UFC 140: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Tito Ortiz Full Breakdown

Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira are both legends of the sport and will each look to prove that they still have gas left in the tank.

Both fighters are coming off of losses, but both are still very competitive fighters with some significance in their division.

Tito Ortiz recently secured a submission victory over Ryan Bader after hurting him.

Little Nog has lost his last two bouts, but he was competitive in each of them and showed remarkable takedown defense in his most recent fight against Phil Davis, the most credentialed wrestler at 205.

This is a fight that could have happened years ago, when both fighters were two of the world's top-five light heavyweights.  But even with the delay, this promises to be a competitive and exciting bout worth watching.

Striking

This one is a no-brainer.

Tito's stand-up has never been great.  In fact, the argument could be made that it's never been good.

Antono Rogerio Nogueira is very technically proficient and has decent power.  He won a gold at the South American Games and a bronze at the Pan-American Games in boxing.

It's clear who will have the edge on the feet.

Advantage: Nogueira

Submissions

Tito Ortiz has never been known as a submission artist.  That said, he has been improving his game recently.  He's been submitted twice, but once was to strikes, and both times were over 10 years ago.

Nogueira is a black belt in BJJ and has six submission victories to his name, all over better competition.  He has never been submitted.

The fight probably won't end in a submission, but if it does it will be Little Nog won't be the one to tap.

Advantage: Nogueira

Wrestling

Tito Ortiz was the longest-reigning light heavyweight champion in UFC history for two reasons: his wrestling and his ground-and-pound.

But that was a long time ago.  Against younger fighters, successful takedowns have been fewer and farther between and his legendary ground-and-pound hasn't looked so legendary.

Nogueira has never been a wrestler.  However, it should be acknowledged that Nogueira's takedowns looked solid against Ryan Bader and very good against Phil Davis, the most credentialed wrestler at 205.

Still, Ortiz gets the slight edge in wrestling.  I think it will take a lot of work, but I do think he'll be able to get Nogueira down.

Advantage: Ortiz

Cardio

In his prime, Ortiz had some of the best cardio in the game.

He has suffered in the last few years due to injuries.

Nogueira has gone to the third round in his last three fights, and while he lost two of those he didn't look too bad from wear in the third round of any of them.  I give a slight edge to Nogueira.

Advantage: Nogueira

Chin

Both fighters have very solid chins.  Outside of a freak knockout at the hands of Sokoudjou, Nogueira has never been stopped with strikes.

Tito Ortiz has been stopped with strikes three times in his career, but he has never been knocked out cold. Two of those losses were to Chuck Liddell.

Both fighters have great chins, and it is hard to tell which of the two has the better one.  This category is even.

Advantage: Even

Winner: Nogueira

Nogueira takes this one.  Nogueira has had some trouble against wrestlers recently, but those were stronger wrestlers than Ortiz.  Ortiz has also worn out badly in the later rounds of his recent fights.

Ir Ortiz is going to have any success, it's going to be in the first round when he's fresh.  He might get a takedown and do enough damage to take a round.

But that will be the end of his success.  Nogueira will easily take the next two rounds, and make Ortiz wonder if retirement really is the best option for him.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by Unanimous Decision