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Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Bio

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Portuguese pronunciation:�[ɐ̃ˈtoniu ʁoˈdɾiɡu noˈɡejɾɐ]; born June 2, 1976) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is a former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. He is currently ranked as the #9 heavyweight in the world by Sherdog. He rose to prominence in the Japanese Pride Fighting Championships promotion, where he was the first Pride Heavyweight Champion from November 2001 to March 2003, as well as a Pride FC heavyweight grand prix finalist. He is the first and only heavyweight to have held Championship titles in both Pride Fighting Championships promotion and the Ultimate Fighting Championship promotion.

Early life

Born in the town of Vitória da Conquista, Brazil, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira started training in judo at the age of 4, boxing at 14 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when he was 18. He was run over by a truck when he was 11, and fell into a coma for 4 days. During this time he lost a rib and part of his liver and had to be hospitalized for eleven months. As a result of the accident he has a large scar, including a noticeable indentation, on his lower back.

A few years after his MMA debut he started to train at the Brazilian Top Team. In June 2007 Nogueira officially left Brazilian Top Team prior to his UFC debut and is currently associated with Black House.

WEF and Rings career

At the age of fourteen he was invited by a friend to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo de la Riva Goded. By then he had already begun training in boxing. In 1999, at age 23, he was awarded with the black belt in both judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That same year, he made his mixed martial arts debut against David Dodd in World Extreme Fighting 6, submitting Dodd via crucifix in the first round. After defeating Nate Schroeder via armbar in WEF 7, he fought in Japan for the Rings promotion's King of Kings 1999 forty-eight man tournament held over 3 events where he won three fights before losing by decision to Dan Henderson in the tournament semi-finals. In between the two Rings events in which he competed, he defeated Jeremy Horn by decision at WEF 8. Nogueira then entered the King of Kings 2000 forty-man tournament held over three events, winning all of his five matches to become the tournament champion.

PRIDE FC

Nogueira's notable victories in Pride include wins over Dan Henderson, Mark Coleman, Heath Herring, former UFC heavyweight champions Ricco Rodriguez and Josh Barnett, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović, and Bob Sapp.

Following the end of Akira Maeda's Rings federation, Nogueira was signed by Pride. He debuted in July 2001 at Pride 15, quickly submitting Gary Goodridge by triangle choke. In Pride 16, he submitted UFC and Pride Grand Prix champion Mark Coleman by armbar. He was crowned as the inaugural Pride World Heavyweight Champion after defeating Heath Herring by decision.

He next defeated Enson Inoue, and then fought for Antonio Inoki's UFO organization, scoring his first MMA KO victory against Sanae Kikuta.

He then represented Pride at a co-promotion with K-1, Pride Shockwave, against the super heavyweight and former American footballer Bob Sapp. Sapp manhandled the much smaller Nogueira, spiking him onto the ring canvas and dominating the fight, until tiring and falling to an armbar submission. His battle with Sapp (who outweighed him by over 150�lb) made him a fan favorite for his seemingly inhuman ability to take punishment before recovering to win.

Dutch kickboxer Semmy Schilt was his next opponent. Again heavily outsized, he scored another victory by triangle choke. He then avenged his sole career loss by submitting Dan Henderson via armbar, who had previously beaten him in Rings by decision.

Losing the title

Nogueira's first Pride title defense was against Russian Sambo champion Fedor Emelianenko at Pride 25 where he suffered his second career loss, a judges' decision after Emelianenko dominated the fight with characteristic ground-and-pound through the guard.

Bouncing back from the loss, he won a decision against former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez. Rodriguez managed to score takedowns and maintain top position, but since Pride's scoring is determined primarily by "effort to finish the fight by KO or submission", Nogueira's multiple submission attempts won him the controversial decision victory.

In November 2003, with heavyweight champion Emelianenko unable to fight due to injuries, Pride elected to crown an interim champion, so top contenders Nogueira and Mirko Filipović were matched up. Filipović managed to dominate the first round with his superior striking and landed his trademark left high kick, but in the second round, Nogueira managed to secure a takedown and roll into an armbar to submit Filipović.

On 25 April 2004 at Pride Total Elimination 2004, the first round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix, he faced the unbeaten professional wrestler and former judoka Hirotaka Yokoi, who he submitted with the debut of his anaconda choke. He then repeated the move against Heath Herring in the next round to advance to the semi finals where he defeated Sergei Kharitonov with his superior boxing to again face Fedor Emelianenko in the finals. The fight was markedly different from their first, with Nogueira able to avoid the damage he suffered from ground-and-pound in their first meeting, but was stopped when Emelianenko suffered a cut after an accidental headbut and could not continue, resulting in a no contest. Another rematch was required to determine the tournament champion, and was scheduled for Pride Shockwave 2004 on 31 December 2004. Despite Nogueira's improved gameplan and striking technique, he suffered another unanimous decision loss to Emelianenko.

At Pride Critical Countdown 2005 he defeated Polish Olympic judoka Pawel Nastula by strikes and following this, at Pride 31 he beat professional wrestler and fighter Kiyoshi Tamura by armbar for the second time.

He then entered the 2006 Pride Open Weight Grand Prix, progressing to the semi final by defeating fellow Brazilians Zuluzinho and Fabricio Werdum. In the semi final, he faced the American catch wrestler Josh Barnett and lost to a split decision, as both had landed damaging blows and submission attempts without managing to secure a victory. Barnett went on to face Mirko Filipović in the finals, submitting to punches and kicks to the face.

Nogueira avenged the loss to Barnett with a unanimous decision win in their rematch at Pride Shockwave 2006.

In an interview with Sherdog.com, Nogueira has stated that his best moments of his historic career were against Bob Sapp and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, both matches he won under Pride.

UFC

At UFC Fight Night 9 which took place on April 5, 2007 Nogueira was in attendance and was sitting cage side with UFC president Dana White. It was subsequently announced at UFC 69, by White, that Nogueira had joined the UFC, promoted initially as simply "Minotauro" Nogueira, much like the UFC's promotion of Mirko Filipović as Mirko Cro Cop.

His debut in the Octagon was a third fight with Heath Herring at UFC 73, promoted under various combinations of his name and nickname, but was officially introduced to the audience under his full name and nickname. Nogueira once again defeated Herring, via unanimous decision. During the first round Nogueira was hit with a high kick that sent him to the canvas, in which unofficial judge Eddie Bravo thought the fight could have been stopped. Herring let Nogueira recover and get back to his feet. Nogueira was able to hold on and come back with a decision win.

It was announced during the UFC 79 broadcast and subsequent press conference that Nogueira would be fighting Tim Sylvia at UFC 81 for the interim heavyweight championship. Nogueira was nicknamed "The Bull" because of his outstanding conditioning and world class jaw.

At UFC 81 Nogueira defeated Tim Sylvia in the third round with a guillotine choke to become the interim heavyweight champion. Sylvia knocked Nogueira down in the first round with punches. After pulling Sylvia into his half guard in the third round, Nogueira quickly secured a sweep and attempted an armbar which he missed but immediately transitioned into a guillotine choke as Sylvia tried to regain his feet. He is the first fighter to hold championships in both the UFC and Pride.

Nogueira's entrance music for UFC matches is The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter".

The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 and Interim Title

Nogueira and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir were the coaches for the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, which premiered on September 17, 2008.

Both winners of The Ultimate Fighter Season 8, Ryan Bader and Efrain Escudero, were members of Team Nogueira.

He was also featured in the 2010 movie "The Expendables" as a Bolivian soldier.

After the season concluded, coaches Nogueira and Mir met at UFC 92 for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Frank Mir won in the second round via TKO due to strikes, showing much improved striking by knocking Nogueira down twice in the first round, Herb Dean stopped the match at 1:54 of the second round. The loss marked the first time Nogueira had been stopped in his career.

Two days after the fight Dana White revealed in an interview that “Nogueira had just gotten over a Staph infection”. Nogueira himself verified this fact several months later in his own interview, stating that he had a Staph infection “20 days before the fight, [requiring] 5 days in the hospital.” When asked if this infection affected his fight, Nogueira answered: “For sure.” In addition to this significant illness, his knee was injured during training for which he had surgery in February 2009. Despite these legitimate handicaps, Nogueira offered strong praise for Frank Mir’s performance, with particular credit given to Mir’s ability to maintain “very good distance.”

Later

The UFC next wanted to schedule Nogueira to face Randy Couture at UFC 97, but Couture had to turn down the fight due to elbow surgery in January 2009. Couture later agreed to fight Nogueira at UFC 102 in Portland, OR. Nogueira defeated Couture via unanimous decision. Nogueira showed much improved sharpness on his feet, and displayed his excellent chin by walking through many of Couture's strikes while still throwing punches, eventually gaining the better of the exchanges as he scored two knockdowns in the fight. Although taken down twice, Nogueira swept from guard on both occasions (after some time on his back) to gain the full mount over Couture. On the floor, Nogueira threatened with two submissions, first with a D'Arce choke and later with an arm triangle.

Nogueira was expected to face undefeated Cain Velasquez on January 2, 2010 at UFC 108, but again Nogueira caught another severe staph infection cancelling the bout that was supposed to reveal the #1 contender for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. The bout instead took place on February 21, 2010 at UFC 110. During the bout Minotauro was out-boxed as Cain landed a right hook that dropped him early in the first round. Velasquez followed up with five clean shots on the ground, prompting referee Herb Dean to stop the contest, in which Velasquez earned a KO victory. Nogueira has been stopped in two of his last three fights.

Nogueira was to face Frank Mir on September 25, 2010 at UFC 119 in a rematch from the Championship bout, which Mir won via TKO at UFC 92. Nogueira pulled out this fight due a knee surgery and will be replaced by Mirko Filipović. The surgery will likely keep Nogueira out for the rest of 2010.

Personal life

Nogueira has one daughter. He also appears in the movie The Expendables along with his brother Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in a cameo appearance.

Championships and achievements

Grappling credentials

• ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships

• 2000 ADCC - 99kg+: Quarter finals

• CBJJ World Championships

• 1999 Black Belt Absoluto: 3rd Place
• 1997 Purple Belt Pesadissimo: 2nd place

• CBJJ Pan-American Championships

• 1999 Brown Belt Pesadissimo: 1st Place, Brown Belt Absoluto: 1st place

• CBJJ Brazilian Championships

• 1998 Brown Belt Pesadissimo: 1st Place
• 1996 Blue Belt Absoluto: 1st Place

Mixed martial arts

• Fighting Network RINGS

• RINGS King of Kings 2000 Tournament Winner

• Inside Fights

• 2009 Fight of the Year - vs. Randy Couture on August 29

• Pride Fighting Championships

• Pride Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)
• Interim Pride Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Ultimate Fighting Championship

• Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Fight of the Night (2 times)

• World Extreme Fighting

• WEF Heavyweight Superfight Champion (1 Time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Fighter of the Year (2002)

Mixed martial arts record

External links

• Official website
• Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira on Twitter
• UFC Profile
• Professional MMA record for Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira from Sherdog
• Official West Palm Beach School Website
• Antonio Nogueira Instructionals

• Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Instructionals

MMA Shirts

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Photos