A bout between two of a young sport’s true legends saw delivered all the action any fan could ask for.
Despite entering the Octagon at a year younger than the age of Randy Couture, most of the speculation before the fight had Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira coming in as the doomed old man of the fight. Like I’ve heard in many a strip club, it ain’t the years, it’s the miles baby, Nogueira’s years of MMA masochism had many commenters thinking he was finished as a top tier athlete.
Quicker off the draw, Couture scored the first punches of the fight but Minotauro scored the first hard shot of the fight with a right. Taking Couture down by pulling guard, Nogueira failed to keep “the Natural” on the ground. Back on the feet, Couture connected with rights. Then suddenly Nogeuira caught Couture with a hard shot and dropped him. Quickly moving in for the kill, Nogueira want for the finish with a d’arce choke but incredibly Couture escaped.
After returning to the standup they traded shots and both scored effectively. Nogueira bled but continued to score but then in the clinch, Couture scored with uppercuts. It was a classic bout between two legends! Couture punished Nogueira in the clinch as the crowd chanted “RANDY RANDY”. Couture came out of the first round behind on the scorecards, but in possession of the momentum in the match.
Between rounds the Brazilian’s corner told him to stay off the fence and in the center of the ring.
Couture got first points in the round, but Noguiera got the first really hard shots. But soon the fight was on the ground, in Nogueira’s guard in the center of the cage. Couture landed with “some “Evan Tanner” elbows and bloodied Nogueira. Minotauro swept into mount and laid it on. But Couture moved to 1/2 guard in a fine display of defensive jiu jitsu. Nogueira locked in an arm triangle but had to escape 1/2 guard. And he did it. Full mount. He rained down shots and maintained head and arm control while landing punches. Couture escaped and got a headlock while still being mounted. Couture escaped to his feet with one minute left. They traded sharp punches to finish the round, but Nogueira seemed to have the advantage but Couture managed to land telling blows too.
With one round left, Couture seemed to be down 2-0.
Again, Couture opened the round scoring but Nogueira landing the telling shots. Then he dropped the American and followed him down to continue the punishment. In side mount against the fence, Minotauro battered Couture. The crowd roared with 2:30 left as Randy tried to fight to his feet. But Couture’s efforts only exposed his back to the Anaconda-like jiu jitsu player. Couture reversed with 1:16 left. But there he was in Minotauro’s guard. Couture scored with elbows but didn’t finish the fight. As the fight ended, Couture was being reversed into mount.
Nogueira dominated from bell to bell but left the fight in the hands of the judges. He was safe and won the fight by unanimous decision.