While fans await the debut of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) in the octagon, the Brazilian heavyweight is training hard for his July 7 UFC bout versus Heath Herring (Pictures).
Things apparently started to go south when Nogueira signed a contract with the UFC without the knowledge of the gym's leaders. Weeks later, excerpts of an interview with Murilo Bustamante (Pictures) conducted by Japanese media surfaced in a Brazilian magazine.
The BTT captain said he was sad with Nogueira's attitude and he wasn't sure if the team would accept him back.
In an interview with Brazilian magazine Tatame, "Minotauro" declined to comment on his relationship with BTT leadership, but showed to be indignant regarding Bustamante's words. Fellow BTT chief Mario Sperry (Pictures) also refused to comment on the situation.
Currently, Minotauro is training with his friends in a private facility, as he gets ready to fight in UFC. Chatter has it that Minotauro and his twin brother Rogerio are actually leaving the team.
Far away from the ugliness between his brother and BTT, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) keeps training for the Pan-American games, where he will represent Brazil in boxing.
In May, "Minotoro" traveled with the Brazilian Olympic Boxing team on a European tour where the light heavyweight mixed martial artist competed in some tournaments.
"The tour was great, and we learned a lot in Europe," said Rogerio. "My first fight took place in the Czech Republic and I didn't fight well; I think it was because I was tired. In Spain I felt better. I won the first match and I lost the second match, but it was a very close fight. The tour was very positive."
With less than one month before the Pan-Am games, the Brazilian said he hopes to show an amazing performance to the crowd.
"Now I will keep training to be in shape for the Pan-Ams, and to fight for a medal to Brazil," he said.
Shooto Brasil 3 shakes Rio de Janeiro
The third edition of Shooto Brasil is scheduled for July 7 in Rio de Janeiro and the expectations are for electrifying bouts.
Promoted by Andre Pederneiras, the event will bring rising names such as Roni Torres, Erinaldo Pitbull and Hacran Dias into the ring. A Muay Thai super-fight will feature the No.1 heavyweight striker in Brazil, Vitor Miranda, against Guto Inocente.
Muay Thai
Vítor Miranda vs. Guto Inocente
MMA
Erinaldo Pitbull vs. Renan Barao
Jorge Rodrigues vs. Wendell Oliveira
Roni Torres vs. Koreano
Giovani Diniz vs. Claudiere Freitas
Daniel Mexicano vs. Hacran Dias
Eduardo vs. Hudson Rocha
Marlon Sandro vs. Marcos Babuino
Miguel vs. Jhonny Eduardo
Paulo Boiko vs. Augusto Mizuno
Jose Roberto vs. Julian Jaba
Marcio Ze Pequeno vs. Denílson
K-1 sends TV crew to Brazil
Toshinobu Asaga, the man behind a TV program that focuses on HERO'S in Japan, traveled to Brazil last month to produce features on Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures), Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures), Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures) and André Dida.
"HERO'S can be dominated by Brazilians under 154 pounds," Asaga stated. "The Japanese crowd is very curious to know how these athletes live with their families. Gesias, for example, has an incredible relationship with his family and friends. ‘Shaolin' is a very serious person, graduated high school, and he was a skinny guy when he was a kid. Nobody knew these thing in Japan."
"K-1 is more famous in the world than PRIDE," he continued. "In Brazil you had PRIDE as a reference, and now UFC, but in Europe and Asia K-1 rules. I think HERO'S will be bigger than K-1 and it is already conquering America."
Leal Combat Natal leads the action in Northeast Brazil
On July 5 in the city of Natal, the Leal Combat Natal is scheduled to take place. The event will feature new talents from Northeastern Brazil, including outstanding names such as Lucas Lopes, Jadson Costa (Pictures), and Ricardo Oliveira, who have fought in Shooto Netherlands and Shooto Switzerland, plus an MMA event in Portugal.
Lucas Lopes vs. Sanderson "Whey" Dantas
Patrício "Pitbull" vs. Jadson Costa (Pictures)
Patricky André "Pitbull" vs. Maicon Costa
Anistábio "Gasparzinho" vs. João Paulo
Ricardo "Pezão" Oliveira vs. Rafaello Trator
Sérgio Jr. vs. Nildo "Pai Véio"
Morcegão vs. TBA
News and Notes
The BJJ coach from American Top Team, Marcos da Matta "Parrumpinha," will make his second MMA match next month. The Brazilian fights at the UCF on July 14. On the same card, Danilo Indio will fight. The opponents for both Brazilians have not been announced. In his debut, "Parrumpinha" submitted Dan Funes in the first round. Índio has two losses in a row after winning four fights. …
Preparing for his fight against Jeff Monson (Pictures) in Art of War 3, Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) traveled to the Netherlands to train with his friend Peter Aerts (Pictures). Rizzo stayed in the Netherlands for 10 days, sharpening his Muay Thai skills with the "Dutch Lumberjack," who also has a fight ahead of him in K-1. …
José Aldo has a date for his debut in Japan. The fighter will be in Pancrase on July 27. …
Jadson Costa (Pictures) is no longer a member of Chute Boxe. The athlete, who faced Takanori Gomi (Pictures) in PRIDE, stated he wasn't been recognized in the team, and this was making him unmotivated. Costa has started to train with Renato Tavares, from American Top Team. …
After a year promoting in other cities, Predador FC brings its show back to São Paulo on August 25. The organization will change from a ring to a fenced octagon and will feature its first title match. …
The top heavyweight striker in Brazil, Vitor Miranda is working hard to cut weight. He wants to lose a few pounds to fight in K-1's under 100-kg weight classes.