UFC 102 Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC Picks: The UFC 102 main event should be a tactical war between two heavyweight veterans when Randy Couture meets Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The 46-year old MMA legend Couture, 16-9, should have a nice home-field advantage with the fight being held in his adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon. Nogueira, 31-5-1, is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist that is trying to prove to critics that he is not washed up after looking less than stellar in his last two fights. Nogeira was originally a -140 favorite but money has washed in on Couture who is now a healthy -205 favorite. UFC 102: Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC Picks has Couture as an 8-5 UFC odds favorite.

Randy Couture is a world-class wrestler with some nice boxing ability. Couture’s bread and butter is his ground and pound which is among the best in the sport. Couture is great in the clinch and has sound takedown and striking defense. Couture is a very smart fighter that is almost always able to execute his gameplan. UFC 102 Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira UFC odds in this fight give Couture a 66% chance of winning this heavyweight match-up.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is big and powerful submission specialist that seems to have lost a few miles off his fastball. Nogueira is a smart fighter that has fought the best but he appears to be damaged after years of punishment. Nogueira is slow of hand and foot and his reflexes appear almost shot.

While Nogueira is bigger and younger he is not the same caliber fighter as Couture. Couture has more dimensions to his MMA game and his only disadvantage in this fight is submissions. Nogueira’s submission skills should be thwarted however by Couture’s takedown defense and superior striking ability. We expect Couture to win this fight on the judges scorecards who are likely to give him a slight home-field advantage in the fight.