Couture Agrees To Fight With Nogueira

[UkrainianGuy]

Couture Accepts UFC 101 Bout with Nogueira by Tom Hamlin

A long-rumored bout between former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and former UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira appears set to take place.

According to multiple sources from Couture’s camp, he has agreed to face Nogueira at the yet-unannounced UFC 101 sometime in August. The event may take place in Portland, Ore.

The UFC is now awaiting a response from Nogueira’s camp.

Previously, Couture was offered a fight with Nogueira in the first half of 2009, but his role in Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables,” set to film in late March, got in the way.

Couture was also rumored to be under consideration for UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany on June 13, but a source indicated he would be unable to complete a proper 8-week training camp and would not take the fight.

Nogueira was last seen at UFC 92, where he lost his interim heavyweight title in a TKO loss to current interim champ Frank Mir.

Couture – who has fought for or defended a title in 15 of his 19 UFC fights – lost the undisputed heavyweight title when he succumbed to strikes against Brock Lesnar at UFC 91.

[St]

You know what this will be a great fight looking forward to it,and both guy's are great for the sport.

[juced_porkchop]

man theses guys look ****ED UP. and by that i mean like then been beat with a hammer in the face lol.

rather fight when i need to and not look like that. but to each his own i think its stupid.
but like the fact its accepted on boths sides and they know what going down.

[evoke]

should be a good fight

[hugh mungus]

care factor of ZERO...Although he is a legend and you can never count him out....he is at the end of his career.

[Boulderer77]

.

[BAM]

I've always though that the UFC should create a Legends class or something like that so when these fighters that the fans have come to love over the years get into their 40's, they could still compete against eachother and put on a good show. Perhaps they could have one legends fight per card for each venue? It would extend the careers and sell tickets. The fights would still be good because both guys would be older.

Comments?

[turboturist]

I've always though that the UFC should create a Legends class or something like that so when these fighters that the fans have come to love over the years get into their 40's, they could still compete against eachother and put on a good show. Perhaps they could have one legends fight per card for each venue? It would extend the careers and sell tickets. The fights would still be good because both guys would be older.

Comments?

How do you justify putting Nog in that class, I believe he is in his mid 30's. Yes he is a legend but then you have peeps complaining you have a young guy fighting old farts.

Might be entertaining though.

[BAM]

^^ Sorry..I'm somewhat off topic. Not really talking about Nog,

just old timers that have paid their dues.

[pinhead]

A "Masters" class sort of. Yes, I wouldn't mind that. It might actually work.

[gustavo77]

A "Masters" class sort of. Yes, I wouldn't mind that. It might actually work.

It might...

[cougarkeeper]

Ya, we need a 40 to 60 year old class, 60 to 80 and a 80+ class. We'll keep these guys around forever. I will not feel wierd watching a 82 yr old vs a 90 yr old duke it out. UFC 5022

[UkrainianGuy]

IT'S ON! NOGUEIRA AND COUTURE AGREE TO UFC 101

Former Pride and UFC interim heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has agreed to face former UFC heavyweight champ Randy Couture at UFC 101 in August.

Though a date can’t be confirmed at this time, multiple sources wishing to remain anonymous say the unannounced card is likely to take place in Portland, Ore.

MMAWeekly.com on Thursday reported that Couture had accepted an offer to face the Brazilian, his first fight since losing the heavyweight crown to Brock Lesnar at UFC 91. Nogueira has now reciprocated, although bout agreements have yet to be signed.

http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/images/stories/story%20files/012808/randy-couture.jpg


http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/3747-RodrigoNogueiraPridePressGP.jpg




Couture turned down an offer to fight Nogueira in December of 2007 after resigning from the UFC in a contractual dispute. He remained heavyweight champion through his 11-month leave, while Nogueira defeated Tim Sylvia to win the interim heavyweight title at UFC 81.

Nogueira subsequently lost the title to Frank Mir in the second round of the UFC’s unofficial “heavyweight tournament,” with Couture losing his undisputed title at his UFC 91 return.

Couture was again offered a fight with the Brazilian in the first half of 2009, but an elbow surgery and obligations to the Sylvester Stallone-helmed “The Expendables” put the bout on the back burner. A widely rumored appearance at UFC 99 in Germany was also shelved due to the film.

Next month, Couture will begin filming the action flick alongside stars Mickey Rourke, Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and beleaguered California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Sources indicate Nogueira may do the bulk of his fight training in Los Angeles, sharpening his boxing skills with boxing guru Freddie Roach.