Antonio Rogerio Nogueira also wants to coach "TUF: Brazil 2" with Shogun Rua

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

When the UFC offered a title shot to one of the fighters on last Saturday's UFC on Fox card, it meant they were throwing out the possibility of a third bout between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Lyoto Machida, at least for now. Machida was subsequently given that shot after knocking out Ryan Bader, and it has left Shogun without a clear next move.

One of the things that has been discussed in recent months is the possibility of Shogun coaching on The Ultimate Fighter. Machida has also campaigned for that spot opposite Shogun, and would love to take that opportunity if they're approached with it.

However, he's not the only fighter who would jump at that chance, as well as a rematch with Shogun. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, who lost to Shogun by decision in the 2005 Pride Middleweight (light heavyweight) Grand Prix, said in an interview with Tatame.com this week that he, too, would like to coach against Shogun on The Ultimate Fighter's second season in Brazil.

"I would love to, it’d be awesome... a dream," Nogueira commented. "It would be very good to me and it would be a rematch of 2005's fight, which is something people wanna see. If I have a chance to coach the guys at TUF and also fight him, it would be amazing."

Nogueira pointed to the experience and added fame gained by his twin brother, UFC heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, when he coached the U.S. version of The Ultimate Fighter in it's eighth season as contributing factors in wanting to do the show himself.

"Rodrigo learned a lot from TUF," Rogerio said. "He learned more about being a coach and how to make the team united and gathered. In the United States he's seen by many as the best coach the show ever had and he got even more famous after the show."

Penick's Analysis: If the UFC doesn't want to go with Machida and Shogun on the next season of TUF in Brazil, Shogun-Nogueira would be a fantastic second option. Nogueira's got the skills and coaching staff to be a beneficial addition to the show for its competitors, and a rematch with Shogun could be a really good fight. Still, the timing works out for the UFC to book both Machida and Shogun in December, have them start filming TUF: Brazil in January, and fight for a third time next June. If they don't go that route, Shogun-Nogueira definitely works.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_14059.shtml

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