When: August 29, 2009
Where: Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon
The Main Event Between Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: This was one of those fights that people will remember for a long time, similar to when Chuck Liddell took on Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79. It was simply a contest between two MMA legends that did not disappoint.
Randy Couture looked good early on his feet, connecting with some very nice jabs, uppercuts, and rights while coming inside. Further, on the few occasions where he was able to press Nogueira up against the cage wall, he delivered some solid dirty boxing. But Nogueira connected with the harder punches in spots on his adversary that tended to do more damage on the night. Along with this, he hit home with a right hand in the first round that sent Couture to the ground and subsequently had him dead to rights in a D'Arce Choke that "The Natural" seemed to will his way out of. In the second round, Couture connected with some nice shots again, but Nogueira managed to turn him over on the ground and mount him. Somehow once again, Couture survived. In the final stanza, Nogueira again dominated the action in similar fashion, even if there were moments where Couture shined, including when he got out from under his adversary.
In the end, Nogueira won the unanimous decision deservedly. The old Nogueira appears back, folks, and that's a scary proposition for would be opponents.
UFC 102 Results
- Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva: Silva wins by KO at 1:35 of round one.
- Chirs Leben vs. Jake Rosholt: Rosholt wins by arm triangle choke at 1:30 of round three.
- Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia: Marquardt wins by KO after only 21 seconds in round one.
- Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski: Vera wins by unanimous decision.
- Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer: Gonzaga wins by way of TKO at 4:27 of round one.
- Justin McCully vs. Mike Russow: Russow wins by unanimous decision.
- Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee: Duffee wins by KO after only 7 seconds in round one, a new record.
- Nick Catone vs. Mark Munoz: Munoz wins via split decision.
- Marcus Aurelio vs. Evan Dunham: Dunham wins via split decision.
- Aaron Simpson vs. Ed Herman: Simpson wins via TKO after 17 seconds in round two.
