For the better part of the last decade, no two names in MMA have come to define heavyweight ground wizardry more than Brazilian’s Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira . The two first met in the Pride 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Quarterfinals in Saitama, Japan. That night, “Big Nog” earned a unanimous decision victory over the still-green Werdum. On Saturday night in Fortaleza, Brazil, the capacity crowd at Ginásio Paulo Sarasate were witness to one of the most anticipated rematches in heavyweight history, as Nogueira vs. Werdum 2 headlined the night’s UFC on Fuel TV 10 fight card. Round one opened with “Vai Cavalo” throwing pace-setting leg kicks to Nogueira’s lead leg. Almost immediately, Werdum looked to clinch with the pressuring Nogueira. Securing a takedown seconds into the opening frame, the two were immediately off to a ground battle. As Werdum had full mount, Nogueira scrambled, eventually regaining half guard. Werdum worked various ground and pound, but Nogueira secured a leg and a mad dash to the feet ensued. Back on the feet, Nogueira pressured Werdum with an assortment of popping jabs and vicious dirty boxing from the clinch against the cage. By most accounts, Nogueira went on to win round one, albeit closely
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UFC on Fuel TV 10 Results: Fabricio Werdum Avenges a Loss, Topples His Idol – MMA Weekly