“I have a couple more years in me to fight. I just don’t want to break somebody’s face. It was a dream to me also to make the academy, form a team and teach. I had something to do in my life and God gave me a second chance after the accident. I show I have heart. I keep coming back. I don’t think only of myself. I think about this sport and show people what we are all about. I have a lot of things to show.”
– UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira shares his passion for mixed martial arts in a recent interview with the Sun-Sentinel. “Big Nog” talks about the childhood accident that has helped propel him to the top of sport and has helped him achieve his dream of opening up a gym — Nogueira and Silva Mixed Martial Arts Academy, which is set to open this weekend in Miami, Fla. His partner in the venture is none other that UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Nogueira will have a lot of time to train in the facility for his upcoming stint as coach on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 and eventual showdown with Frank Mir on New Year’s Eve weekend in December 2008.
32 Comments »
can you imagine the knowlage you could gain by going to there gym! learning from big nog and silva! wow! two world champs teaching you ! i bet it is really expensive !
Agreed, Striking, BJJ & Portuguese all under one roof!!
Well I laughed and I….
Wish I could train there sometime. I live in Florida, but about 3 hours from Miami.
That is what I was just telling my boy. I would drive 1 1/2 to 2 hours to train 2 or 3 times a week but from Tampa to there just to far. Makes me want to move to Ft. Meyers and a quick drive through Alligator Alley.
Can you imagine how well rounded of a fighter they should be able to put out. Arguebly the best striker out there along side of the best or damn near close to the best, BJJ guy in the game right now.
Big Nog, one of lifes goodguys! I also think Mir will make a great coach. The folks turning up for TUF 8 have struck lucky.
Strangely, I thought Tito was one of the best coaches so far.
With Rampage and Forrest being 2 of the worst coaches on the planet! 2 of the most popular fighters, but just terrible coaches!
I’m not sure I’m the only one who feels this way, but I got to give best tuf coach award to serra, but tito is a close second. anyway, best coach does not always transition to best fighter
Linx: I will back up that statement! I think Serra was the best coach on TUF!
As for Nogueira, some fans (not on this site) have no idea how lucky they are to have such a legend/Warrior, Nogueira holding the UFC Heavyweight title. We are blessed…Unfortunately We have to wait until UFC 88 in December to see him fight again.
I wonder what those odds will be because Frank Mir does not stand a chance!
mee too. jacob was decent, but you cna tell serra is gonna be agood coach and trainer for a long time, even after his mma career is over.
I don’t see mir doing anything in that fight either, which really sucks for big nog, he deserves more competition (which the UFC can’t offer at the moment).
its true. jacob did come across as a good coach and person on tuf, but has still found a way to make people hate him even more. how is this possible.
I’m sorry my memory must be slipping, who is jacob?
tito’s real name. im kinda mean to him.
lol…jacob ortiz…still wouldnt want to cross him in a dark alley though
Lee murray would! lol
Alot more to show…lol….i’ll be impressed if he just dont get winded in his next fight hes in terrible cardio shape….would love to see mir take him out!
i think you will see it ! big nog has looked very relaxed in his two fights in the ufc, which was good for him because both guys he fought did not take advantage of that. both guys also rocked him just did not capitalize on it! i think mir will be able to submit him because i think mir is really ready for the belt to be back in his hands! i think he is hungry to get back to his winning ways and i think he will prove it against nog!as if he didnt already against a moountain of a man lesner!
Ortiz Thats what i think, “alot more to show” like what? not getting his ass kicked before he pulls off a submission.
Both of these guys are ready to show more. Im looking forward to TUF 8 Big Nog, and Mir are the best coaches to face each other.
I can’t imagine either of these guys geting a submission win. So im leaning towards Big Nog in the fight because he always finds a way to win.
Isee big nog being the title holder for a while at least till we get fedor in there.And then who know maybe with elbows allowed well see someone pull off a legal cut stoppage on him lol.Considering thats his one”loss” which was bs way to call it.
But i dont see mir really causing nog any issues at all.
just think if brock lesnar would have won he would be the coach and new hw champion of the world
The only thing that I dont understand is, as weak division as the heavyweight is, wouldnt this be the perfect opportunity for the UFC to invest and scout young prospects for that division? What is the point of doing a TUF on LH when the division is packed already and Lightweight which really doesnt need it either. Its a big opportunity that the UFC has passed upon. It must be Danas brilliant brain working again!
“I just don’t want to break somebody’s face”
WTF? Why’d he say that?
it really sucks that we have to wait so long for this fight to happen. I hope Frank is working on his conditioning because BigNog doesn’t lose he just runs out of time.
A true MMA legend… one of few left. I hope he can remain UFC champion for the duration of his career.
We need some sort of bot to automatically zap posts bitching at Dana about not having a HW TUF. Its been covered a hundred times before.
I just don’t think there is enough talent for a heavyweight season of tuf. They’ve had 1 hw season, and the only successful guys from there went down to light heavy after the show (Rashad, Jardine)
thats not true…Brad Imes did an exemplary job of being Herring’s punching bag!! lol!
Ever the class act is Big Nog. I feel priveleged to get to watch him perform, and I’m a very big fan. I think MMA needs more guys like him.
His first title describes him perfectly- King of Kings. This guys fights his heart out and never ducks anyone in unlike some people and more importantly wins against top competition. It sickens me that some people rank couture higher than him.
Amen brother…Couture strings together 2 wins (1 by decision) after 2 big losses to chuck, and suddenly the guys a god? Sorry, no dice.