Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/17123/fiv...nkie+(MMAjunkie.com+Feed)&utm_content=TwitterThe Ultimate Fighting Championship today officially announced five bouts for its Super Bowl weekend event in Las Vegas.
"UFC 109: Relentless" features a headliner between former UFC champions and current UFC Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Mark Coleman, and takes place Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Other announced bouts include a co-headliner of Josh Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago, as well as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brandon Vera, Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen, and Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously reported all of the bouts (except Nogueira vs. Vera) as likely, though today's announcement assures they've all been signed.
"Couture vs. Coleman is one of those dream matchups that fans have always talked about," UFC president Dana White stated. "And when you consider that these are two of the greatest wrestlers turned mixed martial artists ever, and it's the first time that two guys who have already earned their way into the UFC Hall of Fame are fighting each other, this is not only an intriguing matchup but a historic one."
Couture (17-10 MMA, 14-7 UFC) most recently edged Vera via decision at UFC 105, which marked his return to the light heavyweight division. Coleman (16-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who's recently dealt with injuries, fights for the first time since his July upset of Stephan Bonnar.
In the pay-per-view co-headliner, Koscheck (14-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC), who recently submitted Anthony Johnson in the UFC 106 co-main event, meets Thiago (12-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) for the second time. Making his UFC debut, Thiago scored one of the year's biggest upsets with a knockout of Koscheck earlier this year.
Nogueira (18-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC), a PRIDE veteran, recently made his octagon debut and scored a TKO win over Luiz Cane. He now meets Vera (11-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who had posted back-to-back wins until his close unanimous decision loss to Couture last month.
Meanwhile, in a bout that could produce a top middleweight contender, Marquardt (29-8-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) looks for his fifth win in six fights when he takes on Sonnen (24-10-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC). Sonnen, a former top WEC middleweight contender who defeated then-champ Paulo Filho in a non-title affair, looks for his third straight win in the UFC.
Additionally, two veterans meet in a pivotal career bout when Serra (9-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) takes on fellow welterweight Trigg (19-7 MMA, 2-4 UFC).
The latest UFC 109 card now includes:
MAIN CARD
Mark Coleman vs. Randy Couture
Josh Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brandon Vera
Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen
Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
PRELIMINARY CARD
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller*
Rob Emerson vs. Phillipe Nover*
Rolles Gracie vs. Mostapha Al Turk*
Melvin Guillard vs. Ronnys Torres*
* - Not officially announced
Can't beliEve "Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller" they're on the prelims...but guess it's to draw in the people for the Spike prelim fights.