UFC 102 Post-Mortem: New Questions

Jake RossenAug 30, 2009
Is the “old” Nogueira back?

Nogueira was suffering from a staph infection in a December 2008 fight with Frank Mir: the result was a dodgy performance that had people calling for his retirement. Time off and antibiotics have done a world of good: against Couture, he looked every bit as dangerous as ever -- and far less like the shot fighter he was assumed to be. Was that display assisted by Couture’s modest physicality, or…

Is Nogueira ready for Brock Lesnar?

Nogueira was a lean 231 lbs. for Couture, which would put him at roughly a 50 lb. weight disadvantage once Lesnar re-hydrates on fight night. That’s a lot of caloric ground to make up, but if anyone can ensnare Lesnar with some archaic jiu-jitsu technique, it’s Nogueira.

Should Nate Marquardt have to wait any longer for a title shot?

After losing to Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson posted three victories, two of them decisions; Marquardt went 4-1 and finished everyone. Don’t decide in the conference room what two fighters can decide in the cage: let them fight.

What do you do with Keith Jardine?

You win some, you lose some: in Keith Jardine’s case, it’s to be taken literally. He’s exhausted most of his options at 205 lbs., unable to earn a spot against a champion but too polished to toil in the freshman class. Jardine has said he’s considered heavyweight before: maybe it’s time to