Aging MMA Stars: Big Nog To Retire Next Year
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 4:05 PM EDT
Email
Print
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (First Ever PRIDE HW Champion)
AGE: 33
Last 5 Fights: 3-2
Status: Looking to retire next year fighting in Japan and/or Brazil.
Coming Up: Bout against Randy Couture at UFC 102 (could retire if he loses here).
Fighters Only magazine has the scoop:
Rodrigo 'Minatauro' Nogueira expects to retire next year and says he would like to end his career in Japan or Brazil - but first he wants to take another run at the UFC heavyweight title currently held by Brock Lesnar.
...
"I'm willing to fight here in Brazil, I was super excited to see Rogerio fight and see the affection of the fans, what we saw in [Jungle Fight] is priceless. My dream is to end my career with a fight in Japan and then the last one in Brazil", he revealed.
This adds another fighter to an evergrowing list of MMA stars that are expected to retire within the next couple of years. Other fighters contemplating on their retirement include Jens Pulver, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, and Chuck Liddell, among many more. The future of MMA is losing its super stars who buitl the sport up from the ground up. We will be witnessing the new generation generation of Mixed Martial Artists, and it will be interesting to see who emergest as the next MMA superstars, as our aging heroes fight beyond their prime, and into the twilight of their careers.
Aging MMA Tribute after the jump.
Randy Couture (Former UFC LHW and HW Champion)
AGE: 46
Last 6 Fights: 3-3
Status: Fighting his 2nd fight of a 3 fight contract at UFC 102 against Big Nog. Lost 1st fight against Lesnar.
Coming Up: Bout against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 102 (could retire if he loses here).
Jens Pulver (First Ever UFC LW Champion)
AGE: 35
Last 7 Fights: (1-6)
Status: Looking to retire after losing to Josh Grispi at WEC 41.
Coming Up: Unknown. Another fight for the WEC is possible.
Chuck Liddell (Former UFC LHW Champion)
AGE: 40
Last 5 Fights: 1-4
Status: Dana White asking Chuck to retire after his loss to Shogun Rua at UFC 97.
Coming Up: Unknown, since Chuck want's to keep fighting, currently contemplating future.
Matt Hughes (Former UFC WW Champion)
AGE: 36
Last 5 Fights: 2-3
Status: Coming off a win against Matt Serra at UFC 98. Was going to retire if he lost.
Coming Up: His fight against Matt Serra was the last fight on his contract. Wants to fight again.
Frank Shamrock (Former UFC/Strikeforce MW Champion, KOP Champion)
AGE: 37
Last 5 Fights: 2-3
Status: Coming off two loses to Cung Le and Nick Diaz in Strikeforce.
Coming Up: Looking for more "big" fights against either Nick Diaz or Cung Le.
Kevin Randleman (Former UFC HW Champion)
AGE: 38
Last 8 Fights: 2-6
Status: Coming off a loss to Mike Whitehead in Strikeforce June show.
Coming Up: Looking to continue fighting in Strikeforce and Sengoku.
Mark Coleman (Former UFC HW Champion)
AGE: 45
Last 8 Fights: 3-5
Status: Coming off a loss to Shogun Rua at UFC 93.
Coming Up: Fighting Stephen Bonnar at UFC 103.
Kazushi Sakuraba (Japanese Legend)
AGE: 40
Last 6 Fights: 3-3
Status: Coming off loses to Melvin Manhoef and Kiyoshi Tamura.
Coming Up: Looking to fight at DREAM summer event soon.
Tito Ortiz (Former UFC HW Champion)
AGE: 34
Last 5 Fights: 2-2-1
Status: Coming off a loss to Machida and Draw with Evans. Had back surgery this year and is currently a free agent.
Coming Up: Unknown. Looking to fight for either Affliction, Strikeforce, or the UFC.
Mirko Cro Cop (PRIDE OW GP Champion)
AGE: 35
Last 5 Fights: 2-2, NC
Status: Coming off a win against Hong Man Choi and NC against Overeem. Coming off of multiple surgeries.
Coming Up: Fighting at UFC 99 against Al-Turk and posibly future fights with UFC and/or DREAM.
Caol Uno (Shooto WW Champion)
AGE: 34
Last 6 Fights: 3-3
Status: Coming off a loss to Shinya Aoki.
Coming Up: Fighting Spencer Fisher at UFC 99. Contracted for a couple more fights with the UFC.
Dan Henderson (PRIDE WW and MW Champion)
AGE: 39
Last 5 Fights: 3-2
Status: Coming off a win against Rich Franklin at UFC 93. Will be fighting his 5th fight for the UFC.
Coming Up: Will be fighting Michael Bisping at UFC 100, for a potential title shot at Anderson Silva.
Wanderlei Silva (PRIDE MW Champion)
AGE: 33
Last 6 Fights: 1-5
Status: Coming off a loss to Rampage Jackson.
Coming Up: Fighting Rich Franklin at UFC 99. This will be his 4th fight on his UFC contract.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
59 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Hahaha….
I put him there for the sense of completeness and currentness.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh,
When I started this post, it wasn’t my intention to only put legends on here, but I guess he made the list as a recent fighter who may retire. I can see where you got that impression though.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Alright, I took him out so people don’t get the wrong idea.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s talked in interviews recently about how he is happy to have started his own gym and is looking forward to coaching the next generation of fighters. He already works extensively with guys like Damian Maia. He’s also said that when it comes time, he will be content in hanging up the gloves but that he doesn’t believe he is there yet. Honestly, he sounds to me like a man very much at peace with himself.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
Good thing the vast majority of young talent in MMA is with Zuffa.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 11, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions
So is a lot of the aging MMA fighters, so, it is a good thing they are starting to get ready.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Correction
They have no choice but to get ready.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Any organization worth its salt realizes replacing stars is paramount. I look forward to the ‘Next Wave’ FanPost featuring all the sick Zuffa fighters under the age of 25.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 11, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
That would be a sweet fan post. I will look forward to writing it, but not limiting it to Zuffa.
That would suck. Then that fan post wouldn’t have fighters like King Mo, Shields, Roger Gracie, Kitaoka, Alvarez, Rogers, Galvao, Jacare, etc.
You think Zuffa has all the young talent? Think again.
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I repeat: Roger Gracie has to actually FIGHT before I’ll take him out of the category of “Next Wave David Terrell”.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
He just won Mundials and has 2 MMA wins!
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Nate Diaz is a prospect. Nick Diaz is not a prospect anymore. He is a pretty well known fighter and is now headlining shows on Showtime and CBS. =)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Isn't he only
25 years old tho? I know he has been around forever but I think he is still a young gun. By changing his fight style (and shaving his skull) he is taking less and less damage. Hopefully this will keep him from taking Wandy like damage over his career thus keeping him competitive for years to come.
He could fight for 15 more years…. if he continues to improve he will become an all time great in my humble opinion.
Yes, he is still very young guy and is definitely only going to improve, hopefully his defense since that will kill a few years of his fighting career with all the punishment he has taken so far. He is beyond a prospect at this point though, and he is definitely entering his prime.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
If they ever do CBS, the fact that Gina/Cyborg is on Showtime really sheds doubt on that. Out of the whole EliteXC thing, only Kimbo and Gina were ever really drawing viewers.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
It’s easy. The more shows they do on CBS, the more money you lose and the quicker you have to go on PPV. Why do it now if they don’t need to? This is a good sign for them.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 12, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Am I the only one that wants to see Liddell vs Couture again, with both guys hanging it up after the fight in the cage? That would be amazing.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
This is not a terrible idea (if Randy loses to Nog).
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 11, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
And Tito’s last 2 fights… a draw (win) against Rashad, who went on to hold the belt and he did about as well against current champ Machida, as anyone in recent memory. I think he very well may have some fights left, depending greatly on his recovery.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
Yeah, Tito is still young enough to keep going. The question is how effective is he going to be from this point of his career on. Tito specially after having a pretty big back surgery.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions
fun post
thanks
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Great post.
Since your over knowledge of MMA is greater than mine. Would you please include likely successors? I could do a few but I don’t have the research time.
Old Nog new Mir?
Couture Carwin
Hughes GSP
Liddel Machida?
Cro Cop King Mo?
lil Evil- …….. no one?
Sakuraba Ishii?
Randleman Bader?
I have no idea, those where all guesses. I know Machida is not a striker like Chuck etc but you get the idea.
He won't
Because most of them are in the UFC.
by Derek Suboticki on Jun 11, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Please, I will include everyone (MMA), not just outside of the UFC or just within.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 11, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Did I read Bader?
Mir isn’t new to the scene, in fact he is kinda of old if you look at years in the sport.
Carwin is nothing like Couture
GSP has already replaced Hughes (2007)
Machida does look to be a real title holder at LHW
Lil Evil, demand was never there for a replacement
Randlemen is so old his replacement came 4 years ago.
It is really to do that now since most fighters now are much more well rounded than the legends, so its going to be really tough for individual fighters to become super stars now.
I will see if I can write a fan post on this sometime soon…
=)
For example…
Werdum, Mir, Roger could be the next Big Nog, etc.
Yea
I think since Mir is a big man with Jits he would be a Nog type fighter. I am curious tho as to your thoughts on attempting to compare them. Liddel is a striker who has great take down defense, Hughes just man handled a weight class with wrestling and GnP.
Could make for a fun post. I will look forward to it.
Wanderlei recently said in an interview that he would retire if Dana White asked him too:
What do you think about Dana White telling Chuck Liddell to retire, and making similar comments about you, suggesting that before too long he may say the same thing to you?
This is hard news. A few years ago I was at the end of the line [of fighters to retire.] Now I am at the front of the line. But I respect the boss. Dana is a smart guy and I respect him. One day I will talk with him about this. He is a man who is the best at his job. If he comes to me and says to stop, I will respect this. But after my next fight, you’ll see, he will say, ‘Please don’t stop.’
`shouldnt you add Anderson Silva to that list,since he’s slated to retire within the next year or so,i mean i cant see anderson continuing on past 2010.
and maybe sean sherk too.
i think we n by we i mean the ufc,since they have the stranglehold on young non asian talent will be fine,there are a lot of young fighters who i believe have the ability to keep the company strong and running.
heavy
lesnar,velasquez,carwin,rogers,kongo,dos santos,ishii,n fedor wil still be arounfd being all fedor-y
light heavy
machida,rampage has a few good yrs still left in him,rashad n forrest r both young n not battle worn,shogun is still relatively young,jon jones,luis cane,thiago silva
middle
mousasi(if he goes back down),shields,okami,maia,bisping
welter
gsp,fitch,alves,maybe amir sodallah,koscheck
light
penn will still be here tho i wont put it past him 2 retire early out of boredom or something,florian,sanchez,edgar,maynard,tyson,cerrone,ross pearson
feather
aldo,grippi,warren,i think faber still has a few years left,torres too
Its not easy, that’s for sure..
Who knows how long Penn or Anderson will keep on going, like you said, so the big name guys like Lesnar and GSP who will be holding the fort for a while. You mentioned WEC guys, but we still have to see what happens with them. The UFC does not want more weight classes and they are still not folding the LW class into the UFC yet.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Jun 12, 2009 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I have
trouble with Anderson and his legacy right now. To me part of the warrior spirit most of the guys above have, he lacks.
What made champions like Hughes and Chuck incredible was how they destroyed all comers. When his opponents where over matched Chuck just put a serious ass beatings on them. Couture always seemed to fight up hill battle against younger, faster, stronger guys and still win.
+1
Agree with those thoughts. Anderson Silva is following the Tim Sylvia guideline of being a champion. Take no chances, land a couple of punches, be content with no action or avoid action . . . just remember judges aren’t going to take away the championship belt if nothing happened in the fight.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
