It has been one week since UFC 102 featuring Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.  Couture lost the fight to Nogueira in a unanimous decision in three rounds in the octagon.  Coming into the fight both fighters were coming off tough defeats. Couture lost his heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar in UFC 91 and Nogueira lost his last fight against Frank Mir in an interim heavyweight title fight at UFC 92.  The fight was for the interim championship because former heavyweight champion Couture was in a disagreement with the UFC over certain practices.  The Couture vs. Nogueira fight showcased some elite talent.  It also demonstrated that the UFC still had tremendous athletes in the heavyweight division.  Some people believed that both fighters were finished in terms of their career.  The fight was being billed as a comeback for both fighters.  The fight clearly shows that there is still talent in the heavyweight division.  There should not have to be a debate about this topic, because both fighters have done so much, and have contributed many years to it.  The only real argument is age, or at least in Couture’s case.   

 

Former champion Couture is 46 but for his age he still fights as if he was in his twenties.  Despite losing his last fight he still has the talent to fight in the UFC.   There are not a lot of high profiled athletes in this division and therefore I believe, if both fighters continue to fight and improve, that they have a legitimate shot at the UFC title.  As of right now there is only one major heavyweight draw in the UFC, which is Brock Lesnar.  Lesnar’s next fight is scheduled to be at UFC 106 against Shane Carwin. 

 

For the lack of star power in the weight class, the UFC is going to air the Ultimate Fighter 10, which is to showcase some new up and coming heavyweights.  This is a terrific move on the UFC’s part, particularly because Kimbo Slice will be in the TV show.  This will allow the world a glimpse in the internet sensation known as Kimbo.  Is this a strategic move by the UFC to bolster the heavyweight division, or will this backfire?