Main Event Preview – Couture is going to Evict Nogueira from the UFC

Nobody has more on the line this weekend than Antonio Nogueira. The man known as “Minotauro” steps in to the ring to battle the 46-year-old Randy Couture with his pride on the line, and his career in the UFC in jeopardy. A lot of fanfare is being made about Randy Couture’s mind-boggling age, but none of that gab has given way to the critics doubting the man known as “The Natural”.

Couture is the logical favorite at -170, and he stands to gain some momentum if he can get past his younger opponent this weekend. The last time we saw the 16-9 SU legend, he was getting hammer punched by Brock Lesnar. Usually I have hesitations about a fighter who is over-the-hill and has a lot to prove, but the great thing about betting on Couture is that he has zero left to prove to the world. He is still a championship caliber fighter who is far too versatile to go out in to the setting sun. He’s in it for the love of the game…and by “game” I’m referring to his love of “punching people in the face repeatedly”.

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Lost in all the talk about Couture’s age is Minotarou’s mileage. Nogueira has been around since 1999 and has stepped in to the octagon with the likes of Frank Mir, Fedor Emelianenko, Heath Herring and Tim Sylvia. Since UFC 92, where Nogueira got his ass handed to him by Frank Mir, he’s been trying to solve the problems with his game. The main problem, however, is that he’s just taking too much of a beating throughout his career. Bob Sapp crushed this guy seven-years ago in a brutal beating, that still makes Nogueira fans cringe despite the fact that he won the fight.

This isn’t a make-or-break fight for Couture. It’s business. As a slight favorite, you’re best hedging your bets. The only thing you have to decide is how badly Couture is going to rumble through Nogueira, who is outmatched in power and outclassed in technical precision. The main event on this card is a no-brainer.

Furious Free Pick: Couture -170 (TKO)