Nogueira: “I want to end my career in Brazil”

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

On June 12 of 1999, Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira has taken the first step in the rings of MMA. But what the fighter didn’t imagine is that, today, ten years later, he would be the biggest idol in the history of Brazilian MMA. And he didn’t even think about MMA. "The MMA is very violent, I think I wouldn’t be good at it", said the black belt to TATAME, more than ten years ago. The only heavyweight fighter to become champion in four big events, Minotauro received a tribute in TATAME Magazine #160.

In the exclusive interview, Nogueira recalled, in more than two hours of conversation, the most significant moments of his life inside and outside the ring and octagon. Among exciting memories of historical triumphs, as the fights against Mirko Cro Cop and Bob Sapp, Minota promised: "this defeat has postponed my retirement, I want to run after the belt. I want to be another warrior to help the guys to take this American hegemony and bring four belts for Brazil", guarantees, betting on Thiago "Pitbull" Alves’ victory against GSP, to join Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida among the Brazilian champions of the event.

Talking about retirement, Minotauro revealed his dream before hanging the gloves. "I’m willing to fight here in Brazil, I was super excited to see Rogério fight and see the affection of the fans, what we saw in Fortaleza is priceless. My dream is to end my career with a fight in Japan and then the last one in Brazil", said the heavyweight.

In the unforgettable report, which you see at the TATAME Magazine of June, Minotauro spoke about the tragic accident that almost took his life at 11 years old, his beginning in the world of fights in Bahia, before going to the Brazilian Top Team, his best coaches, the significant moments in competitions of Jiu-Jitsu and the controversial fights. Beyond opening the game about his left from the BTT, the confrontations with Fedor Emelianenko and what he would do differently, today, to confront the Russian. To know this and much more, as Nogueira analyzing his next opponent, Randy Couture