Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-7-1) and Fabricio Werdum (16-5-1) will square off for a second time after coaching the next season of the Ultimate Fighter Brazil. They last met in Pride in 2006, where Big Nog won a decision over Werdum. Back then Werdum didn’t have very good stand up and Big Nog tore him up on the feet during the first round, knocking him down multiple times.
This time around I think things will look very different. Both fighters are close in age, but Big Nog has a lot of mileage on him. He has been finished several times, had multiple serious illnesses/injuries and just looks slower and older. Werdum on the other hand looks better now than he ever has. His stand up has improved dramatically over the years and his ground game has always been amazing. I think Werdum can put Nog away this time, at worst he wins a decision and avenges his loss. Nog’s only real chance is if he just lands some great punch and puts Werdum away.
