Live on Saturday August 29, 2009 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. Two Heavyweight legends will collide when former champs Randy “The Natural” Couture (16-9) and Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira (31-5-1) step into the Octagon. Both fighters are coming off TKO losses, Nogueira to Frank Mir and Couture to Brock Lesnar. In order to get back into title contention they will each need a big win, but unfortunately only can come out on top. Randy is now 46 years old and we can only wonder how much longer can he go on, but time and time again he proves many wrong. While Nogueira is only 33 he looked very poor against Frank Mir and was finished for the first time in his career. We will be sure to see the best of both fighters in Portland and a great main event.
The Co Main event features two heavy hitters in Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine (14-6-1) and Thiago Silva (13-1). Here again we have two fighters coming off losses and need to get back in the win column in order to make their way back up the ladder. Thiago will look to bounce back after suffering his only loss from the hands of current LHW Champ Lyoto Machida. And Jardine coming off a loss to Rampage Jackson, while that fight eraned fight of the night honors a loss is a loss. Expect to see two hungry fighters swinging for the fences looking for a huge KO victory.
Randy Couture vs. Antonio Nogueira
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Couture (-205)
- Nogueira (+165)
Betus.com Odds
- Couture (-200)
- Nogueira (+160)
Visit our Couture vs. Nogueira prediction page
Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Jardine (-140)
- Silva (+110)
Betus.com Odds
- Jardine (-140)
- Silva (+110)
Visit our Jardine vs. Silva prediction page
Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Leben (-155)
- Rosholt (+125)
Visit our Leben vs. Rosholt prediction page
Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Marquardt (-140)
- Maia (+170)
Betus.com Odds
- Marquardt (-180)
- Maia (+150)
Visit our Marquardt vs. Maia prediction page
Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Vera (-215)
- Soszynski (+175)
Visit our Vera vs. Soszynski prediction page
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Gonzaga (-340)
- Tuchscherer (+260)
Justin McCully vs. Mike Russo
Sportsbook.com Odds
- McCully (+220)
- Russo (-280)
Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Hague (+135)
- Duffee (-165)
Nick Catone vs. Mark Munoz
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Catone (+170)
- Munoz (-210)
Marcus Aurelio vs. Evan Dunham
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Aurelio (-140)
- Dunham (+110)
Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson
Sportsbook.com Odds
- Herman (-115)
- Simpson (-115)
Also on the card we have undefeated jiu jitsu ace Demian Maia (11-0) taking on the always dangerous Nate “The Great” Marquardt (31-8-2). Maia has finished his opponents in all five of his UFC matches all by submission, two triangle chokes and three rear naked chokes. This shows you the talent he brings into the octagon. Marquardt since coming to the UFC in 2005 has racked up an impressive 7-2 record with his only real lose coming by the hands of Anderson Silva. I believe he got screwed from the loss to Thales Leites. I’m really excited to see how this fight will play out.
Check back closer to the fight date as I will have fight predictions and current odds. UFC 102 Information Page
