UFC 106 Preview: The Main Card

Luis Arthur Cane vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

The Breakdown: In one of the most compelling bits of violence on this card, rugged contender Cane looks to build on his solid win over former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Steve Cantwell by providing a rude welcome for Nogueira’s debut. How Nogueira’s combination of studied boxing and top-shelf jiu-jitsu matches up against Cane’s nasty, close-quarters striking game makes the clash compelling.

Undoubtedly the more powerful striker of the two, Cane has a distinct advantage as long as he stays in tight and keeps the pressure on Nogueira. Of course, that approach will leave open the possibility of Nogueira dragging him to the mat and turning him into a demented origami project.

Still largely untested as a wrestler, Cane will have to defend his fair share of takedowns if he cannot goad Nogueira into a slugfest. So far, Cane has found little resistance in that regard, and how he reacts to a multi-talented foe will weigh heavily on this fight.

The X-Factor: Nogueira was relegated to the fringes of the light heavyweight class following the collapse of Pride, and his UFC debut can only be viewed as long overdue. Still, it comes with many questions. How prepared will he be for a quantum leap in competition after years spent toiling against middling adversaries stands foremost among them.

Always a consummate professional, Nogueira undoubtedly has the skill to make a splash in the Octagon, but no one knows whether or not he will hit the UFC as the same fighter that was once a mainstay at the top of the division’s pecking order.

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The Bottom Line: Cane can hardly be described as unstoppable on the feet, as bouts with Cantwell and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou have proven. The assumed striking advantage many have given him seems severely overstated. That will prove a critical factor, as Nogueira takes a nip/tuck decision thanks to even exchanges on the feet and a marked advantage whenever the fight hits the mat.