Veteran UFC light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira might hang up his gloves next year.
Another veteran of the sport might be bidding us farewell in the near future. Even though he is currently scheduled to perform at UFC 237, which is just one month away, light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira confessed to Combate that he is considering retirement in the next year.
With a career that spans over 18 years and 31 professional MMA bouts, ‘Lil Nog’ revealed that the matter has been on his mind a lot more as of late, prompting himself to plan his swan song for sometime around 2020.
“Actually, I have thought about that a lot,” Nogueira said. “I think about stopping next year, might be by the end of the next year. If I’m able to fight throughout this year and the next one, then I might really consider quitting next year.”
One of the oldest athletes on the UFC’s roster at 42, Nogueira says his mindset and will to represent the older generation of MMA athletes is what motivates him to keep fighting at such an advanced age.
“I think my mind is what drives me forward the most,” Nogueira said. “I’m a 42-year-old fighter, I was talking to some 20 and 30-year-old fighters at my last event and they were all ‘I want to quit when I 35.’ When you hear that, you can take it in two ways: one, I’ll represent the older generation and overcoming adversities, or two, I’m getting too old for this. I have questioned myself about it, about whether or not it’s time to quit, but I’m very happy. The taste of victory and the taste of fighting are different things now. I have been thankful for being able to step into the Octagon for the past three or four years, for everyday that I’m able to train. I’m just enjoying it while I still have time.”
With a knockout win over Sam Alvey in his last outing, in September 2018, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will look for his second straight win when he faces Ryan Spann at UFC 237 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 11. The card will be headlined by a strawweight title fight between the champion, Rose Namajunas, and challenger Jessica Andrade.