Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (left) (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

As Antonio Rogerio Nogueira closes in on being 44 years old, the veteran is reporting he’ll likely close out his career after he faces “Shogun” Rua at UFC 250.

Nogueira will battle his fellow, Brazilian star on May 9th, in what will be the third time the two have fought. The light-heavyweights battled for the first time in 2005 under the PRIDE banner and then again at UFC 190 in 2015. Rua won both bouts by decision.

While talking to MMA Fighting recently, Nogueira (23-9) had this to say about retirement and the upcoming fight.

“This fight will probably be the last fight of my career, my farewell fight,” Nogueira said, “So being able to have this rematch with ‘Shogun’ is both challenging and motivating. I thank ‘Shogun’ for giving me this opportunity. I’m sure we’ll put on a great fight again.”

“I was looking for a fight that made sense for me,” he said, “and this fight with ‘Shogun’ makes lot of sense for me because we started it in 2005 with one of the most memorable fights in MMA history, one of the best in PRIDE history. That fight in 2005 was very, very close. I believe I had the advantage, but they gave it to him. But the fight we did in 2015, I’m fully aware that I won the first two rounds. He took me down in the third round, but that fight was mine.”

“Minotouro” will be fighting for the first time since May, 2019, when he was KO’d by Ryan Spann. Rua (26-11-1) is coming off a split draw with Paul Craig in November.