FanPost

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira surgery update: 'Minotauro' shooting for Octagon return at UFC 'Rio'

Props: Tatame.com

Quoteworthy:

"I’m doing my third surgery within a month. There were three injuries that I had: my knee, my right hip and my left hip. I have these injuries for eight year, but about three years ago it started blocking me of training hard. I handled it, but I couldn’t do my last fight and really, if you can’t train 100%, you won’t do a good fight. I did these surgeries on the right time and I’m treating myself with the greatest hip doctor of the world, the guy guarantees I’ll be 100% for the second semester. If I can fight on UFC Rio it’ll be perfect, but if not I’m sure that in September I’ll be prepared to fight. I’ve fought the best of my division, I didn’t have an easy opponent. I really am one of the guys who fought great guys, but I have much more to show you, I am not done yet."

MMA legend and elder statesman Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira expects a late 2011 return to the Octagon, preferably at UFC 'Rio' in his native Brazil; however, there's still no definitive timetable for his next fight as "Minotauro" recovers from multiple surgeries. Big Nog attributes his recent in-cage shortcomings to years of wear-and-tear on his body but will his time off and physical repairs restore him to the dangerous heavyweight he once was? Or is it too little, too late for the legendary Brazilian?

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