According to coach Everaldo Penco, Jiu-Jitsu spoke louder to Minotauro and the legend changed plans at the last second. Photo: UFC

Rodrigo Minotauro and Fabrício Werdum clashed last Saturday, June 8 in Fortaleza. In the main event of TUF Brazil 2 Finale, the coaches of the second installment of the reality show had a rematch seven years after their first encounter. Despite the undeniable charisma of the yellow team’s leader, Big Nog’s legend status got most of the crowd rooting for him.

Very well prepared, Nogueira made Werdum feel the strength of his hands right away, but Werdum took the fight to the ground and got the tapout with an armbar.

What happened to the green team’s leader? After all, Nogueira is also a massive BJJ talent and has several impressive submissions on his record. We talked to Everaldo Penco, his Jiu-Jitsu coach, who explained what went wrong in the Werdum bout:

“Because Minotauro has experience in applying the guillotine, he spotted the chance and attemped it,” said the coach. “But that was not our plan, which I think was pretty clear in round one, when Werdum took Minotauro down and he moved so as to get up. He almost knocked Fabrício out later. That was the goal: To keep the bout standing and seek the knockout.

“But in round two Rodrigo chose to go for the neck instead of defending from the takedown. I believe he felt frustrated from not sinking it in and, of course, kudos go to Werdum for defending very well, as the excellent black belt we all know him to be.

“We believe the error came in deviating from the strategy, as if Minotauro had grabbed the neck and gotten too excited. As a friend and coach, I think his attempt to finish the fight was commendable, since he always tries to do that as well as possible, be it a knockout or a submission.”

And how about you? What did you think of Minotauro vs. Werdum? What could the MMA legend have done differently to win this fight?

TUF Brazil 2 Finale

Gymnasium Paulo Sarasate, Fortaleza, Ceará

June 8, 2013

Main card

Fabrício Werdum def. Rodrigo Minotauro via armbar at 2:41 of round two

Léo Santos def. William Patolino via katagatame at 4:43 of round two

Thiago Silva def. Rafael Feijão via KO at 4:29 of round one

Erick Silva caught Jason High in a reverse triangle at 1:11 of round one

Daniel Sarafian subbed Eddie Mendez via katagatame at 2:20 of round one

Rony Jason def. Mike Wilkinson via triangle at 1:24 of round one

Undercard

Raphael Assuncao def. Vaughan Lee by submission (armbar) at 1:51 of round two

Felipe Arantes def. Godofredo Castro by TKO at 3:32o of round one

Ildemar Alcantara def. Leandro Silva by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Rodrigo Damm def. Mizuto Hirota by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Caio Magalhaes def. Karlos Vemola by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:49 of round two

Antonio Braga Neto def. Anthony Smith by submission (kneebar) at 1:52 of round one

Léo Nogueira monta em Braga Neto no GP dos Pesados. Foto: Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.com

A menos de dois dias do início da Seletiva de Gramado para o WPJJC de Abu Dhabi, as feras estão fazendo os últimos ajustes para fazer bonito no ginásio José Francisco Perini.

O paulista Léo Nogueira, estrela da Alliance, luta na simpática cidade do Rio Grande do Sul embalado pelo título absoluto no Europeu, mas sabe qu terá desafios no peso e no absoluto (que também vai premiar com um passagem aérea e pacote para Abu Dhabi). Entre os concorrentes, Ricardo Evangelista e Rodrigo Cavaca.

Confiante, Léo falou com o GRACIEMAG.com sobre o que espera do torneio, e garante que as raspagens de meia-guarda serão vistas pelos torcedores – entre eles, o xará Minotauro Nogueira, convidado de honra.

GRACIEMAG: Como você chega para lutar em Gramado?

LÉO NOGUEIRA: Estou me sentindo preparado e rápido, estou muito ansioso para lutar. Eu me preparei bem e venho com muitas surpresas. Os fãs podem esperar um Léo Nogueira mais finalizador. A meia-guarda já é tradição da casa, agora quero mostrar um ataque pelas costas mais eficiente.

Como foi sua preparação?

Os treinos foram insanos, até passei mal essa semana de tão forte que foi, o professor Fabio Gurgel não deu mole no treinamento! Ele sempre pega muito no meu pé (risos). Estou com as raspagens mais afiadas que nunca e também um jogo de passagem de guarda muito justo! Acredito que nessa temporada dei mais atenção para a guarda.

Como está sua cabeça a dois dias da competição?

Está boa. Acredito que me comporto muito bem em campeonatos grandes! Quanto maior o público mais eu cresço, ainda mais na seletiva de Gramado que é a seletiva mais bem organizada de todas, méritos do organizador Fernando Paradeda.

Seu xará Nogueira vai aparecer por lá. Está preparando alguma posição para o Minota aplaudir?

Cara, pretendo jogar muito para frente assim como lutei no Europeu! Vou tentar mostrar movimentos novos em meu jogo, vamos ver se consigo por em prática. Vi alguns nomes na minha categoria e tem vários adversários duros, dando destaque para o (Ricardo) Evangelista e o (Rodrigo) Cavaca.

But that didn’t keep Mino from becoming the idol of another major champion, Australia’s Mick Fanning, a big-time surfer.

The current surfing world champion posted, on his twitter, this photo posing with the former UFC champion. “I forgot to post this one  on Twitter for my Brazilian fans,” wrote the demon of the waves.

Nogueira’s last appearance happened to be in Australia, at UFC 110, where he lost to Cain Velasquez.

Rodrigo Nogueira and Mick Fanning: title collectors