"To win, both of them has to do their games. I think that if the fight stays in the center of the octagon, Nogueira will win it, but if it goes to the fence, Couture wins, because he'll be able to use the fence to block the submissions", bets the Canadian, revealing the strategy that he'd use. "If I were Nogueira, I'd try to keep the fight in the center of the octagon, and, if I were Randy, I'd close to the fence", finished St. Pierre.
GSP talking to Tatame.com
This is a good point that is either so obvious that no one else has bothered to make it or no one else has thought it through. Let's assume that Nogueira comes into the fight with a level of mobility and explosiveness comparable to the last Heath Herring fight. That Nogueira would have a considerable advantage against Couture on the feet as long as he can avoid the clinch and Couture's dirty boxing. Sure it's doubtful that Big Nog could KO Randy, but the reverse is also true. What Big Nog at his best can do is score points with good combinations of punches at range.
Similarly if the fight goes to the ground in the center of the cage: advantage Nogueira because his guard game is aggressive enough to catch anyone, even Couture. But put him against the fence and he has virtually no chance of sweeping Couture. Without the ability to threaten sweeps, Nog will have a very hard time catching Couture in an arm bar or a triangle.