Nogueira’s coach: “Couture has no punch”

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Marcelo Alonso

Rodrigo Minotauro’s muay thai coach and amulet, Luiz Alves went to Califórnia this week to finish the heavyweight’s training for his fight against Randy Couture, at UFC 102. With Anderson Silva, Junior dosSantos and a lot of great coaches in the camp, Alves is excited. “There are a lot of great guys from wrestling helping us too, and a coach from the US National team”, revealed Luiz, talking about the strategy for the fight.

“We think that Couture will fight standing against him, and Rodrigo thinks that too. Rodrigo is 100% prepared standing. I always said that this fight were good to Rodrigo, because Couture has no punch to knock him out, and Rodrigo boxes better than him… Rodrigo is prepared in the ground too and will work to submit, because Rodrigo has everything to submit him”, explained the coach. “Our strategy is stay away from the fence”.

Rogério Nogueira in the UFC?

The rumors about Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira’s signing with the UFC were strong in the last days, and Luiz Alves revealed that it’s finished yet.“Rogério didn’t sign with the UFC yet. He’s in negociation, it’s almost done. We hope he’ll debut there until the end of the year”, said Alves, confirming Nogueira at Bitetti Combat’s card. “When I left Brazil, everything was OK. HE’s still in Rio, I’ll wait him to come here to know more about it”.