Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum Reportedly Set to Coach ‘TUF Brazil 2?


(Photo via MMAWeekly)

The UFC hasn’t yet made an official announcement, but several outlets are reporting that former Pride and UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and contender Fabricio Werdum are set to coach against one another on the next edition of TUF Brazil and then fight one another. The first season of TUF Brazil featured Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as opposing coaches, and was a ratings success, although Belfort had to bow out of his beef-settling fight with Wandy due to a broken hand.

Brazil’s GloboEsporte reports that TUF Brazil will begin airing in March and that the two fighters have verbally agreed to take part as coaches. Nogueira and Werdum previously fought one another in the quarterfinals of PRIDE’s 2006 Openweight Grand Prix, with “Minotauro” earning a unanimous decision. Werdum is currently on a two-fight win streak in his latest stint in the UFC, with impressive victories over Roy Nelson and Mike Russow. Nogueira has lost three out of his last six fights but got back on the winning track this month at UFC 153 with a dominating submission win over Dave Herman.

– Elias Cepeda


(Photo via MMAWeekly)

The UFC hasn’t yet made an official announcement, but several outlets are reporting that former Pride and UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and contender Fabricio Werdum are set to coach against one another on the next edition of TUF Brazil and then fight one another. The first season of TUF Brazil featured Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as opposing coaches, and was a ratings success, although Belfort had to bow out of his beef-settling fight with Wandy due to a broken hand.

Brazil’s GloboEsporte reports that TUF Brazil will begin airing in March and that the two fighters have verbally agreed to take part as coaches. Nogueira and Werdum previously fought one another in the quarterfinals of PRIDE’s 2006 Openweight Grand Prix, with “Minotauro” earning a unanimous decision. Werdum is currently on a two-fight win streak in his latest stint in the UFC, with impressive victories over Roy Nelson and Mike Russow. Nogueira has lost three out of his last six fights but got back on the winning track this month at UFC 153 with a dominating submission win over Dave Herman.

– Elias Cepeda