Morango, Junior, Minotouro and Alvinho Romano in Las Vegas. Photo: Publicity.
To steal the show from Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin was already no easy task. Much less so is beating Luiz “Banha” Cane.
Therefore, Rogerio Nogueira had to bring in the big guns – on earth, in water and air – for his UFC debut, on November 21, at the 106th installment of the American event, to take place in Las Vegas.
Under the command of Alvaro Romano, GRACIEMAG columnist, Rogerio and Fabricio Morango – who debuts on the same night, against Caol Uno –, accompanied by Junior Cigano, have been doing Natural Gymnastics-based work to gain not just wind, but strength and explosion, in the pool.
Rogerio does abdominal exercises, while Morango waits his turn. Photo: Publicity.
On Saturday, Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin headline the card – in a rematch requested in 2006, after Tito overcame Griffin by split decision at the 59th event, in April of that year.
The bout between Ortiz and Griffin substituted the heavyweight-title fight between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, which has been put off indefinitely due to Lesnar’s recent health problems.
Minotouro’s opponent, Banha, 28, is riding a three-fight winning streak – two by technical knockout and the latest against Steve Cantwell by unanimous decision – into the bout.
The event also features an all-wrestler matchup in Josh Koshcheck and Anthony Johnson, in one of the most intriguing under 77kg bouts of 2009.
Check out the card for the event:
UFC 106
Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
November 21, 2009
Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin
Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson
Amir Sadollah vs. Phil Baroni
Luiz Cane vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Ben Saunders vs. Marcus Davis
Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann
Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt
Brock Larson vs. Brian Foster
Caol Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes
George Sotiropoulos vs. Jason Dent
