Nogueira shatters expectations (at least mine), dominates everywhere!

(Is the old Nogueira back?)

Earlier, I predicted Randy Couture to dominate Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira everywhere, i really couldn't imagine a scenario where Nogueira would win. Well, he sure did show everybody that he is not done just yet. As a follow-up to the prediction post here is my take on the fight.



Standing up

• Just like the Lesnar fight, Couture's head movement didn't work with Nogueira like it did with Tim Sylvia.
• Nogueira caught Couture in the first round with a right hand to the temple that sent him to the mat (the same punch Lesnar caught him with) but unlike Lesnar, Nogueira couldn't finish the fight and Couture survived.
• It was not the only time Couture was knocked down in the fight though, as he also survived a second knockdown in the third round.
• Nogueira's chin looked great as Couture landed a bunch of solid shots throughout the fight that didn't seem to bother Nogueira.

In the clinch

• Surprisingly, Nogueira went blow by blow with Couture in the clinch.
• Interestingly, Couture -behind in the scorecards- didn't shoot for a takedown, not once.

On the ground

• Nogueira swept Couture just like he did Fedor but he was able to hold Couture down way longer.
• Couture -As expected- showed textbook submission defence as he defended a very tight D'Arce choke, a similarly tight Arm Triangle and a Rear Naked Choke.
• While on top in Nogueira's guard, Couture's GNP was not as violent as his submission coach Neil Melanson said it would be.