo…
by SoCalStunNa on Jun 15, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Completely disagree…..size was not the reason Randy lost to Lesnar, but rather because he was surprisingly dominated in the standup exchanges. If Randy were to drop down to 205 again, he would give up far too much in the speed, athleticism and explosiveness areas. Randy’s ability to control larger opponents at close range with his Greco-Roman/grappling expertise allow him to compete at HW, where his lack of quickness due to age is less exposed by larger opponents. At some point however, even Randy will not be able to overcome what age is doing to his physical skills. It could show up in a big way at any time, or maybe has already? That’s a big part of why he’s still very interesting to watch.
by CL on Jun 16, 2009 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why you don’t say this to your buddy hd…JJ??He too got a great post at the bottom of the thread.
by Alpha Male 360 on Jun 16, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’m most interested by maia vs marquardt…winner gets a title shot(after bisping of course). I hope maia wins but i think nate is a good enough grappler to not get tapped in 15mins (depending on if nate can keep the fight standing)
by Jakizzle on Jun 15, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
not too excited for this card …I think the 185 fights will be the best fights ….This should be on SPIKE
by robbyc on Jun 15, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
could not disagree more this card is the $h!t, im looking more forward to this than 100, but most my favorite fighters are on this card (keith, randy, leban, thiago, maia, sandman, marquart, nog) let the good times roll!!
by Blazy J on Jun 15, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am sure we are going to hear the usual from John about Couture ducking Nog in the past and he usual anti Couture speel, I don’t beleive he was ducking him for a second, he wanted Fedor’ he wasn’t interested in Nog. Nog would have got a beatdown back then and he will be getting one August 29th. Randy may not be quite what he was, and I am not even going by the Lesner fight, (the size and strength Lesner had over him made it uneven as far as I am concerned just like how Schilt used to beat guys in K1 who had 10 times the skill he did) but I beleive that Nog has lost even more. Even if you do not want to count the Mir fight where he didn’t throw a punch, Sylvia was owning him in the stand up but didn’t have the balls to finish the fight, Randy completely dominated Sylvia in the stand up. This fight has definately lost some of appeal it had a few years back and time may have caught up even more with Randy when he steps into the octogan, but I beleive he’ll come through if he is not too far past his sell by date, with superior boxing and the usual Couture ground and pound with a second round stoppage. I will admit that John stuck with Shogun and he came through against Chuck even though beating Chuck these days doesn’t seem to be that big a deal, we will see how his other hero does. This fight will truly decide wether or not Nog has been in one war too many. Should be interesting.
by Ade on Jun 15, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
mir will beat brock, randy will beat nog, then randy will beat mir and retire the HW champ of the world, story book ending for the greatest ufc HW of all time. then nog vs brock woot woot!
by Blazy J on Jun 15, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That sounds like a plan to me Blazy, however, I do not want to get into the arguement of the greatest HW of all time … because the UFC does not have him!
by DownUnder on Jun 15, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
story book ending indeed! I agree one of the most accomplished athletes of all time. the greatest hw to date because the ufc is where you have to fight to be the worlds best. I dont understand how so many people think fedor is so much better than anyone in the ufc when he beats guys who have been beat by guys in the ufc who are not even top 5 in the division!? I don’t see how mir is gonna beat brock but I would like to see him win. If not a rematch between Randy and lesnar (if he beats nog and lesnar beats mir) would be hard to watch but i think randy would be ready for his style this time.
by El Paladin on Jun 15, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Where’s John when you need him!
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It wasn’t Lesners style that was the problem, it was Lesners gorilla strength. As good as Randy is/was the deciding factor is Lesners power and strength and there is not a whole lot Randy can do about that. Tim Sylvias size is what made his fight go five rounds with Randy, Randy would get another gorilla beatdown if he steps in with Brock again
by Ade on Jun 16, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This card is INSANE, it blows 101 and 103 far far away.
But maybe thats caus i love Marquardt, Leben and Irvin, hell i love all the fighters on this card.
Theres going to be alot of KO’s and thats what makes a great card in my “drunken meathead” opinion :)
by Green Inferno on Jun 15, 2009 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
99 looked like it would feature a shitload of KOs as well.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
rogers destroying arlovski in 20 seconds and mercer destroying tim in 10 seconds suddenly makes fedor’s last 2 wins not that impressive…all the talk about fedor beating 2 former ufc champions being some big achievement is now squashed
i guess when fedor beats barnett some other less known fighter will come by and beat him faster too..
until fedor stops beating ufc leftovers and actually starts beating the current ufc roster he will never be the number 1 heavyweight
great card btw…nate and maia is the one im looking most forward to simply for the fact it actually has an effect on the division and who gets a shot…the winner of nogs/randy isnt getting a shot anytime soon
by HellaHectic on Jun 15, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He already is the #1 HW, according to every single MMA ranking system.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
forget john what I’m saying is the truth yeah fedor is undefeated but there are tons of guys all over that are fighting in small shows that are undefeated. The ufc is the biggest show for mma. Fedor last two fights where against tim who lost to nog randy and even aa! Then aa who just got crushed andf when he was un the ufc he lost to tim twice! and now he is figfhting another guy who used to fight in the ufc…… Is all peoples opinions but its almost a fact that the ufc is the number 1 showcase for mma fighters and fedor hasn’t beat anyone currently fighting in the ufc.
by El Paladin on Jun 15, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I guess I would have to agree to some extent. It does seem to make Fedors wins a little less impressive, however you have to factor in what the devastating losses did to affect the outcomes of the next fights for both of these two guys. If Arlovski had fought Rogers while on his 5 fight winning streak would he still have gotten knocked out so quickly? Is it possible the physical effects and mental effects of being knocked unconscious by Fedor played different but important parts in Rogers victory? On the physical side it has been widely believed that after you get knocked out bad enough or enough times that it becomes easier to knock you out again. And on the mental side once you lose in front of the world and your hopes are shattered you could lose motivation and/or confidence in your all around game causing you to make mistakes or not be as aggressive as you would have before the previous incident. All we can look at is where these guys were before Fedor fought them, Sloppy Sylvia was coming off a title fight that he looked ok in, and Andrei was riding a 5 fight win streak over top guys and looking great. I think Fedor’s wins retain validity personally.
by JRE on Jun 15, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The argument was how ppl jump all over you in here if you disagree that fedor is the best heavy weight fighter even though he has not fought any top guys in the ufc. AA and tim where both on their way down the rankings in the ufc when he beat them. Taking nothing away from fedor until a bigger company takes over the ufc if he wants to be the real undisputed hw champ of the world he is gonna have to beat top guys who fight for the ufc.
by El Paladin on Jun 15, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the Maia fight especially. And Portland is a reasonable drive until the license MMA in Vancouver city limits so it can be at the Garage or BC Place or something.
by Muskie on Jun 15, 2009 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Marquardt vs Maia is the most interesting fight on that card.
by ftg314 on Jun 15, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it is the ONLY interesting matchup on that card. i could care less about the other fights. about half the names should not even be employed by the ufc anymore.
by day1er on Jun 15, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yawn
Sure these guys are legends but they need to learn when to hang up the gloves.
by hairyfist on Jun 15, 2009 8:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what has happend to the sandman? after the silva fight i havent heard anything about him. i keep up with mma (ufc) allot but ihave missed any fight that he has been in. he used to be a really exciting fighter and now his fight might not evan be shown. someone fill me in
by andrew.conner on Jun 15, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
what happened to the sandman? does he suck now. i havent heard anything about him really since the silva fight. someone help me out.i keep up with mma(ufc) but i havent evan heard his name since then
by andrew.conner on Jun 15, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
umm…. well the sandman was suspended for steroids after the silva fight. i believe this is only his second fight back. im sure the ufc wasnt happy with his performance in the silva fight, or the fact that he tested positive for roids. hes gonna have to work his way up again, hints why he is on undercards lately.
by ch chuuuuck on Jun 15, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was suspended for painkillers. Then he injured his knee training.
by Jeremyjackson on Jun 15, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How quickly have tickets been selling out?
by Chris Valentine on Jun 16, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
These two old fighters can still beat 90% of the HW division this should turn out to be real chess match and a great battle. I realize they will most likely never get the belt again but their skills in the ring are still awsome to watch.
by Beaver on Jun 16, 2009 12:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
fuckin deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeean jardine is gona kill that dude
by dblock on Jun 16, 2009 2:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well, randys not done yet.he wasnt dominated by brock in the stand up,brock just timed the right perfect,i personally dont like brock but he does continue to get better,not by much though i might add.and if your a real mma fan how can you say these two guys are done.you cant judge a fighter by his last fight any moron who watches combat sports knows that.
by ttrain on Aug 29, 2009 6:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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