The UFC is finally coming to Portland/UFC 102 Results

[speeds]

After numerous attempts at booking the Rose Garden, the UFC has finally been able to pin down a date on which to visit Portland--August 29th.

The show will feature a heavyweight showdown between two legends of the sport: Everett, Washington's Randy "The Natural" Couture, the three time All-American wrestler from Oklahoma State and six-time UFC champion, and Brazilian Antônio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, former PRIDE FC and UFC heavyweight champion, in a match that's been fantasized about for nearly a decade.

Keep an eye on: undefeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Demian Maia, who has choked-out all five of his UFC opponents to date.

Also featured on the card: Portland, Oregon native Chris "The Crippler" Leben, and Eugene, Oregon native Evan Dunham; Vancouver, Washingon native Ed Herman, who fights out of Portland, Oregon.


Tickets go on sale to the public on June 20th. UFC Fight Club members can purchase from a limited amount of pre-sale tickets on the 18th and UFC Newsletter subscribers will have tickets made available for purchase on the 19th. The event will be broadcast on PPV at 10:00PM EST.


UFC 102
August 29th, 2009
The Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
PPV (10:00PM EST)

MAIN EVENT
265lbs. Randy 'The Natural' Couture [USA] (16-7) vs. Antônio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira [Brazil] (31-5-1)

HEADLINE
205lbs. 'The Dean of Mean' Keith Jardine [USA] (14-6-1) vs. Thiago Silva [Brazil] (13-1)

UNDERCARD
185lbs. Chris 'Crippler' Leben [USA] (18-5) vs. Jake Rosholt [USA] (5-1)
185lbs. Nate 'The Great' Marquart [USA] (31-8-2) vs. Demian Maia [Brazil] (11-0)
205lbs. Brandon 'The Truth' Vera [USA] (10-3) vs. Krzysztof 'The Polish Experiment' Soszynski [Canada] (18-8-1)

PRELIMINARY BOUTS
265lbs. Gabriel 'Napao' Gonzaga [Brazil] (10-4) vs. Chris Tuchscherer [USA] (17-1-0-1)
185lbs. Ed 'Short Fuse' Herman [USA] (15-7) vs. Aaron 'A-Train' Simpson [USA] (5-0)
185lbs. Nick Catone [USA] (7-1) vs. Mark 'The Filipino Wrecking Machine' Munoz [USA] (5-1)
170lbs. Marcus 'Maximus' Aurelio [Brazil] (18-7) vs. Evan Dunham [USA] (8-0)
265lbs. Justin 'The Insane 1' McCully [USA] (9-4-2) vs. Mike Russow [USA] (11-1-1)
265lbs. Tim 'The Thrashing Machine' Hague [Canada] (10-1) vs. Todd Duffee [USA] (4-0)

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

[video=youtube;Vo_A2qUs40Q]

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Tickets are still available. Anyone going?

 

[ABM]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Tickets are still available. Anyone going?

My friend, BLAZER PROPHET, knows nothing about UFC........nor, does he really care. Yet, through his company, gets the use of a suite...and is taking his daughter and son-in-law who are UFC fanatics.

 

[Chutney]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Lucky bastards...

 

[maxiep]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Pfft...if I want to see something like the UFC offers, I can just hang out in the parking lot of the Copper Penny on a Saturday night.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

 

[Blazerfan22]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Pfft...if I want to see something like the UFC offers, I can just hang out in the parking lot of the Copper Penny on a Saturday night.

There's just a tad more strategy involved in UFC than just punching eatchother in the face for 10 seconds then both guys are winded.

 

[maxiep]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

There's just a tad more strategy involved in UFC than just punching eatchother in the face for 10 seconds then both guys are winded.

Then you've never seen a fight with two dudes on angel dust.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Undefeated Phoenix native Aaron Simpson replaces Wilson Gouveia, who withdraws due to a back injury.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

My friend, BLAZER PROPHET, knows nothing about UFC........nor, does he really care. Yet, through his company, gets the use of a suite...and is taking his daughter and son-in-law who are UFC fanatics.

Well if you get the opportunity to join them don't pass it up. The UFC atmosphere is unlike any other live sporting event.

 

[tlongII]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I'm looking forward to it!

 

[maxiep]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Well if you get the opportunity to join them don't pass it up. The UFC atmosphere is unlike any other live sporting event.

Have you ever been to a Guatemalan cock fight? I didn't think so.

 

[PapaG]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Have you ever been to a Guatemalan cock fight? I didn't think so.

Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I've got 4 tickets to the ODS multi million dollar luxury suite. We're right next to Nike. Free parking passes, HUGE free dinner and all kinds of food...

The funny thing is that I don't like MMA. At all. I did this for my daughter and her husband- they love this garbage. But, as their host, I have to be there.

 

[DennisRodman]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I've got 4 tickets to the ODS multi million dollar luxury suite. We're right next to Nike. Free parking passes, HUGE free dinner and all kinds of food...

The funny thing is that I don't like MMA. At all. I did this for my daughter and her husband- they love this garbage. But, as their host, I have to be there.

Holy crap that is sweet, I'd definitely be there in a heartbeat.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Have you ever been to a Guatemalan cock fight? I didn't think so.

Yeah, this is going to be riff-raff city. As I understand it, guns, knives shives & chains have to be checked at the door.

 

[ABM]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

.....guns, knives shives & chains have to be checked at the door.

Hmmmm....................who's guarding the guardians?

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

[video=youtube;nZniGIH213w]

[video=youtube;Y4w9scY8Aro]

 

[mook]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

As much as I like MMA, I really have to wonder if it's that much fun to watch in an arena (unless you pay the big bucks to be 30 yards away). A lot of it boils down to submissions and wrestling, and that stuff is pretty hard to see at 150 yards. Except on the jumbotron, and at that point you might as well stay home and watch it on the big screen. If you want the big crowd environment, just go to a sports bar.

That said, if I were BP I'd be pretty stoked just to get in for free. Even during the Blazers' 21 season, every time I've left the Rose Garden I've felt like I got my money's worth. It's just a great arena.

 

[mook]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Have you ever been to a Guatemalan cock fight? I didn't think so.

Obviously, it's a little different. Guys spend decades devoting their lives to mastering wrestling, jiujitsu, karate, judo, etc. They're amazing athletes at the peak of physical condition, practicing arts that have been evolving around the world for centuries.

That's a little different than a couple of drunks or chickens going at it in a parking lot. That's what MMA was about 15 years ago (and what pro wrestling still is).

 

[maxiep]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Obviously, it's a little different. Guys spend decades devoting their lives to mastering wrestling, jiujitsu, karate, judo, etc. They're amazing athletes at the peak of physical condition, practicing arts that have been evolving around the world for centuries.

That's a little different than a couple of drunks or chickens going at it in a parking lot. That's what MMA was about 15 years ago.

I'd rather watch Jean Claude Van Damme kick Chong Li's ass in the Kumite.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

As much as I like MMA, I really have to wonder if it's that much fun to watch in an arena (unless you pay the big bucks to be 30 yards away). A lot of it boils down to submissions and wrestling, and that stuff is pretty hard to see at 150 yards. Except on the jumbotron, and at that point you might as well stay home and watch it on the big screen. If you want the big crowd environment, just go to a sports bar.

That said, if I were BP I'd be pretty stoked just to get in for free. Even during the Blazers' 21 season, every time I've left the Rose Garden I've felt like I got my money's worth. It's just a great arena.

I've been to a couple of events but before attending I had the same concerns as you. Like any sporting event it boils down to how close you are to the action. Cheap seats are still cheap seats. (But seeing as how the UFC charges primo dollars for their show sometimes expensive seats wind up being cheap seats.)

That being said, the Octagon is considerably larger than you'd expect. In a basketball/hockey arena, or a square arena like the MGM Grand Garden Arena, it takes up a significant portion of the floor space. The lighting is done in a way to make it very visible. Probably more visible than a basketball game because they are on an elevated stage, albeit behind cage. You can see what is going on but only from your own viewing angle--when watching on television they use six or eight cameras to make sure you see ground work. Thankfully the UFC brings six or so large screens and they simulcast the show on the screens inside the arena. If your view is blocked by the cage or the ref or the other fighter, you can glance up at the screen and see it.

What you don't get on television is the live sound experience. It's hard to appreciate how hard a fighter throws punches and kicks until you hear the thuds and cracks echo through a packed arena. Obviously they light up the cage with microphones but if you're sitting close enough you can hear a leg kick and understand how devastating some of these guys really are. If you're sitting really close you can feel slams and hard ground-and-pound vibrate cage side. 265-lbs crusher Shane Carwin supposedly shakes the whole ring when he is punching someone on the ground.

The best part is the crowd. The energy at a UFC live event is intense. It isn't like a ball game because the crowd is split and they can switch allegiances mid-fight depending on what is happening. Since there are ten to thirteen fights you're guaranteed at least a handful of memorable fights as well, whereas if you go to a ball game or a boxing show you're odds of seeing something you like go way down. Generally the fans are happy to be with like-minded people, seeing as how MMA is still a fringe sport and thus fans are used to watching with just a few friends or at the bar. Obviously alcohol fuels dickish behaviour but that is the case in any setting.

 

[mook]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I've been to a couple of events but before attending I had the same concerns as you. Like any sporting event it boils down to how close you are to the action. Cheap seats are still cheap seats. (But seeing as how the UFC charges primo dollars for their show sometimes expensive seats wind up being cheap seats.)

That being said, the Octagon is considerably larger than you'd expect. In a basketball/hockey arena, or a square arena like the MGM Grand Garden Arena, it takes up a significant portion of the floor space. The lighting is done in a way to make it very visible. Probably more visible than a basketball game because they are on an elevated stage, albeit behind cage. You can see what is going on but only from your own viewing angle--when watching on television they use six or eight cameras to make sure you see ground work. Thankfully the UFC brings six or so large screens and they simulcast the show on the screens inside the arena. If your view is blocked by the cage or the ref or the other fighter, you can glance up at the screen and see it.

What you don't get on television is the live sound experience. It's hard to appreciate how hard a fighter throws punches and kicks until you hear the thuds and cracks echo through a packed arena. Obviously they light up the cage with microphones but if you're sitting close enough you can hear a leg kick and understand how devastating some of these guys really are. If you're sitting really close you can feel slams and hard ground-and-pound vibrate cage side. 265-lbs crusher Shane Carwin supposedly shakes the whole ring when he is punching someone on the ground.

The best part is the crowd. The energy at a UFC live event is intense. It isn't like a ball game because the crowd is split and they can switch allegiances mid-fight depending on what is happening. Since there are ten to thirteen fights you're guaranteed at least a handful of memorable fights as well, whereas if you go to a ball game or a boxing show you're odds of seeing something you like go way down. Generally the fans are happy to be with like-minded people, seeing as how MMA is still a fringe sport and thus fans are used to watching with just a few friends or at the bar. Obviously alcohol fuels dickish behaviour but that is the case in any setting.

Nice post. I might have to check it out.....

 

[dpc]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I've been to a couple of events but before attending I had the same concerns as you. Like any sporting event it boils down to how close you are to the action. Cheap seats are still cheap seats. (But seeing as how the UFC charges primo dollars for their show sometimes expensive seats wind up being cheap seats.)

That being said, the Octagon is considerably larger than you'd expect. In a basketball/hockey arena, or a square arena like the MGM Grand Garden Arena, it takes up a significant portion of the floor space. The lighting is done in a way to make it very visible. Probably more visible than a basketball game because they are on an elevated stage, albeit behind cage. You can see what is going on but only from your own viewing angle--when watching on television they use six or eight cameras to make sure you see ground work. Thankfully the UFC brings six or so large screens and they simulcast the show on the screens inside the arena. If your view is blocked by the cage or the ref or the other fighter, you can glance up at the screen and see it.

What you don't get on television is the live sound experience. It's hard to appreciate how hard a fighter throws punches and kicks until you hear the thuds and cracks echo through a packed arena. Obviously they light up the cage with microphones but if you're sitting close enough you can hear a leg kick and understand how devastating some of these guys really are. If you're sitting really close you can feel slams and hard ground-and-pound vibrate cage side. 265-lbs crusher Shane Carwin supposedly shakes the whole ring when he is punching someone on the ground.

The best part is the crowd. The energy at a UFC live event is intense. It isn't like a ball game because the crowd is split and they can switch allegiances mid-fight depending on what is happening. Since there are ten to thirteen fights you're guaranteed at least a handful of memorable fights as well, whereas if you go to a ball game or a boxing show you're odds of seeing something you like go way down. Generally the fans are happy to be with like-minded people, seeing as how MMA is still a fringe sport and thus fans are used to watching with just a few friends or at the bar. Obviously alcohol fuels dickish behaviour but that is the case in any setting.

He totally nailed it. The build up and anxiety you get before the first fight starts. Just wondering what it's going to be like. At least at my show I went too (UFC 87).. theres no big announcement or bell or anything that tells you when the first fight starts. You're just sititng there and all of the sudden two faces pop up on the big screen with the typical entrance music you hear at the very start of each fight on tv. The crowd just erupted when those two faces popped up. Then in the first round Ben Saunders threw a head kick and Ryan Thomas blocked it with his arms. You heard the slap of his leg hitting Ryan's arms from up in the upper deck. It was crazy. When you see a guy get knocked out on tv it's awesome. But when its right there in front of you, and you are watching two guys who trained for months and months and this fight is so important to them, maybe one of the most important fights they've ever had, and then you see them get destroyed, or you see them do the destroying, its awesome.

The fighting can be lackluster in person if it goes to the ground, especially if you don't know anything about Jiu Jitsu and you can't hear the commentators. The Demian Maia vs Jason MacDonald fight I saw was one of the best fights of the night, but it was nearly a pure BJJ match that we all mostly watched on the big screens instead of the cage.

But it's an awesome experience and I'm waiting for them to announce another show here in Minneapolis.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

^ Yeah, dpc makes a good point about the commentary. They don't pipe Rogan/Goldberg during the show and it is a bit strange watching a fight without it for the first time. But it is nice to hear the corners yelling at their fighters and enjoy the crowd noise (and chants).

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

[video=youtube;5EE2FCsZJEA]

 

[Draco]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

I want to go just sucks tickets are so expensive, hard for me to accept paying triple the cost of Blazer playoff tickets.

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

 

[speeds]

Re: The UFC is finally coming to Portland

Main Card Bouts:
- Randy Couture (16-9) -200 vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1) +160
- Keith Jardine (14-5-1) -180 vs. Thiago Silva (13-1) +150
- Chris Leben (18-7) -170 vs. Jake Rosholt (5-1) +140
- Nate Marquardt (28-8-2) -165 vs. Demian Maia (10-0) +140
- Brandon Vera (10-3) -190 vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (18-8-1) +150

Preliminary Bouts:
- Gabe Gonzaga (10-4) -360 vs. Chris Tuchscherer (17-1) +305
- Mike Russo (11-1) -250 vs. Justin McCully (9-4) +210
- Todd Duffee (4-0) -130 vs. Tim Hague (10-1) -105
- Mark Munoz (5-1) -190 vs. Nick Catone (6-1) +150
- Marcus Aurelio (18-7) -165 vs. Evan Dunham (8-0) +135
- Ed Herman (15-7) -165 vs. Aaron Simpson (5-0) +135