UFC 102 Preview and Predictions on Couture vs. Nogueira

Posted Aug 27, 2009 5:00PM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: UFC

Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, two of the best heavyweights in the history of mixed martial arts, will finally meet, Saturday night at UFC 102, in an event that's headlined by a clash of titans and features a good mix of fighters on the undercard. We've got a full preview and predictions on the televised fights below.

What: UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira

When: The undercard starts at 7 PM ET Saturday and the televised card begins at 10.

Where: Rose Garden, Portland

How: You can buy it for $44.95 on UFC.com or pay-per-view ($54.95 in HD), or you can just follow along with our live coverage here at FanHouse.

Predictions on the five televised fights:
Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
I've gone back and forth on this one more times than I can count, but I finally decided to go along with the vast majority of my Twitter followers and pick Couture. I still think Nogueira has the ability to submit anyone, and I think he'll look better on his feet against Couture than he did in December against Frank Mir, but ultimately I believe Couture will show superior striking and win a decision. Pick: Couture.

Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
Both fighters are coming off losses, but Jardine's loss was to Rampage Jackson and Silva's was to Lyoto Machida, so there's no shame in that. I like Silva's aggressive striking style a lot, but I think Jardine and his coach, Greg Jackson, will have just the right game plan to pick him apart from the outside. Pick: Jardine.

Jake Rosholt vs. Chris Leben
I like this clash of styles a lot, with Rosholt the NCAA champion wrestler who will want to take the fight to the ground, and Leben the brawler who will want to stand and trade punches. Rosholt is still relatively green and has far less experience than Leben, but I think he'll surprise Leben and win. Pick: Rosholt.

Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
For my money, this is actually the best fight on the whole card. Maia is undefeated, has won all five of his UFC fights by submission and has won the Submission of the Night award four times. But Marquardt is good enough on the ground to fend off Maia's submission attempts, and he has looked dramatically improved on his feet in his last couple of fights as well. I think it's in the stand-up game where Marquardt will win it. Pick: Marquardt.

Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
When Vera is motivated, he has the talent to beat almost anyone at 205 pounds. The problem is he sometimes looks listless in the Octagon, and Soszynski is a strong, tough opponent who will make Vera pay if he doesn't come to fight. I think Vera will bring it on Saturday. Pick: Vera.

We'll have full UFC 102 coverage on Saturday night, and you can follow all the action by following my UFC Twitter updates.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-27-2009 @ 5:42PM

Piker12 said...

I like brandon to win

8-27-2009 @ 8:42PM

richardbikle said...

Couture. Nogeria is in my mind the more skilled, i just think hes done.

Silva. will close the distance and not he distracted by spastic movement.

Rosholt

Maia. Marquardt is no match for his skill level imo.

Soszynski. Vera just doesnt have the heart.

8-27-2009 @ 9:56PM

neozoo said...

you've been better at this than me,
but here goes anyway...

randy/nog.for no particular reason other than a feeling...big nog.
silva/jardine. there is something about silva i don't like, so i'm picking... jardine.
rosholt/leben...toss up.
maia/marquardt. i agree completely with you on this one. maia is on another planet with his jj.
soszynski/vera. i really like vera here.
and i do think he has heart and talent.

all in all i think this will be a great card.
as i've said before i thought ufc 101 was probably one of the worst cards ever.

i'm curious what did you think of carano/cyborg card? if you haven't already read my post on that,
i sort of re posted it in my reply to johnny#5
in "Strikeforce Targeting Robbie Lawler vs. Ronaldo Souza in Fall".
i always appreciate your opinion. that's why i'm asking.
oh and i think you are spot on with rogers. then again as i've said before i think rogers will be exposed as another houston alexander.

8-27-2009 @ 10:08PM

one other thing,
i thought the aug 13 post regarding our boy diaz,
then retro's response and then what

imshortyk said...
. . . You understand, that after you told Rich to shut up and said he didn't know a damn thing about boxing . . that you said the exact same thing he said immediately after?

i found this to be one of the funniest things i have ever read, i really did lmfao.
imshortyk should get an award for that one.

8-28-2009 @ 12:20PM

Neo, i read it both times. I think this card was as good as a lot of ufc cards. Actually i dont find ufc fights worth paying for either. If i cant find a live feed fight night, i watch it the next day on mma core... for free. As for the SF main event, i think cyborg would beat a lot of men at 145, seriously. Kyle getting subbed, no surprise. I think Werdum is better than what he showed in the ufc. Mousasi, i expected him to ko babalu, no surprise there. All in all a pretty good card i thought.
As far as being better, thanks - thats kind- but i'm just guessing like everyone else.

And to Retro, if it wasnt for him (the village idiot), i could never feel smart. har har.
As for retro

8-28-2009 @ 12:35PM

where do you watch it for free?
i'm not aware of the site, not that i will sit and watch a show on my computer, it's just good to know.

8-28-2009 @ 12:54PM

mmacore, mmahack,

you get the fights without all the inbetween filler from rogan and goldberg (who after all these years still cant get it right).

8-28-2009 @ 5:42AM

Paul said...

I will take Randy Couture, Silva, Leben, Maia, and Krzysztof Soszynski.
Vera has such high expectations that I think he is totally irrational in thinking that he could be the Light-heavy and Heavyweight Champion at the same time. Anyone with a record in the UFC such as his who says that is an egotist and a non-pragmatic thinker. He is past this fight already and that is why he will not win. Maia is just great and I think his Bjj will win out. Leben is due to knock someone out. I think that Jardine is on the other side of his career (or he shows up some times and others he looks plain sloppy); and Randy is too smart for Nogueira. My humble opinions.

8-28-2009 @ 10:31AM

Eric said...

Randy vs Nog
The 1st round will tell us alot about Nogueira. If Big Nog looks sluggish, I think Randy will stop him with GnP in the 2nd or 3rd. Even if Nog looks good, I still believe Randy will win by decision.
RANDY BY DECISION

Jardine vs Silva
This is a tough one. There is much that is unknown about both fighters. Jardine's Jaw? Does Silva have what it takes against elite opposition? I think Jardine's jaw will prevail.
JARDINE BY DECISION

Rosholt vs Leben
We really don't know enough about Rosholt to predict this one ... if he wins it will likely be a boring affair, but personally I don't see that happening. Chris will defend himself well when on his back & find an opening to hurt Rosjolt on the feet.
LEBEN BY KO

The bottom 2 fights Nate Marquardt/Demian Maia & Brandon Vera/Krzysztof Soszynski excite me the most about this card because I think they are both pick'em fights.

Marquardt is a much better ground fighters than any of Maia's previous opponents in MMA & he is a much better striker than Maia. Is Maia's Jiu-Jitsu great enough to submit Marquardt?? I don't think so.
MARQUARDT BY KO ... seriously

Vera is the better technical striker, but will he have the heart & fortitude to tangle with the strong Soszynski and not get taken out of his game? I say yes.
VERA BY DECISION

8-28-2009 @ 11:38AM

kevin said...

Nog Vs. couture-Draw because both fighters die bhy heart attack haha just kidding im gonna have to take Nog on this one because i think Couture is a little over rated but it could go either way.
Nog by Sub Round 1 Probably way off though.

Jardine Vs. Silva- Silva is one of my favorite fighters and i Agree with RichardBikle 100% Silvas one of those fighters that isnt gonna be fallin for jardines tricks so ill take, Silva by tko round 2.

Rosholt Vs. Leben- Leben didnt look to good against Bisping im not to familiar with rosholt but i think he is a lay and pray from what i remember so ill take, Rosholt by decision.

Marquardt Vs. Maia- i love Maia his Submission win over Ed Herman was a classic i think Maia will take a few shots standing but once it hits the ground i think there is nobody on Maias BJJ level with that said, Maia by submission round 2.

Vera Vs. Soszynski- I absolutly hate Vera so im gonna just say Soszynski By Hedo Bisping Ko round 1. but really im taking Vera by Decision.