UFC legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira made a spectacular return to the boxing ring, delivering a powerful knockout victory that felt like a trip back in time.
At the age of 48, Nogueira demonstrated that age is merely a number, stepping back into combat sports after a three-year break from active competition.
Nogueira faced Brazilian bodybuilder and influencer Fabio Tadalafellas at the Fight Music Show 6 event held this past Saturday in Sao Paulo. This marked Nogueira`s first exhibition boxing match since securing a unanimous decision win in January 2022. His professional MMA career in the UFC had concluded earlier with a disappointing loss to Mauricio Rua in July 2020.
Despite experiencing a period of mixed results in the latter part of his fighting career, Nogueira remains a formidable presence as he approaches his 50th birthday. The competitive intensity that solidified his status as a PRIDE FC legend is clearly still burning brightly, a quality he vividly showcased against Tadalafellas this weekend.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Secures Vicious Knockout Over Brazilian Influencer
Nogueira and Tadalafellas competed in the co-main event at Fight Music Show 6. Following a somewhat slow-paced first round, Nogueira, known to fans globally as `Minotauro`, significantly increased his intensity and output in the second round.
Wasting little time, Nogueira began pressuring Tadalafellas aggressively, forcing his opponent back towards the ropes and seemingly overwhelming the influencer with the veteran MMA legend`s relentless forward momentum. After first visibly staggering Tadalafellas with a well-placed right hand, Nogueira followed up with a devastating left hook to the chin. The single shot was all that was needed to send his rival crashing unconscious to the canvas, resulting in a highlight-reel knockout.
This victory marks Nogueira`s second win in exhibition boxing; he previously defeated Leonardo Guimaraes by unanimous decision at Fight Music Show 1. His last professional combat sports victory before this return occurred against Sam Alvey in September 2018.
Furthermore, the win is Nogueira`s first stoppage victory since that fight with Alvey. Towards the end of his UFC tenure, he had a pattern of alternating wins and losses, though he did secure notable victories against prominent fighters such as Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz during his time with the promotion.
Related News: Cris Cyborg Also Scores First-Round Boxing KO
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira wasn`t the only combat sports icon to achieve a significant knockout victory in the boxing ring over the weekend. Former UFC women`s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg also secured a first-round knockout win against Precious Harris-McCray in San Jose.
Cyborg is reportedly preparing for her anticipated return to the PFL promotion, with a potential matchup against Sara Collins reportedly in the works for later this summer. Her most recent mixed martial arts appearance was a victory over Larissa Pacheco in October.
Gareth Pendleton