Fabricio Werdum earned a major victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira tonight at ‘UFC On Fuel TV 10’ forcing the Brazilian legend to verbally tap out due to a second round armbar.
Low leg kick from Werdum to start the main event. Werdum rushes into a clinch and they hit the mat slightly awkwardly with Werdum on top.
Big Nog’s got him in his half guard and is able to keep him there as Werdum looked to improve position. Nogueira manages to grab a hold of a leg and uses it to get back upright, but is met with a knee that wobbles him on the way up.
Nogueira presses forward with punches and then pushes Werdum up against the cage. They break free and Werdum lands another leg kick.
Nogueira looking to piece together a few punches, but most of them miss. Werdum tries for the clinch against the cage, but Nogueira reverses and presses him up against it instead. Werdum goes for the thai clinch though and spins him back around before they break apart.
Big Nog wades in and lands a solid elbow as he reaches for the clinch. He’s looking for a takedown from the clinch but can’t get it and a fast paced first round comes to a close.
It’s hot in humid in Brazil and both men are sporting quite a sweat as they come out for the second round. Werdum lands a couple of leg kicks and a big right hand.
Werdum then tries to duck out of the way of some punches for Big Nog and just about does so, but his defense could be better.
Big Nog clinching again and attempts a guillotine, dropping to the mat in the process, but Werdum slips out and gets on top in side control.
Nogueira moves him back to half guard, but then Werdum’s back to side control and takes his back as Big Nog tries to get upright.
Werdum attempting a belly-down armbar and he’s got it – Nogueira verbally submits and the fights over with 2.41mins of the second round gone!
That’s only the second time Nogueira’s been tapped in his long career and is another big feather in Werdum’s cap as he continues to build a strong case for title contention in the heavyweight division.
As for ‘Big Nog’, retirement will surely now be something he needs to seriously consider at the age of 37.
