Nogueira and Couture stage a classic battle

Three rounds, 15 minutes, dozens of punches to the face and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira’s expression changed only twice.

Once, in the first frame, he grimaced with exertion as he tried to submit five-time UFC champ and hall-of-famer Randy Couture with a darce choke. He couldn‘t. A round later, Big Nog’s face was again contorted as he tried to lock in an arm-in triangle choke. Again, he couldn’t. Except for those moments when he was close to putting Couture to sleep, Nog looked completely relaxed, even numb to the effects of the rock ‘em sock ‘em exchanges he and Couture engaged in on their feet.

There was no title on the line, but Saturday’s UFC 102 main event was one of the most-exciting, edge-of-your-seat heavyweight match-ups in years. Both came out swinging, the 33-year-old former Pride FC champion and the 46-year-old former UFC champion, warhorses showing everyone what it means to be a heavyweight chanpion, trading punches like baseball cards.

Any doubt about Nogueira’s chin after his (injury and illness-affected) loss to Frank Mir was erased as he absorbed the best of Couture’s dirty boxing and still kept pressing forward. Any doubt about Couture’s conditioning and the effects of Father Time were erased as he took everything Nogueira threw at him and fired right back and occasionally seemed to wobble his opponent. And while Nog dominated throughout the entire three rounds, at any moment I expected him to buckle from a Couture cross or uppercut. That didn’t happen, either.

Nogueira took the unanimous decision, reminding everybody he’s still a force in the heavyweight division (although I don’t see him being a threat to hulking champ Brock Lesnar). And Couture proved that he’s still got  fight left in him, announcing afterward his new six-fight, 28-month UFC contract.

Nogueira moved to 32-5-1 (3-1 in the UFC) with the win. Couture now stands at 16-10 (13-7 UFC), which includes a staggering 13 title fights in his past 15 bouts.

Deservedly, Nogueira and Couture each took home $60,000 for the Fight of the Night bonus. Definitely a classic, one for the ages.