Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: A Legendary Heart

But the heart of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was still beating. 

The same heart that kept him alive after his horrific childhood accident nearly took his life. The same heart that kept him going in brutal PRIDE fights with Bob Sapp, Mirko Cro Cop, and Fedor Emelianenko. The very same heart that made him a legendary figure to mixed martial arts fans around the world.

At 1:28 of the third round, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira submitted Tim Sylvia with a guillotine choke to become the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. The comeback was once again complete, the foe vanquished. 

"It's what Nogueira does. He takes a beating and then pulls it out at the end," said a dejected Sylvia after the fight.

Nogueira pleaded with Couture to come back and fight him, perhaps sensing that his interim championship was merely a prop, a stopgap measure. But Couture wasn't interested in a fight with Nogueira, as if the man who took Fedor Emelianenko to the limit and defeated countless giants of the sport wasn't worth his time.

In August of 2008, Randy Couture returned to the UFC. He'll defend his belt against Brock Lesnar in November, a fight designed more to catch eyeballs and make money than to give an accomplished fighter his shot at the belt.

Nogueira will face former heavyweight champ Frank Mir in the traditional battle of Ultimate Fighter coaches. Both are jiu-jitsu experts.

By December, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will be well known to UFC fans. They'll know his story. They'll understand that his life should have ended 22 years ago, that he fought for his life and beat the odds. They'll understand that he's continued to beat the odds since that time, and they'll understand why he's considered one of the best heavyweight fighters of all time.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is going to beat Frank Mir, most likely with a come-from-behind submission win just when it seems like all hope is lost.

And if he gets past Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture will find out why he never should've looked past Nogueira. Because even though Fedor Emelianenko stands in the distant fog of Randy Couture's future, Fedor's greatest opponent stands directly in front of him, his iron will refusing to bend and his legendary heart beating loudly.

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