The dream match: Nogueira vs. Couture

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

On August 29, UFC 102 will have as main fight one of the fights that the fans expected since the former Pride champion, Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira, went to the American event. Warming up fo tehe bout against Randy Couture, we asked some experts to analyze the fight of former champions.

"With both at the apex of the form, I bet Minotauro takes it. I think Randy would be able to take him down, but Minotauro would eventually submit him with a kimura”, bets Fabrício Werdum, who already faced Minotauro at Pride. Master of the Luta Livre, Beto Leitão doesn’t believe that the Brazilian would have an easy life against Couture. "Minotauro would hardly be able to take the fight to the ground and, in the fight standing, Randy is much better, I believe he would neutralize the Brazilian. To me, Randy would take this fight by decision”, provides Leitão.

To Luiz Alves, Nogueira’s Muay Thai coach, the fight favors the Brazilian’s style. "He fights better standing. On the ground, Rodrigo sweeps for sure", bets Luiz. In an interview to TATAME TV, Minotauro showed confidence to the challenge against Randy. "If he takes me down, it’s where my game begins", guaranteed Nogueira.