In 2002, Bob Sapp was one of the scariest human beings on the planet – and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was just beginning to establish his reputation as one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of MMA. At PRIDE Shockwave 2002, the two powerhouses collided at Tokyo National Stadium, and the ensuing clash remains one of the most memorable in the history of the legendary promotion. From the opening moments – when Nogueira shot forward, only to be power-bombed to the canvas – to the dramatic ending, with “Big Nog” locking in a fight-ending armbar that brought a capacity crowd to a fever pitch, the contest showed the essence of PRIDE. While Sapp’s combat sports career would take a rather downward turn in the years that followed, his size and power were something to behold as he first burst on to the scene
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