Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Round 1
Early exchange and they clinch. Couture moves away. Thirty seconds in and it's clear Couture is the quicker fighter. Nifty straight right from The Natural. Nice shot. Couture feels comfortable now, standing in the pocket bobbing and weaving, mixing in hooks and uppercuts.

Another lead right from Couture. Nogueira isn't moving all that well. Nog's circling back and to the left and counters with two kick right hooks. Couture is down and has to fight off a D'Arce choke. Noguiera has the submission deep. Couture is holding on. Holding on! Holding on ... wow. Randy manages to stand and they're once again boxing. Incredible will by The Natural.

Stiff right from Couture. A jab. They exhange on the inside and Minotauro gets the better. Lead left, right straight from Couture. Both land flush. They're trading with a minute to go in the first. So far this is the war both men deserve.

They're slugging it out in the clinch with 45 seconds to go. Crowd is screaming for more. Couture scored far better in that dirty boxing exchange. Holding behind the head and hitting.

Against the cage Couture digs with a left to the body and one to the head. They finish the round against the cage fencing earning an ovation from the crowd. Great round

Round 2
The pace stays consistent to open the second. Nogueira scores with a left hook an tries to pull a guillotine. But that was premature and for the first time in the fight, Couture finds himself in Nogueira's legendary guard. The kind of guard that changed how heavyweights were perceived in MMA.

In-tight brawling so far. Couture is working for wrist control. Couture is doing some hammering of his own. Good short elbows on the inside.

Nogueira sweeps Couture and takes the mount. Couture gets to half guard, a position he’s struggled with from the bottom in the past. Nogueira sets up an arm triangle choke and takes the mount.

He lets go of the submission to punch the head with his right hand. Couture gets to half guard and to his feet. Couture lands a body shot and backs away from Nogueira. A counter-left hook scores for Couture. Minotauro answers with a knee to the body.

Round 3
Inside leg kick from Couture. A three punch combo from Couture. Nogueira answers with a stiff 1-2, the right hand snapping Couture's jaw. Nog knows he has Randy hurt and he's pressing forward with punches. Couture is down, taking -- and mostly defending -- short hammer shots.

Nogueira relents, takes side control and presses Couture up against the fence. This is worst case scenario for The Natural. He can't escape to his left. He's trapped there.

Couture is bleeding from his let eye. But he's not done. Couture turns his back, gets on his knees and would love desperately to stand. But Nogueira won't let it happen. He's got Couture's back with one hook. Minotauro is digging for a rear-naked choke. And -- no shock here! -- Couture reverses. He's back on Nog's guard, not ideal but far better than his previous two and a half minutes in the cage. Finishes from this position -- the defensive position made famous by Royce Gracie -- don't seem likely.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira def. Randy Couture via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)