Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Talks Frank Mir and Randy Couture
Promoted from the Fan Posts by Kid Nate
The former PRIDE and UFC champ talks about his injuries before facing Frank Mir and his UFC 102 battle with Randy Couture:
![]()
I only drop out of a fight when it’s totally impossible to fight, when I cannot even walk. Anyone who trains with me knows how I am. I never decline a fight invitation. In this fight against Mir, I had serious staphylococcus infection on my elbow 10 days before the fight and stayed almost five days in the hospital taking antibiotics. On the day I finally recovered and returned to training, three days before the flight, I had a serious knee injury (meniscus). Definitely I was not in good condition, but I don’t want to take anything from Mir. He was in great shape and very well prepared and did the right tactics, didn’t go to the ground, worked his right hand over mine and surprised me. But I’m sure I have the ability to fight better than I did, and against Couture I will make a much better presentation.
I had knee surgery, but right after the surgery, I started doing some workouts. In the middle of March, I returned to the training routine. I want to reach August at 110 percent.
...
For sure. Facing a top guy like Randy is just like facing Fedor, Cro Cop. Definitely he is a legend of our sport, and we will make a great fight. I will fight in the same weight that I fought in Pride. I will lose about 10 pounds. Lighter, I can move faster, have more gas and can work my game better, have quicker jiu-jitsu.
HT: Sherdog
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
2 recs |
24 comments
Comments
i wouldve made this a fanshot but i felt that the quote was too long..
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 25, 2009 6:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really hope Big Nog and Randy are both at their best for this one
Randy is the one I’m really expecting to fall off the table. At his age the drop off will be sudden and dramatic.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Kid Nate on Jun 25, 2009 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he showed a couple of signs of that in the Brock fight.
Or maybe that’s just me. Haha
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 25, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, the wobbly legs from some of those hard shots were tough to watch. i felt like someone was beating up my dad. plus, isn’t randy still filming the expendables with stallone? hopefully he shows up in shape (and not way light like he did against lesnar).
by woooburn on Jun 25, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Finally some clarification on how bad the staph infection was….
I mean 5 days in the hospital within days of the fight…I woulda canceled the fight.
by Headkick on Jun 25, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mir is slightly more doomed now.
Keep firing Assholes!
Out out, you demons of stupidity!
by Ubernoober on Jun 25, 2009 11:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He looks retarded in that pic. Sorry – mentally challenged
by Disco1Stu on Jun 25, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cosign
He tried to roar like a beast as himself, but ends up looking like a retarded kid screaming for MORE CANDYYY
Anyways with all the respect, I hope Nogueira takes this one. Handy Couture is such a mastermind when it comes to fighting tactics, it wont be easy to submit him.
Also Big Nog acclaimed his boxing is better than “Randy’s.”
After that i hope to see him at least 2 more times in the Octogon. Against Brock & Mir!
*i agree with the previous comment, i do too felt so horrible seeing Nog falls. He’s like my kid. This brings memory of Big Nog finally submitting Tim after grueling taking face to the punch for previous 2 rounds. I HOPPED ON MY SOFA AS IF I won the Champion belt.
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
by chopstickthugz on Jun 25, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy vs. Nog will be such a great fight. Iam really looking foward to it. I am especially interested to how it will play out. Will Randy try and take Nog down? Will Nog try and out box Randy?
by Bandaka on Jun 25, 2009 1:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I want nothing more
Then for Nog to absolutely embarrass everyone that said he was done after the Mir fight.
It sucks, though, because if Nog wins, Brock’s win over Randy looks less impressive, but if Randy wins, Mir’s win over Nog is diminished.
Such is life when the best fight the best on a routine basis, I guess.
by subo on Jun 25, 2009 6:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I would love for Randy and Nog to put on a war for the ages. That way, Nog could embarass those declaring his end without diminishing either loss. Look at how guys on the losing end of total badass wars always come out looking better than guys who win lopsided fights.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Jun 25, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
<3 Nog!!!
As much as TUF is getting on my nerves I like Nog even more after TUF. He’s such a personable guy. I hope he beats Randy.
by Dexerion on Jun 25, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Pathetic seeing Nog of all people making excuses, I always thought of him as the ultimate pro who never would cry and bitch after losing a fight but I was wrong. While i’m no Couture fan i’ll be rooting for him to smash Nog into a million pieces that way we can hear more excuses as to why that happened.
by Raker on Jun 25, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The guy was on an antibiotics cycle in a hospital 5 days before a fight. This is a legitimate reason for not showing up at 100%.
Keep firing Assholes!
Out out, you demons of stupidity!
by Ubernoober on Jun 25, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder how many people would be quick to side with Mir if he was the one who got destroyed and then came out talking about how he had staph before the fight. You know damn well that everyone on here would be killing him calling him all sorts of names, the double standard for Nog on here is sickening.
by Raker on Jun 26, 2009 2:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ANYONE who takes a fight with him leaving the hospital 5 days before the fight and tearing his miniscus a few days later deserves mad respect..
be it, mir, brock, hell even war machine or junie browning.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 26, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fine just don’t bitch about it when you get beat, simply put if you step in the cage all injuries/excuses go out the window that goes for everybody.
by Raker on Jun 26, 2009 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he isn't bitching.. the guy asked a question and he replied.. Have you seen him make excuses right after the fight?
NO… he never gave one..
in fact he even gave props to mir:
I don’t want to take anything from Mir. He was in great shape and very well prepared and did the right tactics, didn’t go to the ground, worked his right hand over mine and surprised me.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 26, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know ...
I’m not saying I know Nog is exaggerating or lying because I don’t , but I do know Nog said the same stuff about his Fedor and Barnett losses . I don’t have the patience to try and dig that up but he said about the Fedor fight that the day of the fight he almost passed out and had to rest on the sidewalk when he was on his way to the arena . Barnett was also pissed as hell as Nog had similar things to say about that loss. Regarding the Mir loss – maybe he did have that infection who knows , but did he also have an infection in the Herring fight ? Because he sure looked mediocre in that fight too!
I don’t know if it’s a motivation issue , inability to adjust to the UFC , accumluated career damage or what but much like Cro Cop his performances in the UFC were lackluster at best. Like one of his old trainers said back in the Pride days he beat Herring easily , not so in the UFC…
by JoelMan on Jun 30, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
comments like this are the reasons why i want a derec button that blurs a comment after a few de-recs. haha.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 26, 2009 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the new Mir, but i think that the Nog from back in the pride days would have ripped him up.
by J_Maddux on Jun 26, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m gonna have such a tough time picking who I want to win in this fight. Not only because of the style match up, but they both seem like such nice guys.
by attgnp on Jun 28, 2009 8:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

by




















