IT WAS almost too painful to watch Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira get knocked out by young upstart Cain Velasquez in the very first round at UFC 110.
As I watched Nogueira’s plaintive expression while his corner men huddled around him after the fight, I felt the aching feeling to be somewhat oddly familiar.
And as I searched the gamut of boxing memories etched inside my terribly hung over head last Sunday, I realized I didn’t have to search too far back: Roy Jones vs. Danny Green just last December wherein the aging superstar got starched also in one round by a Green right hand.
When legends go out like that, it’s tough.
POWER PUNCH. The unsinkable Noguiera—conclusively regarded as a living legend in MMA—got tagged by a monstrous right from Velasquez as both of them were simultaneously throwing punches.
The right hook from the younger, faster Velasquez landed smack on Nogueira’s jaw and down he went crashing to the canvas. A follow-up beat down left referee Herb Dean with no choice but to call a halt to the brutality.
Afterwards while Noguiera was being attended to, Velasquez stood on the Octagon proudly licking the blood that trickled down from his forehead. Ouch!
DOUBTS. It’s a tale as old as the sport itself: The young lion devouring the old warrior, signaling the end of an illustrious career.
Or is it? Does Noguiera have what it takes to stick around and regroup for one more stab at glory? I have my doubts.
Although in MMA, one-punch knockouts are quite common, and losses of that variety are not necessarily career-enders, but “Minotauro” is clearly not anymore the force that he once was.
As accomplished as “Big Nog” is, the signs of his ominous deterioration were already there. Even when he invaded the UFC in 2007, he hardly looked impressive against Heath Herring.
He defeated the huge but severely limited Tim Sylvia to win the interim UFC heavyweight championship, but in his next fight, he was stopped for the first time in his career by Frank Mir in the second round. Note that Mir isn’t exactly known for his stand-up game.
At age 33, father time has eroded some of his strength and speed--two crucial attributes in a fight sport.
He also had to deal with knee surgery in early 2009 and a staph infection prior to the Mir fight.
I’m not saying he’s done. On the contrary I’m pining for a huge comeback. But part of me says we probably won’t be seeing the Noguiera of old.
I just don’t want to see him going Roy Jones’ way.
EMAIL. Last Rounder John Pope took time out to share his reactions to my columns on Pinoy Power 3. Here’s John:
“I thought Bernabe Concepcion lost the last round but won his fight by at least four-six rounds. I was surprised that one judge had him winning by only two rounds.
“Gerry Peñalosa won a relatively close fight by two rounds. He was the aggressor throughout the fight and it was effective aggression. He landed the cleaner, harder punches. Morel looked flashy with his speedy combinations but most of those were blocked. It was a bad decision to give it to Morel, particularly the one judge who had Morel winning by four rounds.
“Ciso Morales, on the other hand, was in way over his head against Montiel. He looked scared to death (rightfully so) before the fight and went down from a body punch that didn’t look all that hard. Predictably, Donaire looked great against an inferior opponent who I thought he carried for a couple of rounds.”
QUOTED. “Pacquiao’s going to knock Floyd out… and Floyd knows it… The thing is this: Do you know what a rabbit does when it gets backed into a corner? It faints. And that’s what Floyd’s doing.”—Ex-heavyweight champ James Toney on fightfan.com
LAST ROUNDS. It’s on Atty. Oscar Tan Jr. who is celebrating his birthday this week and on Justin Gorne of SHS-Jesuits. Cheers!