With a win on Saturday at UFC 81 against Tim Sylvia, Minotauro Nogueira became the first person to ever hold the heavyweight title in both Pride FC and the UFC.
Surely such a monumental feat should earn him legendary status among fight fans, whether they are for Pride or UFC. But the question is where should Nogueira be placed in the all-time list of heavyweight fighters?
A major factor in trying to decide where to place him all-time has to be his amazing record. Nogueira overall record stands tall at 31-4-1 with two of the losses coming against the No. 1 ranked fighter in the world Feder Emelianenko and another by a split decision loss to Josh Barnett.
When comparing Nogueira, to whom many consider the greatest fighter of all time, there is no comparison. Randy Couture’s 16-8-0 record does not stand up with Nogueira’s considering Couture has half the amount of victories and double the amount of losses. Defeats against people like Mikhail Illoukhine, Valentijm Overeem and even Ricco Rodriguez are scars on Couture’s record which cannot be removed.
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Two other top heavyweights whose records can’t compare AND who Nogueira have defeated are Mark Coleman and Josh Barnett. At 15-8-0 and 20-5-0 respectively, neither record can compare with Nogueira’s.
The only other two heavyweights with records that are comparable are Bas Rutten and Fedor Emelianenko. With Rutten only fighting one fight since 1999, he is hardly comparable. Emelianenko has been the thorn in Nogueira’s side throughout his pride career.
Emelianenko twice has defeated Nogueira by unanimous decision and he has yet to return the favor to Fedor.
Although he has not been able to defeat Fedor, Nogueira’s impressive record speaks for itself. No other fighter has defeated and dominated as many top ranked fighters as Nogueira. His impressive list includes Dan Henderson, Mirko Cro-cop, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, Heath Herring (three times), and Tim Sylvia, among numerous others.
With these key factors, the only possible fighter who could be ranked ahead of Nogueira is, of course, Emelianenko. I believe an argument can even be made for Nogueira to not only be the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the world, but of all time. Emelianenko continuously is fighting second rate fighters and this is tarnishing his legacy.
If Fedor does not start to fight more serious competition, and Nogueira can have a quality title run, there is no doubt in my mind that Antonio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira can be and will be remembered as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time.
You may disagree with my views, but there is no denying his more than impressive record and the fact that he has never ever been stopped.
Feel free to criticize, compliment or complain! And thanks for reading, I appreciate it.
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7 months ago
Great article. A lot of valid points. But I still think Filipino fighter Brandon Vera will be the future heavyweight star in Mixed Martial Arts. Brandon could end up as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
7 months ago
wow I thought everyone was sleeping on Brandon Vera! Guess not John at least. I looked at this article preparing to rip its logic and facts to shreds with mere strokes of the keyboard but after reading it I almost agree. good article
from 7 months ago
both you guys need to get some truthful research. Brandon "the fag" Vera is NOT a heavyweight. "the future, greatest mma fighters of all time".......you have smoked yourself retarded.
7 months ago
You make a lot of good points, and i agree with you to a certain extent. Nog is one of the most talented heavyweights to ever grace the ring. He has showed time and time again that he has one of the best chins and heart to match. The fight for me that really showed his courage was with mirko, when he was being systematically destroyed and persevered long enough to catch mirko. If thats not heart i don't know what is. Having said that, Nog would be the best of all time if fedor never existed. Fedor, will fight better competition in the future I hope, but regardless if he does or not he has proven himself at the highest of
competition....1.fedor...2.Nog..then everyone else... Very Good article, I look forward to reading more...
7 months ago
Until he avenges his losses against Fedor, he'll always be number two. Since it's nearly impossible for that to happen now, there's your answer, he's not the best ever. Fedor is as of right now.
7 months ago
Dan Henderson? He's barely LHW. Werdun? It helps to know the fighter's name. I agree Fedor needs to step up the competition, and I hope it happens. However, no HW can compare to him. It's not just the fact that he's never lost, but also how he wins. He dominates fights. He finishes fights. I've watch probably 90% of his fights, and he's absolutely never gotten beaten up even close to how Nog has been beaten up (many times). I dare say anyone who thinks Fedor is not the best HW of our time is pretty clueless or just a rabble rouser. :)
7 months ago
It's unfortunate for Nogueira, but if there had never been a Fedor Emelianenko he would be regarded as the best HW fighter of all time. The problem is Fedor just didn't squeak out victories over Nog but completely annihilated him in two fights; this is more than a blemish on Nogueira's record. Had his fights with Fedor been much closer (or even if one of them was a split decision) it would be easier to consider him the best and ultimately rank him above Fedor. Nog does have a very impressive record with a "who's who" list of opponents, and has yet to be finished in a fight; however it is his misfortune to be competing in the same era as Fedor. Fedor is the Tiger Woods to Nog's Phil Mickelson. Had Tiger never existed Phil would probably be the current gold standard in golf, and perhaps contesting Jack Nicklaus' grand slam record. Sadly Nogueira finds himself in the same predicament with Fedor Emelianenko. Unless Fedor's career takes a drastic nose dive resulting in multiple losses, Minotauro Nogueira will always be the second greatest MMA heavyweight fighter.
7 months ago
ok, first off statistical records in fighting are nothing more than numbers. each fight is completely different from the next. so all you people touting stats left and right need to check out what stats actually represent. having said that, why is an article written directly after Nog gets the two belts that no heavyweight will ever get, bringing up reasons why he is number two. FUCK Fedor, until he steps up to some elite level competition, he aint got shit! Nogueira is amazing and not scared or too broke to get into the UFC, Fedor is not. His takedown of Tim was poetry, his sweep was text book, and his finish showed his heart, which grew three sizes that day. you make good points and i agree with you. but if you are going to write about Nogueira winning and immediately tear him down by comparing him to Fedor, then what the hell are you doing? correct me if im wrong, but does Fedor have a UFC belt, cause Nogueira does....
7 months ago
How can I try and make a fair assessment of whether or not he is the best heavyweight without bringing up all the facts? Your suggesting I not mention the fact that he lost to Fedor twice? If I did that then people would complain that I left out facts and am being biased. I tried to present a fair argument to make people think and to create discussion and if you don't agree thats fine, thats why I wrote the article facts. Hes beat a lot of great fighters but Fedor is the thorn in his side and thats just the truth. Until Fedor can prove to the world that he still has what he use to by beating top quality opponents, its hard to tell what he can do. I think Fedor is only one loss away from people changing their minds about him.
7 months ago
by Anonymous from about 2 hours ago
Until he avenges his losses against Fedor, he'll always be number two. Since it's nearly impossible for that to happen now, there's your answer, he's not the best ever. Fedor is as of right now.
Something you learn from wrestling and fighting is just because they have the best stats doesn't mean they are the best. Shawn has a number of valid oppinions which In my oppinion are correct since no one has been able to make a proper rebuttal.
from 7 months ago
your spelling needs rebuttals? anyways, all im saying is that Fedor does NOT have a UFC belt, and stats dont mean anything when it comes to fighting.
7 months ago
George, im is not a word it is a contraction for I (capitalised) am and is written I'm. Don't is a contraction too (dont sic). I'm glad I wasn't your English teacher.
7 months ago
Fedor has NEVER finished an opponent while they were ranked in the top 10. The closest he came was the doctors stoppage to Heath herring in 2002 between rounds ... but any unbias person remembers how that fight ended. With Fedor turtled in North-south eating knees tothe top of the head.
Would Fedor beat Nog today? fuck yes... stylistically hes a nightmare for him.
but Nog has beaten contenders Fedor should have faced like Sylvia, Kharitonov, Werdum, shit even Nastula would give Fedor problems IMO.
Wanderlei Silva desttyoed Rampage twice in PRIDE ... Rampage has had 1 title defense in is ranked#1 @ 205 now. why cant the same be said for Nog?
7 months ago
Herring received one of the worst beatings ever at the hands of Fedor. It is right up there with the beating Sakuraba took from Arona, and Schilt from Kharitononv. When Herring ended up on top of Fedor at the end of the round, Fedor defended himself from any punches or knees to the head. Watch the fight again. Fedor submitted Ogawa (Judo Olympic medalist) via armbar, and elite strikers in Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, and Semmy Schilt. Fedor has victories over elite wrestlers, judokas, bjj fighters, and K-1 level strikers. What other category is there?
from 7 months ago
the UFC bitch!
7 months ago
i think fedor is still the best until he loses to whatever no name guy that will beat him eventually if he keeps fighting for everyone else but the UFC. I compare him to floyd mayweather in the sense that hes the most talented fighter out there, but he refuses to fight the best out there and instead is taking big money to fight guys he should beat easily.
7 months ago
In some ways I agree, records do speak volumes, but a large part of that record comes from fighting in Brazil. Fedor doesn't want to play ball with power monger Dana White, he may fight again but under more fighter friendly conditions, possibly after Tito Ortiz gets the fighter union up and running. The wake of devistation the Fedor has left behind him is much more impresive then Nogueira. I still don't beleive that Randy Couture deserves the same accalaide as Fedor or Nogueira, he is beatable and beat lackluster heavy weights like Tim Sylvia, and Gonzaga. The Number 1 Heavy Weight has to be Fedor Emelianenko
6 months ago
This is an interesting debate because Nogueira has essentially accumulated a better resume of victories than Fedor, however, I believe you still have to rank Fedor at #1 because of his Dec 2004 unanimous decision over Nogueira. How about Nogueira vs Couture, winner takes on Fedor after he gets out of his M-1 contract and signs with UFC ... wishful thinking.
6 months ago
I think the article is right on the money. I've been saying it all along. You can't give the guy the red carpet to the top if he's not fighting the best. He chose money and that's what should ultimately cost him a chance at being the best.
Dude it's WERDUM. I don't know why you put Werdun. Fabricio Werdum! Watch out for him he's easily a top 5 HW in UFC.
6 months ago
Wanderlei Silva desttyoed Rampage twice in PRIDE ... Rampage has had 1 title defense in is ranked#1 @ 205 now. why cant the same be said for Nog?-------------BECAUSE OF A MAN NAMED FEDOR, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD....
5 months ago
Well, Nogueira has finished guys that neither Fedor nor Couture could, anyone guess who they are?
4 months ago
There is little shame in being number 2. And now he will get a lot more exposure as the heavyweight champ in the UFC, especially with the division weakening after several top guys left. The casual UFC fan knows of Minotauro after his victory of Sylvia; a large percentage of UFC fans do no know who Fedor is.
But that will change when Fedor brings Sylvia's arm back home to Russia.
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