MANILA, Philippines – Randy “The Natural” Couture is expecting a classic fight against fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer Mark “The Hammer” Coleman when they collide in UFC 109: Relentless.

“Like (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira, this is a fight that was supposed to happen a long time ago and is finally now a reality,” said the 46-year-old Couture, who recently outpointed Filipino-American fighter Brandon Vera in UFC 105.

The 6-foot-2 wrestler from Las Vegas, Nevada said Coleman might turn out to be a difficult match for him because of his wrestling background.

Couture said fighting “The Hammer” will truly test his skills as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

“I look forward to testing my skills and fighting spirit against another UFC Hall of Fame fighter,” said Couture, who has an MMA record of 17-10.

The 45-year-old Coleman, on the other hand, said he has mad respect for “The Natural” because of his fighting heart.

“He’s a true champion, a guy who’s been able to get to the top, fall, and be able to climb back to the top. That’s what really determines a champion,” he said.

Just like Couture, Coleman is also coming off a unanimous victory. He defeated Stephen Bonnar by points in UFC 100.

He's now doubling his training against Couture.

“I mix it up with a little bit of everything – sparring, wrestling, grappling, cardio, and weight training,” said The Hammer.

Coleman boasts an MMA record of 16 wins against 9 losses.

UFC 109 will take place on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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