Back in 2015, the UFC lost one of its mixed martial arts veterans. Former UFC Heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira announced his retirement just two years ago. Now, the fighter has admitted that he has no plans to ever return to the sport.
In an interview on The MMA Hour, as transcribed by MMA Fighting, Nogueira explained that his series of injuries during his career have kept him from returning to the sport.
“No, no. I had a hip injury, my last three fights I wasn’t 100 percent anymore. So (after) my last fight I decided. I talked to Dana (White, UFC president) about working, and he said ‘man, come work for us in the Brazilian office.’ I love to be working for them. We got like an online show in the internet once a week, and we plan on making more shows.” He said.
Though, the former fighter did admit that he misses the octagon.
“Of course I miss fighting. That was my life. Wake up in camps. not only the fight, but the camps. To do something. (But) it doesn’t matter how much you train, if you can’t get there and can’t have a good performance because your body doesn’t help, so that’s why I stopped. My body wasn’t helping anymore, my hips were not the same speed. The foot (speed), you know? Getting inside and outside. I was losing that.”
Speaking about another MMA veteran, Vitor Belfort, Nogueira explained “Vitor is a great fighter and he fights someone likes 25 years old is gonna be hard for him, but, of course, if they make fights with fighters in their 40s, why not? Fighters on the same level. But not changing rules, you know what I mean? But I’m not fighting anymore, I’m not thinking about it. But for him, it makes sense.”
