Tag: Antônio Nogueira

Power Ranking the Top 10 Fighters from Black House MMA

As the debate about the best team in all of MMA rages on in 2013, one group of fighters has really begun to accumulate much of the elite talent in the sport, particularly from their home country of Brazil. I’m talking, of course, about Black House MMA….

As the debate about the best team in all of MMA rages on in 2013, one group of fighters has really begun to accumulate much of the elite talent in the sport, particularly from their home country of Brazil. I’m talking, of course, about Black House MMA.

Founded by Ed Soares, Carlos Barreto, Jorge Guimaraes and Rogerio Camoes in November 2006, Black House MMA has become almost a synonym for excellence in mixed martial arts.

Focusing primarily on the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the pinpoint precision striking that has turned out numerous UFC champions, Black House produces some of the most well-rounded, dangerous fighters who are always looking to finish.

With Glover Teixeira still relatively new to most fans, power ranking him and the current occupants of Black House MMA might be a good way to see just how good this guy is before he fights Rampage Jackson at UFC on FOX.

So here are the top 10 performers currently fighting out of Black House MMA.

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‘Minotouro’ Nogueira: UFC 156 Fight with Rashad Evans Is All About Respect

In the world of mixed martial arts, the action in the cage can occasionally be bland when compared to the copious amount of trash talk that precedes it. When talking about UFC 156’s co-main event between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, that …

In the world of mixed martial arts, the action in the cage can occasionally be bland when compared to the copious amount of trash talk that precedes it. When talking about UFC 156‘s co-main event between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, that certainly will not be the case.

Nogueira is a proud Brazilian who became a world-ranked fighter with wins over the likes of Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem and Tito Ortiz. Not only is he beloved by fans, but he’s respected by his peers. 

After the announcement that he would meet Nogueira, Evans was quick to praise his opponent. In an interview with MMACanadaTV (via SB Nation), Evans offered commendation:

He has good stand up. His boxing is pretty good, one of the best in the weight class. Also his ground, he has a really good ground game so I gotta be aware of the ground.

During Monday’s media call to promote UFC 156, Nogueira was thrilled to hear about the surprising praise coming from the usually sharp-tongued Evans. Through translator Ed Soares, Nogueira expressed his joy.

“It makes [me] very happy to hear Rashad say those things.” said Nogueira. “He is a former champion and [I have] a lot of respect for him too.”

Although Nogueira hit a two-fight skid, he rebounded in his most recent fight with a first-round TKO over Tito Ortiz. If he can continue that momentum by upsetting another former champion like Evans, the former Pride star will prove that he still has what it takes to compete with the best in the world.


Stay tuned to Bleacher Report MMA for previews, live coverage and post-fight analysis for the event.

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Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fabricio Werdum Head-to-Toe Breakdown

The second season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil will see a pair of elite heavyweights take to the coaching positions. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum will coach their respective teams and meet inside the Octagon at season’s end.Werdum co…

The second season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil will see a pair of elite heavyweights take to the coaching positions. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum will coach their respective teams and meet inside the Octagon at season’s end.

Werdum could be on the brink of challenging for the UFC heavyweight championship, while Nogueira will try to put himself back in the top five with a victory.

This will be a rematch of their 2006 meeting at PRIDE Critical Countdown Absolute. Nogueira won a unanimous decision on that night.

Who has the advantage this time around? Let’s take a look at the head-to-toe breakdown.

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Nogueira and Werdum Name Assistant Coaches for TUF: Brazil 2

The UFC continues its growth overseas as The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil is set to return for a second season, led by heavyweight coaches Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabrico Werdum.Recently, the two coaches revealed who will be assisting them on the…

The UFC continues its growth overseas as The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil is set to return for a second season, led by heavyweight coaches Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabrico Werdum.

Recently, the two coaches revealed who will be assisting them on the international edition of the long-running reality show.

For the former Pride champ, his team of coaches will be made up of a host of highly trained specialists including brother Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as an MMA coach and Everaldo Penco as a jiu-jitsu coach. Eric Albarracin will cover wrestling while Muay Thai coach Sheymon Moraes and kickboxing coach Vitor Miranda handle the striking department.

On Werdum’s side, a familiar face to the TUF: Brazil series will be handling the MMA coaching duties as Wanderlei Silva joins team Werdum. Silva was a coach on the first season of the Brazilian edition of the show opposite Vitor Belfort.

Also on Werdum’s squad will be Muay Thai coach and famed former head of Chute Boxe Rafael Cordeiro as well as Rubens Cobrinha for jiu-jitsu and Kenny Johnson for wrestling.

Interestingly, the show will feature another brother as an assistant coach as Fabricio’s brother, Felipe Werdum, will be instructing the contestants in capoeira. This also the first time, to my knowledge, that a TUF coach had a capoeira instructor on his staff.

This season will definitely be an interesting one as a new crop of lightweights and welterweight vye for their spots in the UFC. Last year’s winners Rony Mariano Bezerra and Cezar Ferreira have gone undefeated since joining the promotion, so I can only expect the next wave of TUF: Brazil fighters to be just as tough.

I especially can’t wait to see the rematch between “Minotauro” and Werdum, who last faced off in Pride all the way back in 2006, later next year.

 

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Zuffa Issues Statement on Stephan Bonnar and Dave Herman Failed Drug Tests

After MMA Junkie broke the news Friday that Stephan Bonnar and Dave Herman failed their UFC 153 post-fight drug tests, Zuffa LLC, the owner of the UFC, issued an update on the situation via a statement on UFC.com. “Stephan Bonnar and Dave He…

After MMA Junkie broke the news Friday that Stephan Bonnar and Dave Herman failed their UFC 153 post-fight drug tests, Zuffa LLC, the owner of the UFC, issued an update on the situation via a statement on UFC.com. 

“Stephan Bonnar and Dave Herman tested positive for banned substances following their bouts at UFC 153. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Both fighters have admitted taking the banned substances and have orally agreed to suspensions. Once the suspensions have been reduced to written agreements, the results of their tests and the agreed upon suspensions will be sent to the Association of Boxing Commissions official record-keeper so other jurisdictions will be on notice.”

Various MMA media outlets reported on Friday that UFC officials confirmed that Bonnar tested positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone, while Herman tested positive for marijuana metabolites. 

This was not the first positive drug test for either fighter. Herman was scheduled to face Mike Russow at UFC 136, but was removed from the card when he tested positive for marijuana during a preliminary drug test. Herman denied using the drug leading up to the bout. 

“The American Psycho” had traces of Boldenone metabolites, an anabolic steroid, in his system after his UFC 62 bout with Forrest Griffin in Aug. 2006. Bonnar owned up to taking the drug, stating that he only used the banned substance to help speed up an elbow injury. 

Bonnar confirmed on his Facebook fan page earlier in the week that he would be retiring following his UFC 153 loss to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Bonnar had won three fights in a row prior to the loss to Silva.

Meanwhile, Herman lost his third fight in a row when he was submitted by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 153. That, coupled with his second positive drug test, likely means “Pee Wee” will be handed his walking papers in the near future. 

The UFC typically acts as their own athletic commission for events held outside of the United States and Canada. Since UFC 153 took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that’s exactly what happened here.

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MMA: 7 Fighters Who Need to Call It Quits

We are all familiar with the clichéd tale of the great champion who can’t walk away from the sport he loves. While we admire the courage of these athletes, we wince every time we watch them climb inside the ring or the cage and take unnece…

We are all familiar with the clichéd tale of the great champion who can’t walk away from the sport he loves.

While we admire the courage of these athletes, we wince every time we watch them climb inside the ring or the cage and take unnecessary punishment.

We know that they should have retired years ago, yet we can do nothing to stop them from putting themselves in harm’s way for one last shot at glory or a much-needed paycheque.

With that in mind, here is my list of the top seven fighters who really should call it quits.

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