Las Vegas Weekly

February 5, 2010 · 11:27 AM

Veteran MMA fighters laugh off over-the-hill label for UFC 109

By Robin Leach

Randy Couture.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Fans have waited more than a decade for what promises to be a clash of legendary veterans, and I’m not talking about the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday. Las Vegas has its very own super battle with the UFC 109: Relentless showdown at Mandalay Bay tomorrow night.

Don’t dare imply that veteran fighters and Hall of Fame stars Randy Couture and Mark Coleman are over the hill in their mid 40s to grapple. “The Natural” and “The Hammer,” respectively, have heard all the “old folks” insults about their collision when 46-year-old Randy and 45-year-old Mark duke it out in The Octagon tomorrow.

Randy even told our Las Vegas Sun colleague Brent Okamoto that he’s heard about Depends and Aleve stepping in as sponsors for a bout to be known as “Geezers at Caesars”!

Photo: Courtesy

Mark "The Hammer" Coleman.

Actually, all jokes aside, our hometown hero Randy is a miracle himself at his age because this will be his third fight in less than six months. He beat 32-year-old Brandon Vera in November with a unanimous decision. If he beats The Hammer tomorrow, he’ll get a shot at current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

Also battling here on the eve of the Super Bowl will be two-time title challenger Frank Trigg and former champion Matt Serra for the first time and middleweight contenders Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen.

All eyes will be on Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell at ringside tomorrow night, as both UFC stars are tipped to do combat with each other one last time later this year.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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