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"Rodrigo moved to the United States and started fighting professionally. Three years later, he convinced me to do the same. In the beginning of my career, my jiu-jitsu skills were really what helped me inside the ring. It's what got me my first few wins. My [Alistair] Overeem fight proved that I can stand with anybody. I've boxed competitively all over the world. I won the gold at the 2006 South American Games. A lot of my confidence came from that gold medal. This year I plan to step up and show that I am a champion too. I want to show the UFC fans that I'm here to stay. I want to win the championship belt. Hopefully, I will be able to get another shot at Shogun. I just want to prove I could have beat him the first time. The UFC is my home, I feel very happy and I don't think I'll be leaving any time soon." -Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
UFC light-heavyweight star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira dishes on his desire for a rematch with current UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
The two produced a classic in their first battle at Pride Critical Countdown 2005 in June of that year, with Rua earning the unanimous decision win.
The fight was punctuated in the standup game by solid technical striking flurries which saw both fighters dropped during the fight - Rua in the first round and Nogueira in the third. It also featured high level jiu-jitsu attempts and escapes, and non-stop action throughout.
The difference in the fight seemed to be takedowns. Rua scored them at will causing Nogueira to spend much of his time defending from the guard position. Though he mounted a valiant effort, the momentum had certainly shifted away from Noguiera after the first round of the fight, and Rua walked away with a hard fought victory over his then Brazilian Top Team rival.
The loss was only the second of Noguiera's career at the time. He would go on to knockout current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in his next fight, before succumbing to the powerful fists of Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 in 2006. But, it was last last defeat of his career to date.
Since then, Noguiera has run off an impressive streak of 6-straight wins, including knockouts over the highly regarded Vladimir Matyushenko and Luiz Cane.
Nogueira was originally set to square off against former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 114, but after Griffin was forced to pull out of the contest due to a shoulder injury, Noguiera drew tough veteran Jason Brilz.
Though fighting the majority of his career at a much lower competitive level than his counterpart, Brilz (18-2) is a noted wrestler with a Division I pedigree, which could test Nogueira who is a highly accomplished boxer and jiu-jitsu practitioner, but lacks high level wrestling ability.
Nogueira will have to get past Brilz when they square off tonight, in order to continue to move toward another crack at his long awaited rematch with Rua.
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