'I'm going to fight for at most two more years', reveals Minotauro

R. Minotauro (photo) has been fighting professionally since 1999. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

The trajectory of one of the biggest names in Brazilian MMA in history may be close to coming to an end. After suffering two consecutive defeats for the first time as a professional, and hearing advice about hanging up the gloves even from UFC president Dana White, Rodrigo Minotauro gave indications that he is already beginning to plan his retirement. During an event at the recently announced academy of his “Team Nogueira” network in Campinas (SP), the former champion of the extinct PRIDE and former interim champion of Ultimate revealed that he should play for a maximum of two more years.

“I saw that Bob Sapp announced his retirement. He is one of the legends of MMA, he did a lot for the game. I know I won't fight forever and I don't want to fight much longer either. I have my academies and I want to dedicate them to training new champions. I'm going to fight until the end of next year or at most for another two years. I have other projects”, said Minotauro in an interview with the television channel “EPTV”.

Rodrigo also did not want to set a date for his return to the octagon and revealed that he postponed knee surgery to attend the TUF Brasil 3 Finale, on May 31st, in São Paulo (SP). “I don't even have a deadline to return to training, as I have a torn knee ligament. I need surgery, but I postponed the surgery to watch the TUF final, in São Paulo. Then I'll go to surgery, I'll recover and, then, I'll return to the octagon”, he concluded.

At 37 years old, Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira has a record of 34 wins, nine losses, one draw and one unsuccessful fight. Considered by many to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in MMA, Rodrigo made history in the now-defunct PRIDE and became the interim champion of the 120 kg division in Ultimate. Recently, the Brazilian has been dealing with a series of injuries and alternated between victories and defeats. Minotauro comes from two consecutive setbacks, to Fabricio Werdum in June last year in the TUF Brasil 2 coaches' duel and for Roy Nelson at UFC Abu Dhabi.

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