Big Nog: I Haven’t Said If I Will Stop Fighting
Brazilian legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira returned to action this past Saturday (August 1, 2015) at UFC 190, and it didn’t exactly go his way. Nogueira lost a one-sided, clear-cut decision to Stefan Struve, making it three loses in a row for the 39-year old heavyweight.
After the fight, UFC president Dana White said that he had spoke to “Minotauro” regarding retirement, also saying that Nogueira had agreed, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Recently speaking with Revista Combate (Via MMAFighting), “Big Nog” said that he hasn’t decided whether or not he will stop fighting just yet, expressing his desire and love to train:
“I will continue training. I haven’t said if I will stop fighting or now,” Nogueira told Revista Combate. “The fight just ended now, I will still see what I’m going to do. I will come back to training. I love to train, I love being in a camp. People ask me what’s the most important moment for me, and it’s not fighting, winning or losing, it’s the daily training. I’m addicted to this.”
White also mentioned that upon retirement, Nogueira would have a job waiting for him with the UFC, something similar to Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes. “Minotauro” said that working with athletes is something that he is definitely interested in, also stating that he immediately accepted the job offer:
“I will work with the UFC, for sure,” he said. “Dana White is interested in having me working with the fighters, bringing more athletes to the organization, new talents. I love to work with athletes. I have 64 professional athletes in my gym, and I find new athletes every day. I like to be at the events, see who are the prospects, but also help them backstage. He said he’s interested and I immediately accepted the job. We will work with the UFC in the future.”
However, the acceptance of the job doesn’t confirm Nogueira’s retirement just yet, and if there’s one fight that could keep the Brazilian around, it would be a third crack at former heavyweight champion Frank Mir. “Minotauro” has suffered two losses to Mir, including an arm-breaking arm bar, and he would definitely like his revenge:
That’s one of the things that I would think about before retiring,” Nogueira said of a potential trilogy bout with Mir.”He had ups and downs. He was coming off four losses and has now won two in a row.”
Despite wanting revenge, should “Big Nog” consider hanging up his gloves, and ending an illustrious career for good?
