ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA reckons Randy Couture will overcome the threat of Brock Lesnar at UFC 91.

The interim heavyweight champion admits the UFC have made the right decision in pitting the former WWE star against returning titleholder Couture instead of himself.

And Nogueira backed 45-year-old Couture to defeat Lesnar, 31, when the pair face off at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 15 November.

He said: “Brock Lesnar is a marketable fighter. He could be big in the UFC and I think he’s good for business.

“He’s a good fighter and in his early bouts he’s shown he’s legit and that’s why he’s getting a chance.

“He’s a fighter with a style that makes things harder for Randy Couture because he’s a wrestler.

“Lesnar will probably try to play the top, but Couture is a more experienced fighter and I think he’s going to do better in the stand up with his hands and that’s why I think he’s going to be the winner of the fight.”

But Nogueira concedes he is still desperate to fight The Natural inside the Octagon to establish who is the best heavyweight fighter on the planet.

Some critics claim the UFC should have matched Couture against Nogueira to decide who the company’s definitive champion is, but the Brazilian legend has defended the decision.

He told the Fight Network: “I don’t care what other people say. I care about doing my job and reaching my goal.

“My goal is to fight for the belt. I wanted to fight Couture when I came to the UFC and he left. But he is back now and I could have a chance to fight against him.

“My goal is to fight Randy and to win the fight. I am thinking a lot about it and I intend to do everything in my strength to fight for the belt.”