Checking From Behind Pulling No Punches

If you missed this fight card, do yourself a favor and find a way to get a hold of it. Incredible knockouts, a record breaking fight, beautiful submissions, and perhaps the greatest fight of all-time was the talk of the world after UFC 102 concluded. Two legends went at it head to head, and not only did it live up to expectations, but it surpassed it by miles. So let's not waste anymore time in getting down to it.

Fight 1: Light Heavyweight: Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski

This bout was a pure stand-up match and had both fighters testing each other early. A quick body kick by Vera landed hard and had Soszynski backing off. Vera controlled much of the fight and prevented many take-down attempts by Soszynski. The problem in this fight was neither fighter having the strength necessary to do significant damage and dominate the fight. Sozsynski would press Vera to the cage, but only once did he take him to the mat and it didn't last long. Vera controlled the octagon for the majority of the fight and his kicks won him the fight.

Winner: Brandon Vera - Unanimous Decision - (30-27)

Fight 2: Middleweight: Demian Maia vs. Nate Marquardt

It didn't last long, and perhaps Maia, undefeated in 5 UFC fights, came in over confident, but Nate Marquardt showed he is a legitimate contender with a devastating knockout over Demian Maia. After a few leg kicks by Maia, Marquardt timed his strike perfectly. Maia went in for body kick, and Marquardt came in with a straight right that connected right on the button. Down went Maia, and Marquardt pulled away from throwing another punch. Maia was out, and Marquardt knew it. "I want that belt," said Marquardt. "If you want someone to get in there and kick his butt, then you're gonna give the shot to me." With a knockout like that, Marquardt definitely earned his potential rematch against current champ Anderson Silva.

Winner: Nate Marquardt - KO - 0:21 Round 1

Fight 3: Middleweight: Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt

In just his second fight in the UFC, Jake Rosholt found himself against a very tough competitor - Chris Leben. Chris Leben utilized his kicks to get some combos set up for a strong left hook. Jake Rosholt was not afraid to exchange and the two went back and forth with strikes once they got into the clinch. In the second round, Leben gained control on the ground once again, but Rosholt's defense prevented him from passing his guard and he weathered the storm until they were forced to stand. That's when the foot stomps began by Leben with Rosholt against the cage; that's also when Rosholt got angry and started to yell at Leben to stop. Leben did not listen, and Rosholt made him pay. Elbowing his way away from the cage, Rosholt executed a take down and used his ground and pound to wear him out. The third round kicked off with Rosholt immediately taking Leben to the ground. He pulled in Leben's right arm and locked it onto place for a triangle. Spinning away from his body, Leben tapped, but the ref did not take notice of it. Soon, Leben was completely asleep and the fight was called.

Winner: Jake Rosholt - Submission - 2:28 Round 3

 Fight 4: Heavyweight: Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee

This fight was quick enough to set a record for the fastest fight in the history of the UFC. Tim Hague came out faking a right and leading with his left; unfortunately, Todd Duffee was already shooting a left jab that connected hard and down went Hague. A few shots for good measure and the fight was over.

Winner: Todd Duffee - KO - 0:07 Round 1

Fight 5: Light Heavyweight: Thiago Silva (13-1) vs. Keith Jardine (14-6-1)

Two fighters who love to stand and throw them, this fight was full of hard strikes and hard kicks. Jardine found Silva standing flat-footed on his leading leg and began to punish it with kicks. Silva took each one, waiting for his opportunity to land a hard strike. That opportunity came as Jardine stepped forward from the fence with a few attempted uppercuts, and missed with a right. Silva came in with a left hook as he dodged and down went Jardine. Two strikes from the top with Jardine on his back had the ref jumping in to call it. The win will certainly move Silva up into the contention area for a chance at a rematch with Lyoto Machida.

Winner: Thiago Silva - KO - 1:35 Round 1

Fight 6: Middleweight: Ed Herman (17-6) vs. Aaron Simpson (5-0)

This was an energetic fight from the get-go. Aaron Simpson would explode with his take-downs and strikes, but Ed Herman did a good job at defending them with leg kicks from the mat. Simpson pinched him to the cage and lifted Herman up for a huge slam. The first round was a fast-paced and energetic round with plenty of attacks from both sides. Herman defended Simpson's relentless offense, but looked like he was gassing near the end of the opening round. Simpson, on the other hand, looked as if he could explode and finish the fight at any moment. A difficult take-down at the end of the first round found Herman's left knee buckling. He decided to continue to fight regardless, and the second round made him pay for it immediately. He attempted a right kick, which put all his weight on his left knee, and it popped forward. Down went Herman in a heap of pain, unable to continue. A poor ending to what was a quick-paced fight with tons of strikes.

Winner: Aaron Simpson - TK - 0:16 Round 2

Fight 7: Heavyweight: Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira

Two legends fighting to get a chance to regain the Heavyweight title. It took a few years to get here, and despite neither fighter talking trash to get fans excited, the fight was certainly hyped up to the max, and it somehow exceeded those expectations. Leading up to the fight, there were questions surrounding both fighters: at age 46, does Randy still have what it takes to compete at the top of the division? After the fight with Frank Mir, has Nogueira lost his step? It did not take long for both men to silence those critics.

It was a fight that went the distance and could go down as one of the greatest fights of all-time. Both men entered the octagon in the best physical conditions of their career. They came to fight and they came to win. Randy picked his pockets to break in with an uppercut to jab combo. Nogueira stood and exchanged ith him and both men hit fast and hit hard.Randy was successful in the clinch, breaking away with strong punches. His first test would come just over 2 minutes into the fight. He went in for another two-punch combo, and Nogueira reacted with some fierce strikes. Down went Randy, and in came Noguera. He locked in a choke, and Randy refused to tap. He pulled in his own elbow and Nogueira found himself losing grip. Soon they were both stading once again and the crowd went nuts.

Back to the striking game they went, a few kicks by Randy and both men took to the center of the octagon and traded bombs. Back and forth they went with hits until they grabbed a hold of each other in the clinch and just let the fists fly like a hockey fight. The round finised with Nogueira's back to the fence and Randy looking to unload more strikes.

The second round was a bit different. It started off with both men exchanging once again, but after a failed guillotine by Nogueira, Randy came down int his half guard and tried to execute his ground and pound. Nogueira weathered the storm, holding him close to lessen the strengthof the strikes and picked his moment. He spun Couture over, locked his legs uder him and in a strange full mount began to unload on Couture. Randy held Nogueira's head in close and maneuvered himself into half guard. Nogueira then locked in another triangle and Randy, again, refused to tap. Nogueira held th lock in place and started to deliver hard body shots, but Randy would not let go of his leg and refused to tap. Soon, Randy would fight his way back to his feet and the two would stand in the center and exchange once again. Two huge lefts by Randy seemed to rock Nogueira a bit, but he would hold steady and continue to throw down with the veteran.

Bleeding and tired, both men got ready for the final round. Exchanging once again, Nogueira landed a huge right cross that rocked Couture. He jumped on top and began to rain down the hammer fists, but Couture would not give up. He pulled him in deep, but Nogueira quickly passed him and gained side position with Couture against the fence. Randy worked his way into control of Nogueira's left arm and Nogueira locked his legs around Couture's back, trying not to let go, but Randy managed to escape it after two minutes of ground control by Minotauro. He found his way on top of Nogueira in full guard, and knew the only way he could win was to finish Nogueira before the time ran out. Under a minute left, Randy put all the energy he had left into his elbows and Nogueira spent the duration of the round defending. Right at the buzzer, Nogueira managed to reverse it but the buzzer went before anything else could be done.

All heart by both men, neither willing to let the fight go. Randy was rocked twice and escaped two secured submissions in the fight. Nogueira was rocked once and regained his pinacle form. Two legends took to the octagon and put in a fight for the fans that will most definitely be recognized as one of the greatest and most exciting fights ever.

Winner: Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira - Unanimous Decision - (30-28)

With the win, Nogueira only has one thing in mind - the Heavyweight Championship belt. "I want a title bout. If I can my chance against Lesnar, I'll be much better." It's certainly an idea all MMA fans have thought once the fight concluded. As for Couture, he says he'll "let the dust settle, take a week and see what the UFC wants to do. [He's] here and ready to fight at all times."

Fight Bonuses:

Fight of the Night - Couture vs. Nogueira - $60,000.00

Knockout of the Night - Marquardt over Maia - $60,000.00

Submission of the Night - Jake Rosholt - $60,000.00

The card brought 16,088 fans into Portland for the show, with a live gate of $1.92 million.

Micheal A. Aldred

michealaldred@hotmail.com

Tonight, the UFC will explode onto the scene in Portland, Oregon with what could very well be the best fight card of the year. A few undefeated fighters look to continue their streak, some huge heavyweights ready to throw down, and submission experts ready to continue their domination on the mat. This is not a fight card that you want to miss!

With the UFC 102 weigh-ins now complete, let's take a closer look at each fight for this intense card and how each fighter will fair. The following preview list is in accordance to the order of the weigh-ins.

Fight 1: Heaveyweight Division: Chris Tuchscherer vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

While Gabriel Gonzaga was clearly the crowd favorite between the two at the weigh-ins, one thing that was clear was both fighters wanting this one. The stare down and brief hand-shake did show a level of respect for each other, but it also spoke volumes, most notably the ones that speak "my fist, your face." Gonzaga is a fierce competitor who loves to throw them and get into the mix early. Tuchscherer was handed a contract for this fight the day he tried to sign up for the fast approaching Ultimate Fighter 10. His 17-1-0 record landed him this bout and he is about to show the world that there is another huge fighter in the Heavyweight division. Though it will be Tuchscherer's first fight in the UFC, he is considered the underdog simply due to lack of recognition.

Prediction: Chris Tuchscherer - KO - Round 2 ("Upset")

Fight 2: Middleweight Division: Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson

Ed Herman and Aaron Simpson are both world-class wrestlers, but there is no question who the bigger fighter is. They may be the same weight, but the extra 2 inches Herman has over Simpson does make him look like a monster in comparison. Herman loves to take his opponents to the ground and execute his vicious ground and pound, while Simpson proved at UFC Fight Night 18 that he can throw some huge bombs as he TKO'd Tim McKenzie just over a minute and a half into the fight. Herman is more experienced and knows his way around the ring, but he does lack submission defense skills. Herman's 9 wins via submission is another story.

Prediction: Ed Herman - Submission - Round 2

Fight 3: Middleweight Division: Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt

Leben and Rosholt looks excited to get into the octagon and throw down. They were wearing huge smiles on their stare down and these two just love to fight. Both are primarily known to win by knockout, so expect this fight to be an all-out brawl. It could come down to simply who will land the big punch first, but with a slight reach advantage for Rosholt, mixed with the fact that he lost his UFC debut, he could be the more aggressive fighter.

Prediction: Jake Rosholt - KO - Round 1

Fight 4: Light Heavyweight Division: Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski

While Brandon Vera has a height advantage, Soszynski looks like a much bigger fighter. Riding a 6 fight win streak (3 in the UFC), Soszynski is dangerous anywhere on the mat. His last four fights include 1 KO and 3 Submission victories and only one of those fights made it to the second round. Vera is trying to stay consistent as he has not had back to back victories since November of 2006. Soszynski's aggressive fighting might be too much for Vera to handle.

Prediction:Soszynski - Submission - Round 2

Fight 5: Middleweight: Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia

You want to see two fighters who would have thrown down if given the opportunity at the weigh-ins? It's these two. Nate Marquardt is an all-around fighter. He can throw and grapple with the best of them, so the UFC gave him a fight against the very best at submissions - Demian Maia, who is 5-0 in the UFC, all via submission. Marquardt is seeking three straight wins with a victory of Maia, but it's likely Maia will be too much to handle on the mat.

Prediction: Damien Maia - KO - Round 2

Fight 6: Light Heavyweight: Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva

Keith Jardine loves to stand and throw. Thiago Silva loves to stand and throw. Of his five previous fights in the UFC, Thiago Silva has only had one reach the second round. He is coming off a loss to the current Light Heavyweight Champ, Lyoto Machida, and looks to regain his top competitor status with a win over Jardine. Keith, on the other hand, is looking for consistency. He lost his last tilt via unanimous decision against Quinton Jackson, a fight that would have given Jardine a title shot. A win in this fight will significantly raise either fighter to the top of the list in the Light Heavyweight Division. Considering Silva has only lost to a man who cannot be beaten (Machida), it's difficult to say Silva will lose this fight.

Prediction: Thiago Silva - KO - Round 1

Fight 7: Heavyweight Division: Randy Couture vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Two of the most respected fighters in UFC history finally get their chance to fight. In what is considered a "dream" fight, Couture and Nogueira will step into the octagon both proving they still have what it takes. The fight is expected to award top contender status in the Heavyweight division and both men want it. Not trash talking the other leading up to the fight, both men will let their techniques do the talking tonight. Randy Couture looks better than he has in years in terms of physical condition, and at 46 years of age, could very well overpower Nogueira, who has only been stopped once in his career and that was his most recent loss against Frank Mir. Despite Nogueira's ability to take hits and still execute timely submissions, Randy's aggressive nature and powerful strikes will be the talk of the fight.

Predictions: Randy Couture - KO - Round 2

UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira - Portland, Oregon. Live Tonight @ 10:00 ET

Micheal A. Aldred

michealaldred@hotmail.com

Pending a physical, the Tampa Bay Lightning have come to an agreement with Quebec native, Alex Tanguay, on a 1 year contract worth around $3M. The two sides have been in talks since early July, but he had not made his official decision until Tampa Bay forwards Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis contacted Alex to join the franchise. The 29 year-old has 193 goals and 387 assists in 659 games.

With the additions of Alex Tanguay, potentially Victor Hedman, Mattias Ohlund and the growth of Steven Stamkos, are the Tampa Bay Lightning now a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference?

The Vancouver Canucks have also tapped into the free agent market just hours after swinging a deal with the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. The Canucks acquired Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich in exchange for Daniel Rahimi, a 6'3" Swedish defenseman drafted in round 3 of the 2006 Entry Draft, and Patrick White, the Canucks first round pick, 25th overall in the 2007 Entry Draft.

The 27 year-old Christian Ehrhoff is coming off a season high 42 points in 77 games and is expected to replace Mattias Ohlund who signed with the Lightning this off-season. The trade gave the Sharks some young prospects for one of their better defenseman and allowed them to clear some much needed cap space for the upcoming season.

Matthieu Schneider has also decided to play another season after signing a one-year $1.55M dollar contract with the Canucks. Schneider, who has a bomb of a shot from the point, tallied 9 goals and 23 assists in 64 games last year between the Atlanta Thrashers and the Montreal Canadiens. If you thought the Canucks powerplay last season was strong, consider that it just got even better.

Micheal A. Aldred

michealaldred@hotmail.com