Nogueira and Werdum set to coach next season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil
Posted on October 30, 2012, 12:54 PM by Mike DrahotaNews has broke today that the next season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil will feature two of the most decorated jiujitsu artists in the history of MMA. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum are set to face off as team leaders and will fight at the finale as per tradition. According to Brazilian site Globoesporte.com, the two have verbally agreed to the job and only small contractual details are left to be finished. The announcement is a small surprise, as many were hoping to see Shogun Rua and Lyoto Machida in a season to fulfill their trilogy fight predictions.
Both fighters are coming into the assignment off of impressive victories, Werdum finishing Mike Russow with an early TKO this summer while Nogueira pulled off an emotional submission victory over David Herman at UFC 153 in Rio. Between them, they are the holders of countless epic submission victories and two of the most dangerous ground game practitioners in the world. The highly experienced Heavyweights will face off in a rematch, with Nogueira taking the first fight by decision in the PRIDE arena in 2006.
For Nogueira, it will be his second foray into the TUF coaching arena, as he faced off against Frank Mir previously but was finished by strikes in their bout. Werdum is making his first attempt as coach. The show is set to begin airing in Brazil in March of next year, and will continue the series that Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva started earlier this year. Werdum and Nogueira are no doubt two of the biggest Brazilian stars in the UFC, perhaps taking only a back seat to the champions Anderson Silva, JDS, and Jose Aldo. Expect a great season of up-and-coming talent set into motion by two great candidates for coaches.
*UPDATE*: Nogueira and Werdum have been officially confirmed as the next coaches of TUF: Brazil (4:30 PM EST)
Comments
Can either of these guys ever be a champ in the UFC? Nope.
And your point is?
Point is, who cares about this fight...and point is, Dana can do better by getting 2 coaches that can make for a meaningful fight.
There are two other relevant heavy weights from Brazil who arent JDS???? Please enlighten me Obi Wan Kinobi, about these mythical bohemoths I have never heard of.
Werdum could very well be champ in the future.
Agreed.
Sick fight and both guys will be incredible coaches.
My only question is, is this the right path for Werdum? What does this do for his title run?
It's a long ass layoff and love Nog but he's not the high ranked opponent Werdum should be getting.
And for popularity, well TUF Brazil will only help him in Brazil where he is already famous but outside he still isn't a big name (even Overeem with 1 UFC fight is more known)
There are a lot of good reasons for Wedum to take this path:
1. Brazil is his home.
2. Werdum is not THAT famous in Brazil--yet, but he will be after this. Fame in a country of nearly 200 million people will pay dividends long after he has retired.
3. Big Nog is one of the top three HW BJJ artists in the world right now, and Werdum is another. This is an interesting challenge for Werdum, and a chance to prove he is better than Nog. Mir would be next if he is successful.
4. Money. My bet is Dana White is paying him very well for the combination TUF + Finale fight. More than he would make on a single non-title fight.
5. Werdum gets to hire all his teammates to help coach on TUF--and spread the money around his team.
6. Who else is available during that time in the HW division to fight Werdum which would be better than all 5 reasons above?
As for the match up... terrible fight for Nog.
Werdum has the superior ground game and probably better stand up (his Thai vs. Nog's boxing). Werdum also has a solid chin and great cardio... tough one for Nog.
I know MMA Math doesn't wok but interesting to note Werdum beat Fedor and Fedor smashed Nog twice.
For MMA math puposes Nog already beat Werdum once.
Yea I'll be honest and say I actually had no idea they had fought prior to my comment. Bad one on my part
Why is every1 under-estimating Nogueira? Lets face the facts Werdum beat Fedor respect it was a great sub but at the tale end of his career!
As for Nog he is a legend yes he did get beaten twice by fedor back in 03/04 yes when fedor was destroying every1.
This is a good match up and will ask a good few questions?
Is Werdum ready for title shot
Is Nog out of his league at this level now
Can Werdum sun Nog
Can Nog KO Werdum
Who is the best Brazilian HW
Both guys are tough I personally do favor Werdum I think he will win by decision but don't hold your breath I never thought Nog would tap to MIr
soz meant Can Werdum sub Nog
Of course Werdum can sub Nog. Werdum BJJ is the sickest.
jds is currently best hw.
i think werdum has a better game all around. hes gonna take it
We don't know if JDS is the best tell he beats Overeem for know hes the champ fighting the same contender..Speaking of Overeem he struggled to KO Werdum,Werdum used some boring (cheap tactics),but a fights a fight.I don't see Big Nog getting the KO if this goes to the ground its anyones fight Im sure Nog will train hard in his jits for this fight motivated from the MIR loss.
I think this will make for a brilliant matchup. I'm actually excited abt this
You know what is crazy: by the time this fight happens Overeem will probably have fought the winner of JDSxCain (or very close to)....so if for some miracle Nog wins he wll be fighting for the belt....if JDS is still champ we will have a situation in the HW division.....they will never fight each other.
Dude
You dont have any buddies here... so go sell your junk at a flee market.