Tim Sylvia (24-3) and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (30-4-1) will fight for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 81: “Breaking Point” on February 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The official announcement came during the UFC 79: “Nemesis” pay-per-view (PPV) event during a promo between fights. It’s a match up that has long been rumored since “The Maine-iac” stopped Brandon Vera in November via unanimous decision.
Of course, it couldn’t have been made possible without the high-profile resignation of former division champion Randy Couture earlier in 2007. However, the Nogueira-Sylvia clash will be for the “interim” not “vacant” championship.
Perhaps there is still some wishful thinking that Couture will honor his contract.
Sylvia is the former titleholder who lost his belt to Couture at UFC 68: “The Uprising” back in March. He underwent back surgery to repair herniated discs and returned to get a win over “The Truth” in Cincinnati. That was enough to earn him another crack at the coveted strap.
Nogueira barely escaped his Octagon debut, surviving an early knockdown during his fight with Heath Herring at UFC 73: “Stacked” in July to earn a unanimous decision. “Minotauro” is the former Pride FC champion and will look to capture similar glory under the UFC banner.
UFC 81 also features the heavyweight showdown between former division champion, Frank Mir, and former professional wrestling superstar, Brock Lesnar.
For the rest of the rumored “Breaking Point” fight card click here.
41 Comments »
Me and my wife are the only one’s ready for bed. Believe me when I say that PPV is the better way to go. I had FLOOR seats! to the 79 fight. Didn’t even know who won until I got home. WOO HOO! GSP!
I think that Andrei Arlovski should have his turn for the belt. I’m not saying that Sylvia and Rodrigo don’t deserve a shot, but Arlovski has won I believe three in a row. Arlovski has one more fight on his contract, and I believe and hope that he’ll get his shot.
Silva lost! What the EF?!
UGH! Don’t drink if you have tkts to the fight.
Randy would knock both these chumps out.
does this freak have any fans???…who aren’t inbread hahahahaha oh I got you didn’t I freaks hahahah ohhahahaha…heh…..sorry
I really hope Big Nog wins this fight..4 timmy webfoot Sylvia to have that belt would suck. Big Nog by Triangle choke. 1st round.
did anyone else notice that in the promo it said interim heavyweight title?
Sylvia wins via 5 round borefest.
Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?
The UFC should go ahead and declare the belt vacated. Couture has passed on a title defense in effect.
Minotauro vs. Silvia should be a good fight. If Silvia keeps it standing he should win decisively. I think these two guys plus Arlovski deserve to fight for the title. But if Silvia wins then what? Arlovski shouldn’t get another shot at him. Also, what about Kongo after his big win over Crocop? He would be a good standup match for Silvia. Or Kongo could fight Vera next.
If Minotauro beats Silvia, I really hope Couture would consider coming back to fight one more time. Silvia and Gonzaga both were in awe of Couture. I don’t see Minotauro Nogiera falling into the same trap.
Shat up…Give up on that old shit(Antonia vs RC)…Randy is gunnin’ straight for Fedor…..Watch it boi(Fedor)…Randy will show all!
Eh, I think I would have been a lot more excited for this fight a few years ago. Sylvia’s fights bore me to death, and I can’t stand looking at his awkward appearance and fighting style.
It’s for the interim and not vacant
[quote comment=”249346″]Shat up…Give up on that old shit(Antonia vs RC)…Randy is gunnin’ straight for Fedor…..Watch it boi(Fedor)…Randy will show all![/quote]
In my mind he should still fulfill his contract, but that’s just me, i don’t really care about randy anymore, he never fought nog and he never fought anyone that fought nog, he still has much to show in the UFC. if big nog wins the interim belt (which he will), randy should re-consider fighting with nog, if nog losses it, than i agree that randy has nothing left to prove.
[quote comment=”249118″]I really hope Big Nog wins this fight..4 timmy webfoot Sylvia to have that belt would suck. Big Nog by Triangle choke. 1st round.[/quote]
It would be a travesty to have Tim represent the UFC heavyweight division as its champion. He has had the belt on a numerous of occasions and has yet to deliver an exciting performance in any of his title defenses. It blows my mind that the UFC would risk him being there champion again, especially since he hasnt done anything but Hump Brandon Verra against the cage for 3 rounds. What a joke, If Noguerra doesnt win I will be pissed.
PhilQNY: u were right last night Machida got the win. Machida’s footwork and Soko’s octagon Jitters proved to be to much of a mental hurdle for Soko to overcome. I bash Machida a lot for his lack of excitement and inability to finish fights, but last night he outclassed, and FINISHED a top caliber fighter like SOKO, and Machida now has my RESPECT.
Machida should work on his ability to finish, because his footwork will keep him in every fight (although it may be a boring fight), if he can finish more often and becoma more exciting, he has a chance of doing big things in the UFC
I told you all that my personal guarentee of the year was GSP completely dominating Hughes. I predicted Hughes wouldnt be able to take him down at all, NOT EVEN ONCE. Thanks to GSP, Today I woke up $700 richer then I woke up yesterday.
What beautiful grappling! Phil, A grappling enthusiast as yourself has to apreciate an upside down triangle attempt, into a kimura, into an armbar……what beutiful technique.
I am sad that Silva lost, but the fight was everything I hoped and more, I dont need a fight to finish in a KO, to be happy, we got our money’s worth with a 15 minute Brawl! Chuck suprised me…he looked great, although I think wanderlei’s counterpunching took over the 2nd round….Chuck deserved the win, I just dont know how 2 of the 3 judges had Chuck winning all 3 rounds……Something needs to be done about the judging!!!!!!!
Dana was smart about not taking the microphone and making the Sylvia/noguerra announcement in front of the whole crowd because they would have booooed the sh*t outta him!
[quote comment=”249216″]Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?[/quote]
I heard that, but I honestly thought it was a mistake on Joe Rogan’s part…..lets not all assume Randy will be back, because it will just set us up for another let down.
lets hope and pray Fedor loses in that circus act so maybe a fight with Big Nog instead might be more of a money fight. i think that is what dana would be hoping for as well. 5 rounds might give Big Nog enough time to stop Silva from laying on him the entire fight. we’ll see
[quote comment=”249216″]Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?[/quote]
I made the change. Thanks for the clarification. I thought it was an error until I heard Cofield’s interview with Dana White.
[quote comment=”249584″][quote comment=”249216″]Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?[/quote]
I made the change. Thanks for the clarification. I thought it was an error until I heard Cofield’s interview with Dana White.[/quote]
UFCMania: I missed that interview. Did Dana offer any explanation for why the fight is for an INTERIM title instead of the Vacant Title?
I do not see how Nogiera can fight in Canada on Feb 1 for Hardcore Championship Fighting and then on Feb. 2 for the UFC.
I you check the Hardcore website you will see they say he is fighting in Calgary.
[quote comment=”249584″][quote comment=”249216″]Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?[/quote]
I made the change. Thanks for the clarification. I thought it was an error until I heard Cofield’s interview with Dana White.[/quote]
Glad you caught it.
[quote comment=”249745″]I do not see how Nogiera can fight in Canada on Feb 1 for Hardcore Championship Fighting and then on Feb. 2 for the UFC.
I you check the Hardcore website you will see they say he is fighting in Calgary.[/quote]
Different Nogueira. The one fighting in the HCF is Rogero Nogueira who is UFCs Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira’s little brother.
looks like tim is gonna be champ again
[quote comment=”249964″]looks like tim is gonna be champ again[/quote]
Thats what you think…….Tims long ass arms will snap real easy when noguerra sinks in his trademark ARMBAR! Noguerra’s strong chin and solid boxing will keep him in the fight until the fight gets to the ground and then its game over Sylvia…Noguerra WINS.
Lets keep in mid that Noguerra doen’t need to take Tim down, all he has to do is pull guard because Noguerra’s armbar is Money off his back when the opponent is in his guard.
This is a no-win situation for the UFC. If big Timmy wins, they once again have a champ that the fans find boring. If Nog wins, it propels Fedor’s camp’s claim that the UFC HW division does not have the top fighters… since then it’s HW champ would have a loss to Fedor… which would then propel Couture’s camp’s claim that he left because the UFC didn’t land the real top contender to Couture’s belt. Thus, least case worst scenario is that Big Timmy knocks out Nog, showing that beating Nog (which Fedor did) is not as big a deal as people thought… and although Big Timmy is a boring champion, Couture didn’t finish him, just beat him at his own game… 5 round decision. Then we’d have to hope that Kongo knocks out Timmy afterwards and develops a ground game before he has to fight another wrestler or BJJ guy. Either that, or Brock shocks the world, and doesn’t get his arm broken against Mir, and then takes the HW title himself being the first man to hold the WWE and UFC HW titles.
Nog doesnt stand much of a chance really. Tim is a damn good fighter but he’s so boring that we like to think that someone else would be more fit as champ. Really, they should have had Cheick Kongo fight Sylvia for the title. At least there would be a chance of the fight getting finished then. This card has the potential to suck.
iff timmy wins kongo is next if nogueira wins i say bring on arlovski
[quote comment=”249205″]Sylvia wins via 5 round borefest.[/quote]
[quote comment=”250047″]Nog doesnt stand much of a chance really. Tim is a damn good fighter but he’s so boring that we like to think that someone else would be more fit as champ. Really, they should have had Cheick Kongo fight Sylvia for the title. At least there would be a chance of the fight getting finished then. This card has the potential to suck.[/quote]
Tim is no way a good fighter. Tim is the biggest terd ever in the history of mma. Sure at one point he was good now he just uses his size to get the win. Hes even said his corner told him to press him vera up agaist the fence. Then what do you do tim hold him there? Its better to fight and lose than not fight and win! Tim choose not to fight. TIM go play chicken with an 18 wheeler!
[quote comment=”249611″][quote comment=”249584″][quote comment=”249216″]Am i the only person that noticed this was for the INTERIM heavyweight belt and not the VACANT belt?[/quote]
I made the change. Thanks for the clarification. I thought it was an error until I heard Cofield’s interview with Dana White.[/quote]
UFCMania: I missed that interview. Did Dana offer any explanation for why the fight is for an INTERIM title instead of the Vacant Title?[/quote]
Listen to the interview referenced in the post above for that answer.
I just hope if nog doesn’t get him that kongo beats his ass. fence hugging is boring :/
[quote comment=”250003″][quote comment=”249964″]looks like tim is gonna be champ again[/quote]
Thats what you think…….Tims long ass arms will snap real easy when noguerra sinks in his trademark ARMBAR! Noguerra’s strong chin and solid boxing will keep him in the fight until the fight gets to the ground and then its game over Sylvia…Noguerra WINS.
Lets keep in mid that Noguerra doen’t need to take Tim down, all he has to do is pull guard because Noguerra’s armbar is Money off his back when the opponent is in his guard.[/quote]
Absolutely, As soon as nogiera gets tim to the ground it doesnt matter if its top or bottom position its over for tim 1st rd submission and after having your are broken off by mir big tim will not hesitate to tap
[quote comment=”250047″]Nog doesnt stand much of a chance really. Tim is a damn good fighter but he’s so boring that we like to think that someone else would be more fit as champ. Really, they should have had Cheick Kongo fight Sylvia for the title. At least there would be a chance of the fight getting finished then. This card has the potential to suck.[/quote]
nog dosn’t stand a chance your crazy, tim won’t win.
Arlovski deserves a shot more than Nogueira and sylvia
Eddie Sanchez is making more than AA.
if you watched the fedor fight on hdnet they actually aired couture stating that he will fight fedor in october when his ufc contract expires. it seems he is obsessed with fighting only fedor. i bet randy will fight fedor in oct-nov on hdnet in a ring with modified rules (like the fedor/choi) fight; no knees to the head of a downed opponent, no soccer kicks, ect. randy will make a ton of money and probably has already started training in a ring.
man i just watched the first and last fight between nog and fedor. fedor owned him. interesting to note that randy commentated for the last fight. now i see why randy is not interested in fighting nog. even if he beats him, it does not even come close to ending the arguement of who the best heavyweight is. randys probably got one fight left in him and wants to put it all on the line against the best. cant wait to see it in m1. i also wonder if m1 does a good job of steroid regulation and so on.
[quote post=”4355″]Silva lost! What the EF?! [/quote]
i cant beleive it either. I wish he would go back to his old way of fighting instead of this “new” defensive boxing style.
I mean what happened to the knee’s, the take downs, the kicks and the aggression?
I hate to see my favorite fighter lose
[quote post=”4355″]looks like tim is gonna be champ again
Thats what you think…….Tims long ass arms will snap real easy when noguerra sinks in his trademark ARMBAR! Noguerra’s strong chin and solid boxing will keep him in the fight until the fight gets to the ground and then its game over Sylvia…Noguerra WINS.
Lets keep in mid that Noguerra doen’t need to take Tim down, all he has to do is pull guard because Noguerra’s armbar is Money off his back when the opponent is in his guard.
Absolutely, As soon as nogiera gets tim to the ground it doesnt matter if its top or bottom position its over for tim 1st rd submission and after having your are broken off by mir big tim will not hesitate to tap [/quote]
Ah no, Nog is good but he cant finish Tim. It’ll be another decision for Nog
dont under estemate antonio noguerra his one of the best in the world of mma dont judge him with his last preformens i think he will submitt tim silvia and then there probely be a fight between randy couture and i think antonio will win that one too thats what dana white wants to desttoy randy since randy has come back to the ufc he got quick title shot with tim silvia and bit him and then gabriel gonzaga but i think those two fighters are not close to world class so dont be fullying you self with randy or timmy antonio just fouth once in the ufc and his preformance wasnt that great but he was also fighting a really good aponnent heath hearring