News
22/01/09 - Nogueira will not be facing Kongo
Antonio ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira will not be facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 97 in Montreal, Fighters Only has learned.
Sources close to the Brazilian say he is still deciding when he will next fight, but it will not be against the French heavyweight.
Nogueira is coming off a surprise stoppage loss to Frank Mir - the first of his career - at UFC 92 last month.
His performance caused concern among fans and UFC officials alike, characterised as it was by an absence of offense and almost entirely ineffective defence.
Nogueira was battling a staph infection and nagging injuries around the time of the bout, which may offer some explanation for the dire showing.
But some pundits have observed that Nogueira seemed to have defensive troubles whilst a coach on The Ultimate Fighter 8, being caught with all manner of punches while sparring with members of his team.
The Brazilian has been dogged by rumours that his eyesight is failing in one or both eyes and it has also been suggested that he has taken too much damage in his fights to date.
John Joe O’Regan
John.fightersonly@gmail.com
Attachments:
- There are no attachments for this article
