UFC Quick Quote: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is 'back' after knockout win over Brendan Schaub

"I'm back, you know? When I feel like some guys ask me in the interviews before the fight I was the underdog, I told you I like to be the underdog. When people don't believe in me, my energy comes inside. So I'm back. ... The fight was really tough. He threw me some good hands. At moments in the fight, I felt his uppercuts. But I believe in myself, I know I could change and I'm back. I'm feeling good and now I feel I can put my skills on. I've gotta improve a little bit more of my wrestling (but) I'm back."

-- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira tells MMA Fighting that he is BACK after his stunning first-round knockout victory over Brendan Schaub last night (Aug. 27, 2011) at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After more than a decade in the fight game, with 40 professional fights under his belt, "Minotauro" finally got to compete in his home country in front of thousands of adoring fans cheering him on. Those same fans gave him the energy to somehow absorb a ton of punishment from "The Hybrid" before making a trademark comeback culminating in a "Knockout of the Night" winning finish. After losing two of his past three fights and dealing with surgeries and time off to heal, "Big Nog" says he's back and ready to put his skills on display in the UFC heavyweight division. Anyone want to argue that after the performance he turned in tonight?