“I'm excited to fight in Abu Dhabi and to compete against Roy Nelson because he's a dangerous opponent and demands a lot of respect and hard training to beat. He's a knockout artist and really well-rounded, so you need to be well trained to fight someone like him.”

Brazilian retired mixed martial artist

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was a former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion. Nogueira first rose to prominence in Japan, winning the 2000 RINGS King of Kings tournament in Fighting Network RINGS. He later became the first Pride Heavyweight Champion, holding that title from November 2001 to March 2003, and was a 2004 PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist. He is one of only three fighters to have held championship titles in both Pride Fighting Championships and the UFC.