Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - "Minotauro"

Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira was born June 2, 1976 in Vitoria da Conquista, Brazil along with his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who fights in PRIDE's middleweight decision. ueira began training in Judo at the young age of five. Unfortunately, when he was ten he was struck by a truck and was in a coma for four days. It was during this time that he lost part of his liver as well as a rib. The accident also accounts for the large scar on his lower back. It is this scar that makes it much easier to distinguish Rodrigo from his twin, Rogerio.

When Nogueira was fourteen he was invited to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under renowned Ricardo de la Riva Goded. Prior to that time he had become training boxing to some degree; however, the opportunity to train under Goded gave him the ability to further his talents. He was awarded the black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1999.

In his PRIDE career, Nogueira has been distinguished by his technical mastery of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, no doubt due to his serious training as a youth, as well as his submission victories. He also has a strong reputation as a proficient striker. His rather notable victories include wins over such names as Mark Coleman, Dan Henderson, Heath Herring and a long line of former UFC heavyweight champions including Josh Barnett, Ricco Rodriguez, Bob Sapp and Mirko "Cro Crop" Filipovic. Nogueira trains each year with the Cuban National Boxing team.

Nogueira debuted in July 2001 at PRIDE 15 and went on to quickly submit both Gary Goodridge as well as former UFC and PRIDE Grand Prix champion Mark Coleman using an armbar and triangle choke. After defeating Heath Herring he was awarded the PRIDE heavyweight championship title.

At PRIDE Shockwave, Nogueira came up against the former American football star Bob Sapp. Although Sapp managed to spike Nogueira onto the canvas and dominate the fight, it was Nogueira who came out as the fan favorite, receiving a reputation has having an ability to keep on taking punishment and still come back to win.

In his next fight he was once again seriously outweighed, pitted against the Dutch karate fighter Semmy Schilt. Still, he managed to score another victory, using the triangle choke.

At PRIDE 25 he came up against Fedor Emelianenko and suffered a loss when Emelianenko dominated the fight. He bounced back; however, and went on to win a decision against the former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez, despite Rodriguez delivering several flying knees and even managing to take Nogueira down.

When Emelianenko was unable to fight in November 2003 due to injuries, Nogueira was selected by PRIDE to act as the interim champion. He was matched up against Mirko Filipovic and suffered in the first round due to Filipovic's superb striking. In the second round Nogueira secured a come back and even managed a takedown over Filipovic.

Months later, in April 2004, he came up against the professional wrestler and former judoka, Hirotaka Yokoi, who at the time was unbeaten. He went on to choke Yokoi with a anaconda style chokehold. In the semi finals of the same PRIDE Total Elimination he also defeated Sergei Kharitonov, moving on to be pitted against Emelianenko in the final round. This round would prove to be much different than the first time the two faced off; however, the match still ended in a no contest after Emelianenko suffered an accidental headbut and was unable to continue.

Since that monumental fight, he has faced off with and defeated Polish Olympic Judoka Pawel Nastula as well as professional fighter and wrestler Kiyoshi Tamura.

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Aleksander Emelianenko

Anderson Silva

Andrei Arlovski - "The Pitbull"

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - "Minotauro"

B.J. Penn

Brad Blackburn - Bad

Brandon Vera

Bryan Vetell

Chris Lytle - Lights Out

Chuck Liddell

Dan Christison - The Sandman

Dan Henderson

David Tank Abbott

Denis Kang

Diego Sanchez

Don Frye - The Predator

Ed Herman - Short Fuse

Eric Esch - Butterbean

Ernesto Hoost - Mr. Perfect

Fedor Emelianenko

Forrest Griffin

Frank Shamrock

Gabriel Gonzaga - "Napao"

George St. Pierre - "Rush"

Gilbert Yvel - The Hurricane

Hayato Sakurai

Heath Herring - The Texas Crazy Horse

Hermes Franca

Ian Freeman - The Machine

Igor Vovchanchyn - Ice Cold

Jason MacDonald - The Athlete

Jason Von Flue - Live Wire

Jeff Joslin - The Inferno

Jeremy Horn - Gumby

Joachim Hansen - Hell Boy

Joey Villasenor

Jon Fitch

Josh Barnett - "The Babyface Assassin"

Josh Burkman - "The People's Warrior"

Josh Koscheck

Karo Parisyan

Keith Jardine - The Dean of Mean

Kendall Grove

Kenny Florian - KenFlo

Lyoto Machida

Mac Danzig

Marcus Aurelio - Maximus

Mark Coleman - The Hammer

Mark Hunt

Mark Weir - The Wizard

Marvin Eastman - The Beastman

Matt Hamill - The Hammer

Matt Hughes

Matt Lindland

Matt Serra

Mauricio Rua - "Shogun"

Michael Bisping

Mike Swick - "Quick"

Mirko Filipovic - "Cro Cop"

Nam Phan

Nick Diaz - "Diablo"

Patrick Cote - The Predator

Paul Buentello - The Headhunter

Peter Aerts - The Dutch Lumberjack

Phil Baroni - The New York Bad Ass

Quinton Jackson - "Rampage"

Randy Couture - "The Natural"

Rashad Evans - "Sugar"

Renzo Gracie

Ricardo Arona

Rich Franklin

Richard Clementi - No Love

Roman Zentsov - The Russian Hammer

Sam Hoger - The Alaskan Assassin

Sean Sherk - "The Muscle Shark"

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Shonie Carter - Mr. International

Spencer Fisher - The King

Takanori Gomi

Tim Sylvia - "The Maine-iac"

Travis Lutter - The Serial Killer

Urijah Faber - California Kid

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