Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira won't retire, says he'd love to fight Frank Mir next

"I knew my ground game was better than his and I knew I could trade punches with him, that I could smash him while striking. I didn’t move backwards. He came and I moved forwards. If I wasn’t trying to get his leg, I was punching him on his body and moved forwards. He was the one who moved back. I forced him at all times, he walked a lot  in the cage and that was exactly what I wanted to do: to corner him and go for his legs. I punched him and I’d go for his legs, but it all changed. I had other options on that fight. I felt good.

It was like an outflow to me. Many things happened. It was like an outflow to those who didn’t believe in me. You saw I had an angry face, but it wasn’t about Schaub, I don’t feel any anger towards him. It was an outflow for those who told me to retire, to those who asked Dana White if he would retire me after this fight - I won’t retire...I’d like to fight Frank Mir, I want to fight UFC Japan. I’d like to fight UFC Canada, which will happen later this year. Fighting Frank Mir is something I’d love to do. I’m motivated to fight him." - For complete interview with Nogueira, visit Tatame.com

Despite being recognized as a legend in the sport, former PRIDE and UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was largely expected to lose against Brendan Schaub last weekend. After spending more than 18-months sidelined with an injury, the aging Brazilian admittedly rushed his rehabilitation in order to be a part of the promotion's return trip to his home country and would face one of the division's brightest young prospects in "The Hybrid." Indeed, what Nogueira saw as a homecoming, many thought would be his going away party. Instead, "Big Nog" refused to go quietly into retirement.

As things got underway, Schaub looked every bit of the favorite he was dubbed to be. He slipped in and out, showed great footwork and landed almost at will. However, nothing seemed to keep the veteran from plodding forward. Once his younger opponent was backed against the cage, Nogueira unleashed a vicious flurry of punches that sent Schaub face down into the canvas. With his UFC record standing at 4-2, "Minotauro" now appears to have turned his attention to one of the only two fighters to defeat him inside the octagon. So what do you think LowKick'ers? After once again defying the odds, is Nogueira prepared to avenge his loss to Frank Mir or should he set his sights a bit further down the latter?

Further Reading: Frank Mir would like to "test himself" against Alistair Overeem

Photo: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira before his fight with Heath Herring during UFC 73 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA on July 7, 2007. Photo credit: Francis Specker