UFC 110: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - “Experience Down Under”
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to face Cain Velasquez in UFC 110's main event
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The 33-year old Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira has had plenty of experience in mixed martial arts compiling a respectable 32-5-1, 1 NC record over a decade long career. “Minotauro” has a strong jiu-jitsu base with precise boxing skills and excellent stamina which has helped him build an outstanding fighting career. He has had his ups and downs since coming over from Japan’s PRIDE FC organization in 2007. Lately, however, there have been more ups than downs.
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Nogueira earned a unanimous decision victory over Heavyweight gatekeeper Heath Herring in July 2007 at UFC 73 in his organizational debut. He then submitted Tim Sylvia to become the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion seven months later at UFC 81. In his first title defense at UFC 92, Nogueira came into the December 2008 fight hampered by injuries but fought anyway suffering the first stoppage loss of his career. However, Nogueira looked refreshed and re-energized last August at UFC 102 when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture.
Nogueira looks to build on the strength of his UFC 102 victory when he headlines UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia against upstart prospect Cain Velasquez on February 21st. Although Nogueira is widely perceived to have the very best jiu-jitsu of any fighter in the UFC Heavyweight Division, he will look to gain the biggest advantage with his accurate boxing skills, an area that Velasquez has looked somewhat average in.
If he is able to capitalize and get the win over American Kickboxing Academy’s best Heavyweight, “Big Nog” will surely emerge as the top contender for the UFC Heavyweight Title, which is somewhat of a mess at the moment. In March, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin headline UFC 111 for the promotions’ interim champion tag, a move necessitated because of the questionable medical status of current Champion, Brock Lesnar. The winner of the UFC 111 main event will likely fight the winner of UFC 110 to see who will fight Lesnar later in the summer.
Nogueira, should he lose to Velasquez, still doesn’t have much room to fall in the rankings. He has proven time and time again that he belongs at the top of any ranking system, and, after dominating Couture in November, assured everyone that he has not lost a step. Yes, he has high miles for being only 33-years old, however is capable of defeating the world’s best Heavyweights at any time. Nogueira would get another high profile opponent should he win-or-lose in the land down under.
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Odds makers have gone back and forth for this bout, however when all is said and done, it looks as if Nogueira will be a slight favorite. The truth is this bout is being billed as one of the most competitive bouts in recent UFC history as well as a possible “Fight of the Year” candidate. It also looks as if the brass in the UFC offices planned yet another solid card in this, the first event in Australia, and when they included a future Hall-of-Famer like Nogueira, no one loses. The promotion, fighters, and especially the fans all stand to be big winners in the year’s first blockbuster event – no matter what the betting line is.
> Check out our UFC 110 feature on Cain Velasquez - A Star on the Rise exclusively here at Pro Fighting Fans!
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer