Randy Couture Training for Minotauro Nogueira

Get a look at Randy Couture as he steps up his training to take on Minotauro Nogueira for UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira - Saturday, August 29th, live on Pay-Per-View from the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. (Courtesy of UFC)

Brandon Vera Discusses the Upper Crust of the UFC 205 Division

Brandon Vera needs a win over Soszyski to be able to call out some of the big names in the UFC's light heavyweight division. (Courtesy of Steve Cofield, ESPN 1100 Radio.)

MMA Live Looks Back at Cyborg, Forward to UFC 102

MMA Live takes a look at the aftermath of Strikeforce "Carano vs Cyborg." In addition, an update on Lesnar vs Carwin, Chuck Liddell on Dancing with the Stars, and a comprehensive preview of UFC 102.

Kimbo and Other TUF Guys Added to 2009 Topps UFC Cards

PRESS RELEASE:

Topps announces it is adding legendary brawler Kimbo Slice's first-ever autographed trading card to the highly anticipated 2009 Topps UFC trading cards. Kimbo, along with 15 other fighters from TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) 10 reality television show premiering Sept. 17 will be included... all on-card autographs and all extra content above and beyond the guaranteed hits! To coincide with the launch of TUF 10 and to include these new cards, 2009 Topps UFC trading cards will now ship Sept. 21.

Nevada Now Allows Limited 5-Round Non-Title Bouts in MMA

The Nevada State Athletic Commission held a regulatory meeting on Wednesday, which often consists of lots of little tweaks to the regulations and/or their wording. But this time, there were a few notable exceptions.

One of the biggest bits of news to come out of the meeting was the institution of instant replay in limited situations in a mixed martial arts bout. The gist of the new rule basically says that if a fight ends on an injury to one combatant, the referee has the leeway, if it is available, to look at a replay of the fight ending action and determine if the action was legal, resulting in a TKO victory, or illegal, resulting in a no contest.

The other major provision coming out of the meeting was, hopefully, an end to the UFC 94 "greasegate" issue arising over UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre's improper usage of Vaseline during the bout. The new rule, dubbed "The B.J. Penn Rule," now prohibits a fighter or his camp from utilizing any foreign substance immediately before or during a bout to gain an unfair advantage.

Commission representatives, such as cut men, are still allowed to apply Vaseline or other substances before or during a fight to try and limit the amount of damage due to cuts, but it is now considered a foul if a fighter or his corner applies any foreign substance.

The commission also passed a regulation that allows for five-round non-title bouts in MMA between two athletes, “as long as, of course, they are of championship caliber,” according to Executive Director Keith Kizer.

The move to allow non-title bouts to go to a five-round duration basically puts MMA on par with boxing in such regards. There are often marquee non-title bouts in boxing, such as the upcoming Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Márquez, that are scheduled for the same 12-round duration as a title bout.

This opens things up for promotions such as the UFC to have marquee bouts on a fight card that are not-title bouts, such as the recent UFC 99 bout between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva, but still have them go five full rounds.

Forrest Griffin Already Back In The Gym

"If the worst thing that happens to Gina (Carano) or Forrest (Griffin) is they lose a fight, they're doing pretty damn good."

Such are the words of the namesake of Carano and Griffin's training gym, Xtreme Couture, former UFC champion Randy Couture.

"It's all part of the process. I don't think there's anything negative there," said Couture during a media call on Tuesday to promotion his upcoming fight at UFC 102 with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

"Obviously, Forrest was very emotional in the cage when he lost to Anderson (Silva), but I think that's because he works so damn hard, and like everybody, we all hate to lose. He's been back in the gym already. I saw him (Monday) here and he's back to training."

With a professional record of 16-9, Couture has been through the ups and downs of mixed martial arts many times. It all comes with the territory if you want to be a professional athlete, he says.

"I don't necessarily see that as a negative. It's all part of the learning and growing process," Couture pontificated.

"The same thing for Gina. Obviously she was a little embarrassed by the outcome (in losing to Cris Cyborg), but overall she did a great job in that fight. She had some opportunities to win and she did some good things. She did some things we trained to do.

"I think the adversity of losing that fight is going to be very, very important for her development as a fighter.

"I know from my own experience, the fights that I've lost were very important to me, and if I could go back and change them, I don't think I would. I think I learned more and became a better person and a better athlete for having experienced those things.

"And I know Gina and Forrest are both in that same boat."

Randy Couture Happy That Friend, Brett Favre, Signing On With Vikings

Future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, for the second year in a row, decided to turn his back on retirement and continue his career as one of the NFL's top quarterbacks. At 39 years of age and a reported $10 million to $12 million contract in front of you, why not?

After retiring from the Green Bay Packers two years ago, Favre did an about face and signed on and played for the N.Y. Jets last year. Following the season, he once again hung up his cleats. But now that training camp is nearly over, he has decided to return again, this time to the Minnesota Vikings.

But what does this have to do with MMA? Not a whole lot really, except that Favre is good friends with former multi-time UFC champion Randy Couture, who on Tuesday, addressed his friend's decision to return to the NFL.

Of course, there are a lot of parallels to be drawn between the two athletes, Couture often saying that he will continue as long as his body can keep up and the passion to compete in MMA still burns. And he feels the same holds true for Favre.

"Well, I think that Brett still has a strong competitive spirit. I'm not surprised he finally made the decision to continue to compete. I think that's the thing in all of us that dies hard," Couture said.

"It's not something that we walk away from easily. He struggled with that decision that last couple years.

"He had an amazing season last season with the Jets, so I'm glad that the Vikings, it looks like, are gonna give him a chance and he's gonna get to continue to hopefully continue to put some good numbers up on the board and have another great year."

Couture gets his own opportunity to keep his career going next week as the UFC 102 lands in his back yard of Portland, Ore. He will face Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event, marking the promotion's first stop in the Pacific Northwest.

LIVE BLOG: UFC 102 Conference Call - Couture vs. Nogueira

We're blogging today's UFC 102 conference call with Randy Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, live, beginning at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET. Refresh the page frequently for the latest updates...

11:48 - That's it folks...

11:46 - Randy and Nog both say that it's easier to go out and do your job as a fighter when there isn't any animosity between you and your opponent. There's not so much wasted energy on emotions.

11:42 - Randy says there was no negativity around the gym due to Forrest Griffin and Gina Carano losing their fights recently. "If losing a fight is the worst thing that happens to them, they're doing pretty damn good." Says those are just good learning experiences and both of them will come back stronger.

Says that Forrest returned to the gym yesterday (Monday, Aug. 17).

Randy says his divorce with Kim is going a little easier than his last divorce, not really being a distraction.

Nog says he has had three fights in the UFC and has yet to show his best performance.

11:40 - Randy on Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin: "I think they're both great athletes... they both deserve to be right up at the top of the weight class. It's going to be real interesting to see who comes out of that fight... and how."

Nog on Cain and Shane: "Both are top guys in the weight division. Cain shows a lot of heart in his fights and great endurance. It's going to be a great fight."

Randy, since when have you wanted to fight Nogueira?: Says he was excited about meeting him in the finals of the Rings King of Kings tournament before Randy got beat. He was "impressed with his performances (then)... He's certainly been one of the top guys in the sport and I'm happy to get the chance to compete against now."

11:38 - Randy names Martin Kampmann, Tyson Griffin, and Mike Pyle as guys in the Xtreme Couture gym to really watch for.

11:37 - Randy's hi-point and low-point in the cage: "Coming back out of retirement (against Tim Sylvia) is definitely one. If I had a low-point, probably around the third Chuck fight."

Nog on hi-point and low-point in the cage: "Like he said probably couple injuries, like last fight (against Frank Mir)... I feel like I couldn't train for this fight, that was a low-point for sure. I think submission I got against Tim Sylvia (was the high-point)."

Randy on how to beat Brock Lesnar: "I think it's gonna boil down to out-wrestling him... Using the cage and finding ways to make him fight off of his back... there's no easy way around a guy that size."

Nog on how to beat Brock Lesnar: "I think the jiu-jitsu game with him... we got to try any kind of submission, make him work on the ground, make him tired."

11:33 - Randy on 3 rounds vs. 5 rounds. It's his first 3-rounder since Van Arsdale a few years ago: "You can't afford to have a slow start in any fight, but especially not in a three-round fight..."

Randy says against Nogueira, who is only about 10 pounds heavier, this fight is more about technical issues than physical issues like his most recent fights have been.

Nog says he has been training a lot in Greco-Roman style wrestling to prepare for Randy. "He's a normal size, so I didn't train with anybody special (to emulate his body type)."

11:28 - Randy on age; he's 46: "I don't worry about it. You set benchmarks for yourself" and when you stop reaching those benchmarks, then you'll know the time is coming.

Nog is 33, is this an advantage: "No... (but) I've been doing my part, taking care of injuries (and being in shape). I think both (of us) will be in shape."

11:26 - Randy: "(Oregon) is turning into a wonderful place (to develop fighters.) It's an honor for me to be back in front of a bunch of family and friends in Oregon."

Randy on how long he wants to fight: "I'm holding up very well physically. I'm gonna continue to take it one fight at a time and doing what I do well."

11:23 - Nog: "I'm 33 years old, I think I have a lot of (fight left in me). I feel young. I feel healthy. I am still very competitive."

Nog on his brother, Rogerio coming to UFC: "Yeah, he's going to be coming soon... for sure, he's coming to UFC. Once they close the deal, he's coming to UFC for sure."

11:20 - Randy ever on Dancing With the Stars: "I did a little cameo a couple seasons ago. I think it's really cool that Chuck is gonna do that."

11:18 - Randy on longevity: "I have a passion for the sport. It's not just work, it's what I lave to do."

On leaving UFC to fight Fedor: "If it's gonna happen, I think it's gonna happen in the UFC."

Randy on looking past "It would be stupid to look past this fight."

Nog: "I feel I have to do way better than I did in my last match."

Randy: "I don't feel a lot of pressure. I feel I performed well against Lesnar... I just got caught."

11:15 - Randy on Strikeforce on Saturday: "I think it was a historical event. I think the UFC has entertained the idea (of women fighting), but they're not there yet."

Nog on whether he should get a title shot if he wins: "I need to think about this fight right now. I can't think about the future before this fight happens. I think that is a very good fight for me."

11:13 - Nog: "Bad fights happen. I couldn't be in shape," talking about how bad his knees were in the Frank Mir fight. "(Now) I feel very good. I brought all of my partners to California and I have been training very hard."

11:11 - Randy on Brett Farve: "I think Brett has a strong competitive spirit. I'm not surprised he finally made the decision to continue to compete."

Nog: "Its' going to be a great fight for me... (being in Portland) I know I'm gonna have plenty of people against me."

11:09 - Randy "It's going to be nice performing in front of my home town. It's awesome to be the main event in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm excited about it."

Randy talks about having spent a lot of time working on his jiu-jitsu/submissions and says "I have to be especially attentive there."

11:07 - Randy "I can't afford to look past Minotauro." Commenting about possible shot at Brock Lesnar if he wins this fight.

Regardless of how Nogueira performed against Mir, Randy says, "I have to prepare for the best Minotauro we've ever seen."

11:05 - We're just now getting underway. Introducing Randy and Nog.

Strikeforce Final Attendance and Gate Tally

The California State Athletic Commission on Tuesday released the final gate and revenue numbers for Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg last Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

According to commission tallies, the event drew 13,976 spectators for a gross gate of $735,710. The net gate, or amount left after commission taxes, was $692,159.74.

2,108 tickets went unsold for the evening with 763 seats "exempt" from the count.

Cris Cyborg "Carano vs Cyborg" Post-Fight Interview on Showtime

Cris "Cyborg" Santos speaks with Showtime after the fight at Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" on Saturday night. Cyborg walked away with the first Strikeforce 145-pound women's divisional title.

Randy Couture "Carano vs Cyborg" Post-Fight Interview on Showtime

Gina Carano's trainer, Randy Couture speaks with Showtime after the fight at Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" on Saturday night.

Win Over Babalu Latest in Impressive Performances by Mousasi

Gegard Mousasi vs. Denis Kang - Dream 2:


Gegard Mousasi vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza - Dream 6:

Strikeforce "Carano vs. Cyborg" Exceeds Attendance Target

Besides the fights maybe going a little too fast, there really wasn't much for Strikeforce officials to complain about at Saturday night's "Carano vs. Cyborg" event in San Jose, Calif.

Cris "Cyborg" Santos proved herself one of the most dominant women fighters in the world by taking out the "face of women's MMA," Gina Carano, as the bell sounded to end the opening round. In the process, she captured the first ever Strikeforce women's 145-pound championship.

With exciting finishes from beginning to end on the Showtime telecast, Strikeforce officials also had to be pleased with the attendance. "Carano vs. Cyborg" drew 13,524 spectators, according to the promotion. That was slightly better than they had anticipated.

"We're scheduled to do 10-12,000. That's what we were anticipating," said Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker earlier in the week.

Official numbers will come later from the California State Athletic Commission, but if they're anywhere near the 13,524 number, Strikeforce officials will surely be pleased.