R. Nogueira (photo) had his last professional fight in August this year, in Rio. Photo: Buda Mendes/UFC
After the defeat to Stefan struve at UFC 190 in August, the legendary Rodrigo Minotauro announced the end of his professional career in MMA and took on the role of Athlete Relations Ambassador for UFC Brazil. With his gloves hanging up for less than three months, however, Minotauro has already had proposals to rethink his condition and return to the ring, but he chose to remain retired and work with Ultimate.
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The invitation to return from retirement came from an old acquaintance of Minotauro, the Japanese Nobuyuki Sakakibara, former president of the now defunct PRIDE, an event in which the Brazilian made a mark and became heavyweight champion. Now at the head of the “Rizin Fighting Federation”, an organization that has been known as “New PRIDE” and which will be the stage for the Russian’s return Fedor Emelianenko, Sakakibara tried, but was unable to convince his brother Nogueira to give up his retirement from the sport.
“I can’t, I’m focused on my work right now. I have had surgery eight times in the last five years. I operated on my anterior cruciate three weeks ago again. So for now I have put an end to my career”, said Minotauro, during an event at the UFC Sao Paulo this Thursday (05). “The guys don’t want to let me rest. But it's interesting. The Shamrock fight brought a lot of people to see Bellator. It's interesting, because those who follow the fighter and not the sport will want to see it. But for me, my life is here now. Recommend Brazilian talents”, he concluded.
At 39 years old, Antônio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira ended his professional MMA career with a record of 34 wins, ten losses, one draw and one unsuccessful fight. Former PRIDE heavyweight champion and former UFC interim heavyweight champion, Minotauro became the only athlete in the history of the sport to win belts in the two biggest organizations on the planet in the most noble weight division.
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