Coaching Big Nog for Tim Sylvia

"We worked on guard passing and so he doesn't lose any position. We trained a lot on ground control, the full-mount, attacks to the arms, if he loses the full-mount to take the back, etcetera. We are emphasizing the takedowns to submissions, without losing the position, working from the top until the submission.

"(Sylvia's) reach will be trouble. Rodrigo will have to be careful on his feet. If he gets his face hit, he must take a step back. Because Tim Sylvia, in addition to his good jab, has a strong right hand. He has to be careful about his counters. Rodrigo will have to look for the inside, shorten the distance, and in the striking, try to take him down and get on top."

The black belt analyzed Nogueira's ground game by saying he had a fluid submission style that needed altering.

"Now he is changing his game a little because of the UFC rules, because the rounds have five minutes, where he can't be that fluid and lose positions. He is adding details to his game, like holding better, like the judo fighters. He knows how to hold opponents better without giving them spaces to get out, like he did before, when he fought in 10-minute rounds. Today, in five-minute rounds, he can't lose any position.