As always, PRO MMA (promma.info) will be providing live play-by-play results and commentary during tonight’s “UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira” event taking place at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore.

In a battle between two legends, 46-year-old Randy “The Natural” Couture takes on Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira to see which one can get one step closer to a title shot.

Quick Results:

  • Evan Dunham def. Marcus Aurelio by split decision (29-28,28-29,30-27)
  • Mark Munoz def. Nick Catone by split decision (30-27,29-28,28-29)
  • Todd Duffee def. Tim Hague by KO (punch) Round 1 (:07) UFC RECORD
  • Michael Russow def. Justin McCully by unanimous decision (29-28,30-26,30-27)
  • Gabriel Gonzaga def. Chris Tuchscherer by TKO (strikes) Round 1 (2:27)
  • Aaron Simpson def. Ed Herman by TKO (knee injury) Round 3 (:17)
  • Brandon Vera def. Krzysztof Soszynski by unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27)
  • Nate Marquardt def. Demian Maia by knockout (one punch) Round 1 (:21)
  • Jake Rosholt def. Chris Leben by submission (arm triangle) Round 3 (1:30)
  • Thiago Silva def. Keith Jardine by knockout (punches) Round 1 (1:35)
  • Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Randy Couture by unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,29-28)


Preliminary Fight Notes
In the first fight of the night, PROMMA.INFO’s UFC 102 Spotlight fighter Evan Dunham defeated seasoned veteran Marcus Aurelio by split decision. Congrats to Evan!

Todd Duffee set the new UFC record for fastest knockout with a seven second KO of Tim Hague! And it was a jab!

Gabriel Gonzaga kicks Chris Tuchscherer directly in the goods. Tuchscher sits it out and recuperates on a bench. When fight starts back up, Gonzaga lands a devastating head kick, ends up winning the fight by TKO in round one. Gonzaga needed another big win after the loss to Carwin. Everyone makes a big deal of of Tuchscherer training with Lesnar, and it is a big deal. However, he iis not Lesnar. Gonzaga is a tough first opponent for anyone.

Photo by: Dave Mandel - Todd Duffee sets new UFC record with seven second knockout of Tim Hague.
Photo by: Dave Mandel - Todd Duffee sets new UFC record with seven second knockout of Tim Hague at UFC 102 on Aug. 29, 2009.

Main Card Play-By-Play

Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Round 1 – K-Sos has Hendo in his corner as usual. This should be a really good fight. In fact every fight on this main card is a really interesting match up in my opinion. They touch gloves. K-Sos immediately throws some bombs and connects but Vera lands a big body kick that backs K-Sos up. Vera is standing right in front of him. K-Sos lands a punch. Vera lands a knee to the body. Leg kick by Vera. Both of these guys are psyched and ready to go to war. Leg kick by Vera. Vera throws a big uppercut as K-Sos moves in for the clinch. The uppercut misses but Sos has Vera against the cage with underhooks. Vera turns him around and the separate and move back to the center. Leg kick by Vera. Vera looks fast. Sos lands a body punch. Right straight punch to Sos’s jaw. Sos has a small cut on his cheek. High kick blocked by Sos. Leg kick by Vera. Clinched, and Vera throws some knees to the body. Herb Dean warns Vera to keep the knees clean. Leg kick twice by vera. Sos shoots but gets stuffed. Elbows by Vera. Great first round and close. PRO MMA gives the edge to Vera 10-9.

Round 2 – Vera lands a big right hand that knocks Sos back a bit. Sos fires back with some punches. The clinch against the cage with Sos’s back to the cage. The release and move to the center. Right hook from Vera. Sos throwing some jabs and lands a right hand to the jaw. Sos goes for a takedown but gets shook off. Inside leg kick by Vera. Vera’s mouthpiece falls out and Herb Dean stops the bout as Sos goes for a takedown. Back to action. Sos looks for a takedown but no dice. Nice combination by Vera connects. Sos with the plum, drops to a double and Vera stuffs it. Sos finally gets a takedown. Vera stands yp and they clinch.Knees to the thighs by Vera. Clinched and Vera throws some elbows as the bell sounds. Close round but PRO MMA gives it to Vera 10-9.

Round 3 – Nice kick by Vera, leg kick by Vera followed by a nice punch to the jaw. Leg kick and jab by Sos. Clinched, Sos drops for a double leg. Vera tries for a kimura standing, sos is out. Clinch. Knees to the body by Sos. Brandon seems more technical and faster especially with strikes. Vera gets the takedown. Vera has side control as Sos turtles but then stands up. Knee to the body by Vera. Low blow by Vera and time out is called. Left hands by Sos. Nice right hand by Vera. Uppercut by Vera. Knee from the plum by Sos. Vera’s footwork looks good. Big uppercut and punches by Vera connect. Right hook by Vera. Sos looking tired. Vera attacks and eats one for his trouble but lands a punch too. PRO MMA scores that round 10-9 for Vera and the fight 30-27 for Vera. The judges see it like we do OFFICIAL RESULT: BRANDON VERA DEFEATS KRZYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI by UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27,30-27,30-27).

Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
Round 1 – This should be an incredible fight. Demian Maia is Royce Gracie 2.0. Marquardt is big, strong, and extremely well-rounded. Here we go. Maia throws some kicks that Marquardt blocks. Nate throws one punch that sends Maia reeling through the air. His feet literally fly off the ground and Maia is out. Nate gets ready to follow up the one punch but holds back and does not deliver unneeded punishment. OFFICIAL RESULT: NATE MARQUARDT DEFEATS DEMIAN MAIA BY KNOCKOUT IN ROUND 1 (:21).

It’s going to be interesting to see who gets the KO of the night. Maybe Marquardt and Duffee will get it if there is no submission finish tonight. Duffee set the UFC record but Marquardt’s knockout punch was a beautiful highlight reel KO.

Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt
Round 1 – Rosholt is the pool jumper. Inside leg kick Rosholt. Rosholt keeping his distance. Leg kick by Leben. Leg kick by rosholt. Leben with a leg kick. Leben trying to get inside but Rosholt staying away. Leg kick by Leben. Inside leg kick by Rosholt. Rosholt goes for a knee to the body and Leben catches him and puts him on his back. Leben in Rosholt’s guard. Someone is cut. Rosholt gets up. High kick blocked by Leben. Leben’s nose bleeding a bit. Leg kick by Leben, and again. Leg kick by Rosholt lands hard. Rosholt connects iwth a punch and then gets a takedown. He gets full mount and Leben starts getting up and eats a knee from Rosholt. Two big shots from Leben and Rosholt runs from him, literally runs. The round is close but PRO MMA gives it to Leben 10-9.
Round 2 – Rosholt lands a nice left hand but Leben fires back, connects with a punch and Rosholt falls to his back. Leben follows him down and is in Rosholt’s full guard. Rosholt defending well as Leben lands some body punches and keep the pressure on. Rosholt just holding on for the most part. Referee stands them up. Rosholt wants no part of Leben’s power. Leg kicks exchanged. Another leg kick by Leben. Head kick lands by Leben followed by a big left hand that rocks Rosholt. Foot stomp by Leben. Elbow from Rosholt. Rosholt throws some punches then gets the takedown. Rosholt moves to half guard. PRO MMA gives that round to Leben 10-9.
Round 3 – Rosholt gets the takedown. Lands some elbows and gets full mount. Big punches from the mount. Rosholt gets an arm triangle. Leben tries to tap but hardly can and goes to sleep. JAKE ROSHOLT DEFEATS CHRIS LEBEN BY ARM TRIANGLE SUBMISSION IN ROUND 3 (1:30).

Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
Round 1 – Jardine starts out with a huge leg kick. Jardine eats a punch. Jardine fires back with some shots and throws a body kick and gets swept to the ground. Silva gets on top of him and Jardine gets up. Big left hand rocks Jardine and knocks him to the ground. Thiago Silva throws another big shot while Jardine is on his back and his lights go out. THIAGO SILVA DEFEATS KEITH JARDINE BY KNOCKOUT (PUNCHES) IN ROUND 1 (1:35).

Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Randy looks extremely confident walking to the Octagon. 46-freakin-years-old!  An amazing human specimen.
Round 1 – Randy lands a combination of punches. Randy with a stiff left jab. Randy looks really fast. Left hook by Antonio connects. Minotauro tries to pull guard but no dice. They clinch. Minotauro looks much better this fight. Right hand by Randy. Clinch. Separate. Nice uppercut by Couture but Minotauro lands a big shot and drops Randy. Minotauro locks in a D’arce choke very deep holy shit he survives somehow and is  back to his feet. Holy shit! I have no idea how Randy survived that. And Randy looks fresh on his feet now. Minotauro is finding a home when Randy gets inside. Randy lands some shots but so does Minotauro. Big uppercut by Couture. This is a great fucking fight. Big exchanges from both guys. Younger cats need to take note of how legends fight. This is awesome. This looks like Don Frye vs. Takiyama!!!  Randy holds the back of Minotauro’s head and lets the punches fly. Minotauro fires back. They clinch against the cage. Round of the fucking year!!! With the takedown and near submission Minotauro gets that round 10-9.
Round 2 – Randy lands a nice left. Minotauro lands a big shot. He goes for a guillotine but lets it go. They go to the ground and Randy is on top in Minotauro’s guard. Randy lands some good elbows. This is Randy’s bread and butter right here. Oh shit, Minotauro rolls him over and is in full mount. Randy gets him in half guard. Huge knot under Randy’s eye. Arm triangle by Minotauro. Randy puts the phone to his ear. But Minotauro has it deep. Randy gets his arm free from the triangle but gets mounted. Randy gets to his feet somehow. His resiliance is amazing. Randy gets in the pocket and fires away. Minotauro’s boxing is looking good too. Randy connects with a huge left. Big knee to the body by Minotauro. Leg kick by Minotauro. Great round have to give it to Minotauro 10-9.
Round 3 – This is such a great fight. Legendary battle by legendary warriors. This is the best Minotauro we have seen in the Octagon. Randy comes in fires away. Minotauro connects big time and has Randy rocked. Minotauro moves in and drops Couture with a big punch. He tries to finish him with ground and pound, but Randy survives. Minotauro moves to side control and is pounding on Couture. The weight advantage makes a big difference right here. Randy should be at light heavyweight. Randy trying to get to his feet. He gives up his back. Minotauro takes his back and has his hooks in but he’s high on his back. Randy trying to get out the back door. Randy reverses and is on top in Minotauro’s guard. They just said Lesnar is cage side yelling instructions to Randy. Randy lands a good elbow. Only thirty seconds left. Elbow from Randy. Brock is yelling big time. Randy keeps with the ground and pound. Minotauro reverses and mounts as the bell sounds. PRO MMA scores the round for Randy 10-9 but the fight for Minotauro 29-28. OFFICIAL RESULT: ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA DEFEATS RANDY COUTURE BY UNANIMOUS DECISION (20-27, 30-27, 29-28).

My opinion is that Randy should move back to light heavyweight, but he put up a hell of a fight. This was awesome. Minotauro said after the fight Randy was one of his idols.

Randy said after the fight he feels better than he ever has and is ready to fight whoever the UFC wants for him.

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