Brendan Schaub currently holds a professional MMA record of 8-1, with five consecutive victories inside the Octagon. “The Hybrid” was knocked out by Roy Nelson at the TUF 10 Finale, but bounced back with convincing performances against Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer. Schaub then moved up the ladder, adding prestigious victories over Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop to his record.
On August 27th, The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 finalist will look to solidify his place in the heavyweight title mix with a victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fight will be a part of the UFC’s stacked UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami fight card, and will mark Nogueira’s MMA debut in his homeland.
Speaking exclusively to LowKick.com, Brendan Schaub shared his thoughts about the fight with Big Nog, competing in Brazil, and a shot at Cain Velasquez’s UFC Heavyweight title. You can follow Schaub on Twitter @BrendanSchaub.
You have a big fight coming up next weekend against Minotauro Nogueira. Is this the biggest fight of your career so far?
Yeah, without a doubt. I think it’s a toughest test for me, and you know, Nogueira is one of the best Heavyweights of all time. It’s a monumental fight of my career. He never fought in Brazil, so it would be a great thing to say after August 27th “Hey, I beat Nogueira in Brazil.”
Brendan Schaub currently holds a professional MMA record of 8-1, with five consecutive victories inside the Octagon. “The Hybrid” was knocked out by Roy Nelson at the TUF 10 Finale, but bounced back with convincing performances against Chase Gormley and Chris Tuchscherer. Schaub then moved up the ladder, adding prestigious victories over Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop to his record.
On August 27th, The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 finalist will look to solidify his place in the heavyweight title mix with a victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fight will be a part of the UFC’s stacked UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami fight card, and will mark Nogueira’s MMA debut in his homeland.
Speaking exclusively to LowKick.com, Brendan Schaub shared his thoughts about the fight with Big Nog, competing in Brazil, and a shot at Cain Velasquez’s UFC Heavyweight title. You can follow Schaub on Twitter @BrendanSchaub.
You have a big fight coming up next weekend against Minotauro Nogueira. Is this the biggest fight of your career so far?
Yeah, without a doubt. I think it’s a toughest test for me, and you know, Nogueira is one of the best Heavyweights of all time. It’s a monumental fight of my career. He never fought in Brazil, so it would be a great thing to say after August 27th “Hey, I beat Nogueira in Brazil.”
Filed under: UFC, NewsAntonio Rodrigo Nogueira will make his long-awaited return in his home country of Brazil, and it will come against surging contender Brendan Schaub.
The two heavyweights have agreed to face off at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, the U…
Following a year’s worth of layoffs due to surgery on his knee and hips, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiraannounced this weekend that he’d be returning to action at UFC 134 (aka ‘UFC Rio‘) on August 27th. He didn’t name an opponent, but said that he’s “looking forward to fighting in the co-main event.” His longtime training partner Anderson Silva will be headlining the show against Yushin Okami.
Following a year’s worth of layoffs due to surgery on his knee and hips, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiraannounced this weekend that he’d be returning to action at UFC 134 (aka ‘UFC Rio‘) on August 27th. He didn’t name an opponent, but said that he’s “looking forward to fighting in the co-main event.” His longtime training partner Anderson Silva will be headlining the show against Yushin Okami.
“We are lobbying daily for the fight,” said Schaub’s manager Lex McMahon in a text to ESPN.com. “As of now, we have not been offered the fight. We are optimistic that if [Nogueira] is healthy, Brendan has a good shot to be his opponent in Brazil…Also, I’m a huge Cro Cop fan and have tremendous respect for him, but it seems a stretch that Cro Cop would fight [Nogueira] in Brazil after Brendan knocked him out with one of the most vicious KOs I’ve ever seen. Brendan is one of the most dominant fighters in the division and we’re hopeful the UFC will reward him with the great honor of fighting in Rio.”
Schaub has racked up four-consecutive victories in the Octagon, establishing himself as a serious heavyweight contender with his recent wins over Cro Cop and Gabriel Gonzaga. Nogueira would be another big-name feather in the Hybrid’s cap — and there’s no better time to challenge him than when he’s coming off a battery of injuries and surgeries. Very clever, Brendan.
Of course, the UFC might set Big Nog up with a less dangerous opponent if they want the Brazilian legend to pick up a comeback victory on his home turf. And if that’s the case, we just might see Cro Cop going through the motions one last time.
Yushin Okami’s performances may not always wear out the edge of your seat, but really, what does the dude have to do to get a title shot? This is a man, a rather large and strong one at that, who has won ten times in the Octagon and is coming off wins over Mark Munoz […]
Yushin Okami’s performances may not always wear out the edge of your seat, but really, what does the dude have to do to get a title shot? This is a man, a rather large and strong one at that, who has won ten times in the Octagon and is coming off wins over Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt. That’s not a bad way to go about becoming a contender, but despite Okami’s accomplishments, he’s still waiting to face Anderson Silva (yes, that DQ thingy aside).
So, when recently Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiratold Tatame magazine that Silva was going to fight Okami at the upcoming August 27th UFC in Brazil, the news may not have sent every MMA fan into thrilled hysteria, but it kind of made sense. Then, MMA Junkie cited sources who said the reports were “premature,” no doubt sending Okami’s booster club members into further despair. Well, in a more recent story from Fighters Only Magazine, the outlet is reporting that Nogueira has once again stated in another Brazilian mag that, yes, Silva is fighting Okami this August.
“The mystery about the UFC Rio card that takes place on Aug 27th starts to be unfolded. I have information in which my friend and current biggest phenomenon Anderson Silva will make the main fight of the event versus Japan’s Yushin Okami,”
Now hold on for the real WTF? news. Nogueira apparently went on to say that Silva could be moving to light-heavyweight, because of the lack of contenders available to him at 185. Say what? Aside from the rematch with Chael Sonnen, which everyone and their dog wants to see, hasn’t Anderson consistently said lately he’s not doing 205 anymore?
Filed under: UFC, StrikeforceIf 2011 goes as planned, we’ll see more good, competitive, high-level mixed martial arts fights than we’ve ever seen in any year of the sport’s existence.
Strikeforce’s eight-man heavyweight tournament was getting all the …
If 2011 goes as planned, we’ll see more good, competitive, high-level mixed martial arts fights than we’ve ever seen in any year of the sport’s existence.
Assuming a best-case scenario for both promotions, we’ll have good heavyweight fights from Strikeforce, the UFC or both every month for the next 10 months or so, culminating with the return of Cain Velasquez and the Strikeforce tournament final toward the end of the year. Remember, I started this with an “If”: Looking ahead to fights that we hope to see in the future is always risky business. But below we’ll look at the fights that will make this the year of the heavyweight.
If 2011 goes as planned, we’ll see more good, competitive, high-level mixed martial arts fights than we’ve ever seen in any year of the sport’s existence.