Minotauro Nogueira | |
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Born | Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira June 2, 1976 Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil |
Other names | Minotauro, Big Nog |
Nationality | Brazilian |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Weight | 240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight |
Reach | 77.0 in (196 cm) |
Style | Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Boxing |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Team |
Black House (2006–present) Brazilian Top Team (1999–2006) Team Nogueira |
Rank | 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt in Judo |
Years active | 1999–2015 |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 46 |
Wins | 34 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 21 |
By decision | 10 |
Losses | 10 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 5 |
Draws | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Other information | |
Occupation | Mixed martial arts fighter, contracted to the Ultimate Fighting Championship |
Children | 3 |
Notable relatives | Antônio Rogério Nogueira, brother |
Notable students | Anderson Silva, José Aldo, Junior dos Santos, Patricky Freire, Patricio Freire, Lyoto Machida |
Website | http://www.minotauro.net/ |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtoniu ʁoˈdɾiɡu noˈɡejɾɐ], born June 2, 1976), better known as Minotauro or Rodrigo Minotauro, is a semi-retired Brazilian mixed martial artist known for his technical mastery of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He won most of his fights via submissions. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. He is the twin brother of UFC fighter Antônio Rogério Nogueira, who is a southpaw, while Minotauro fights in an orthodox stance. Minotauro rose to prominence in the Japanese promotion Pride Fighting Championships, where he was the first Pride Heavyweight Champion from November 2001 to March 2003, as well as a 2004 PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix Finalist. He is one of only three men to have held championship titles in both Pride Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (the others being Mauricio Rua and Mark Coleman).
Born in the town of Vitória da Conquista, Brazil, Nogueira started training in judo at the age of 4, boxing at 14 and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 18. At age 10, he was accidentally run over by a truck and fell into a four-day coma, losing a rib and part of his liver, and was hospitalized for eleven months. As a result of the accident, he has a large scar, including a noticeable indentation, on his lower back.
Nogueira made his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in the World Extreme Fighting promotion, which often held events in southern parts of the United States. He won his first two fights by submission and then won the WEF Heavyweight Superfight Championship in his 5th pro fight against veteran Jeremy Horn. A few years after his MMA debut, Nogueira started training with the Brazilian Top Team.