Minotauro still has the potential to compete at a high level, assesses Minotouro

Minotouro (right) believes that Minotauro (left) can still fight at a high level in the UFC. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Rogério Minotouro believes that his twin brother, Rodrigo Minotauro, still has the potential to continue performing at a high level in MMA. Minotauro, former PRIDE champion and former UFC interim champion, suffered a tough defeat last month in Abu Dhabi when he was knocked out by Roy Nelson in the first round.

In an interview with SUPER FIGHTS podcast, Minotouro stated that his brother presented a performance below what he was really capable of. “I was very sad. I know that Rodrigo has the potential to beat the Roy Nelson, he is much better than the Roy Nelson. But he didn't fight well, he fought strangely. At that beginning he caught a upper and it has already destabilized. And he was injured, he had a torn cruciate ligament, but Rodrigo is stubborn”, commented Minotouro, who stated that Minotauro even thought about giving up the fight with Nelson because of the injury.

Minotouro continued: “He's had a lot of victories in his life, he's had some defeats, so the guy is prepared for the worst. But the important thing is that he trained a lot for this fight and was unlucky. He wasn’t in 100% physical condition, he was injured, and it was unlucky to have that hand come in.”

According to "Little Nog”, as he is known in the United States, Minotauro has already achieved everything that a top athlete can dream of achieving, but he still has the desire and conditions to continue competing in the UFC.

“We have to consider everything he is doing and has done for this sport, since PRIDE, how many victories he has had, how many titles he has won. For everything he has done, he is already a legend and no longer needs to prove anything to anyone. But I think he still has the potential to fight more, he has the desire, he is a warrior. Unfortunately he wasn't in the best of conditions, but I think he still has a lot of potential to give”, he assessed.

Minotouro also took the opportunity to respond to the criticism that Minotauro received after his last performances. “Anyone who understands MMA knows everything Rodrigo has done, his technique, which doesn't need to be put to the test. The person who criticizes now is the guy who doesn’t understand fighting and doesn’t know what’s already happened,” he said.

Check out the full interview with Rogério Minotouro, in addition to an interview with Rafael Sapo and debates about MMA news in the latest edition of SUPER FIGHTS podcast!

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