Werdum and Big Nog to Head TUF Brazil 2

STUDIO MMA, VENICE, CA — In a somewhat surprising development, heavyweights Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum and Antonio Rodrigo “Big Nog” Nogueira have signed on to coach opposite each other for the second season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.  This was first reported by www.GloboSporte.com.   The show is set to air in March of 2013 and will feature welterweight contestants.  Many observers had expected Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to take on those roles and compete in a third and final light heavyweight rubber match.

Both Werdum and Big Nog are coming off of impressive wins.  Werdum crushed Mike Russow with an uppercut at UFC 147  in Brazil, while Nogueira more recently submitted Dave “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Doesn’t Work” Herman at UFC 153, also in Brazil.  Big Nog seems to be fully recovered from a gruesome injury he incurred when Frank Mir torqued a kimura at UFC 140, snapping the Brazilian’s humerus.

Werdum and Nogueira have met previously, fighting in the Pride promotion in July of 2006.  Big Nog took a unanimous decision there, which Werdum surely hopes to avenge this coming spring.  If both big men are healthy, the betting line will be tight.

Photo: Twitter.com/fabriciowerdum