UFC 102 Post-Fight Notes: Randy Couture Signs New Six-Fight Deal

Here are notes from the UFC 102 post-fight press conference with Dana White, Brandon Vera, Nate Marquardt, Randy Couture, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Thiago Silva, and Jake Rosholt.

White said the UFC will probably go to Seattle before it goes back to Portland again when they have another show in the Pacific Northwest. He said that the UFC made a mistake with the ticket prices this time—tickets were too pricey—but he was happy with the turnout.

Although there were a lot of knockouts this evening, none of the fighters had to go to the hospital.

Chuck Liddell was texting White all night long, and he wants to get back into the cage.

White was asked about Todd Duffee, and White said he likes him and that Duffee wants to fight again soon. Duffee told White after the fight with Tim Hague that he wants to fight a top opponent soon.

White thought that Couture was done about 10 times in his fight with Nogueira. He was asked about doing five-round fights for non-title fights, and White said he won't do it, even though he would like to see some fights go five rounds. He said that fighters in championship fights earn the right to fight five rounds.

Couture came to the press conference late and announced that he signed a 28-month contract for six fights earlier today, but he also said he plans to take it one fight at a time. He doesn't know if he wants to stay at heavyweight or move back down to light heavyweight.

He said the contract ensures that he will be staying with the UFC and he won't be in another organization.

Roshalt said he wanted to stand up with Chris Leban to show everyone he is not just a wrestler.

Marquardt said he doesn't care if his next fight is against Anderson Silva or another top opponent.

Nogueira stated that he had a staph infection a few weeks before his fight against Frank Mir and that he had a fever a week before the fight. He said he was ready to fight five rounds tonight and that he respects Couture a lot, and that is why he trained so hard for tonight's fight.

Vera said he wanted to knock out his opponent, Krzysztof Soszynski, with his hands tonight, but that Soszynski was very tough.