JOE catches up with one of the true legends of the MMA game – Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira.
By Fergus Ryan
A little over ten years ago Mixed Martial Arts was largely dismissed as a barbaric freak show by every country except Japan. While the UFC was on the verge of extinction, the PRIDE Fighting Championship promotion in Japan was not only attracting the biggest named fighters of the day but was also being broadcast on local mainstream TV and regularly held events attended by 40 to 50,000 fans.
JOE caught up with one of the biggest names to emerge from this early era of MMA, Antonio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira.
Because MMA is such a young sport, the title of legend can sometimes be given away cheaply. In the case of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, having won the RINGS, Pride and UFC titles across his 40-fight career, nobody could dispute his legendary status.
Nogueira started training in judo at four years of age before very nearly been killed when he was run over by a truck when he was nine. He fell into a coma for 25 days, broke every second bone in his body and ruptured numerous organs. He was given little chance of survival but after 11 months in hospital, he was back on his feet.
This implausible toughness became a hallmark of his career and, as well as being known for his mastery of BJJ, Nogueira earned a reputation for weathering terrible punishment before snatching unlikely victories when all seemed lost.
Among his 32 career wins to date are names like former UFC heavyweight champions Josh Barnett, Ricco Rodriguez, Tim Sylvia and Hall of Famers Mark Coleman and Randy Couture. Nogueira was in Ireland recently to conduct a whistle-stop series of MMA seminars around the country.
Dublin-based Michael O’Hagan, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt who trains with BJJ Revolution in Baldoyle and teaches in the Extreme MMA gym in Swords, asked Nogueira to come out and, happily, he agreed.
“I met Mickey maybe five years ago in Spain at a seminar and he’s come out to train with us in San Diego a few times since then. He asked me to come to Ireland so I said sure.” explains Nogueira in his thick Brazilian-Portuguese accent.
Between O’Hagan and Andy Ryan, Ireland’s second BJJ black belt and head coach at BJJ Revolution/Team Ryano, a series of seminars in Cork, Dublin and Belfast were put together that proved incredibly popular. However, this wasn’t Nogueira’s first time in Ireland.
“I was in Ireland maybe 10 years ago and we did a really big seminar with over 100 guys. But a lot of them were martial artists like judo guys or BJJ guys and they really wanted to learn more BJJ. This time is different, lots of young guys this time, like 15, 16-year-olds, hungry to learn MMA.
Nogueira pictured with John Redmond from Rush Fight Academy at the Dublin seminar
“I’m really impressed with the MMA guys. They’ve real passion for training MMA, they push, push, push. You can teach positions and skills but you can’t teach that passion to someone. You’ve got to have it in you already. We also got some fans this time, guys that don’t fight but like to train in the sport, which is great.”
Nogueira was accompanied by Raphael ‘Feijao’ Cavalcante, the former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion only recently dethroned by Dan Henderson.
Nogueira adds, “I met Feijao about five years ago when I was buying a farm back home in Brazil. He was showing me around the farm. He came to train with us and I told him ‘man, you’d be a great fighter’. So he quit everything and started to train full time with us at Black House and became a world champion in Strikeforce.”
Both men were exhausted after the Dublin seminar and when they talked through their movements for the previous 24 hours it was clear they were toiling for the love of their sport.
“I’m not tired man, I’m dead,” jokes Nogueira. “I left the US on Wednesday night. Then we have problems with immigration in Madrid and miss our flight so have to spend a day in the airport. We got to Dublin and then jumped in the car with Mickey and drove to Cork. We didn’t get to bed till 4am Saturday morning. Then up early for the seminar, back in the car to drive to Dublin then another seminar.”
As soon as I heard there is a UFC in Brazil I told Dana ‘I’m fighting on that card.’
It’s hard to imagine Tiger Woods or Wayne Rooney giving as much of their time to develop their sport in a small country that would offer no immediate payback. But both Nogueira and Feijao, despite being exhausted, remained on the mats hours after the Dublin seminar had finished to pose for pictures, sign autographs and roll with anyone wanting to test their skills against the elite level BJJ black belts.
Zuffa’s recent purchase of Strikeforce sees opportunities for both men. For Nogueira, there is the possibility of a fourth fight with Fedor Emelianenko and testing his mettle against a quality crop of Strikeforce heavyweights. He explains, “Sure I’d fight if they wanted me to but I think Fedor is dropping down to light-heavyweight or a catch-weight to fight Dan Henderson. That’s what I hear.”
For Feijao there’s the potential to join the shark tank that is the UFC’s light-heavyweight division. Though he doesn’t think it’ll happen any time soon.
“I think it could be maybe two years before they join the two light-heavyweight divisions, I hope it happens sooner. I’m looking forward to it whenever it happens,” says a smiling Feijao.
Next up for Nogueira is Brendan ‘The Hybrid’ Schaub at UFC 134 in Rio in August. This event has huge significance for Brazilian MMA as the promotion was founded by the Gracie family who also created Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
“As soon as I heard there is a UFC in Brazil I told Dana ‘I’m fighting on that card.’ The arena is only a few blocks from where I grew up,” says Nogueira.
Having had hip surgery in November last year, Nogueira has only recently resumed training of any sort. It will be his first fight in 19 months – the longest lay-off in his career since it began in 1999. He continues, “I’ll be in a hurry to get ready because of the surgery but I’ll be ready.”
Global
The best advice Nogueira offered for fighters looking to get to the next level was to jump into the melting pot of global MMA.
He adds, “It’s important that a coach is not too proud to get other people to come and train his guys in his gym, like Andy does. He brings in guys like Rodrigo Medeiros and Arthur Ruff, which is important. Since Feijao has trained with us he’s been teaching me some things he’s picked up.
“And for fighters, they should go travel and train at other gyms. Come to Brazil or San Diego to my gyms. It’s a great way to learn new positions, to see what other fighters outside their team are doing.”
When the discussion turns to how much MMA has grown since he began over a decade ago in Japan, Nogueira believes more is to come. “MMA is going to be as popular, maybe even more popular than football in Brazil. Every weekend on the TV talk shows on Friday and Saturday nights there’s always an MMA fighter being interviewed, they are really big stars now in Brazil.
“For example, UFC 126 Belfort v Silva was watched by more people in Brazil than a football cup final on the same night,” says Nogueira, taking the role of MMA ambassador.
He’s certainly played his part in popularising the sport in Brazil, Ireland and everywhere in between.
Picture (inset) supplied by MMA Kaptured. Contact MMA Kaptured directly (Steve 086 387 4474) to purchase any MMA event pictures or hire them for an upcoming event.
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