Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, one of the greatest heavyweights in mixed martial arts history, announced his retirement Tuesday at a press conference Rio de Janeiro, exiting the sport at the age of 39.
Nogueira (34-10-1, 1 NC) leaves a career that spanned 17 years and stretched across several different eras of the sport, from its NHB infancy to its place today among the global mainstream.
Along with continuing to captain the successful Team Nogueira fight team, “Big Nog” will move into a professional capacity with UFC in Brazil, aiding social projects and helping to discover new talent for the organization.
“Minotauro is a legend in MMA,” said UFC president Dana White. “He is respected by fighters and fans all over the world. It has been an honor to watch him compete and I am happy for his retirement. He will be a tremendous asset to the UFC, our athletes and the sport as an ambassador. I can not wait to work with him in this new chapter of his life.”
More on this story in a moment.