Source: Sherdog

Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira is used to taking on the baddest heavyweights on the planet inside the octagon but he will be taking on a different challenge when he joins Brazil’s version of Dancing with the Stars called ‘Dance of the Famous’. The show will air Sunday on Rede Globo. Nogueira has been confirmed for a fight with Cheick Kongo at UFC 149 in Calgary, Canada. He has not fought since his devastating loss to Frank Mir in December of last year when Mir broke Nogueira’s arm with a kimura. Big Nog has been rehabbing his arm but many are questioning Big Nog’s commitment to MMA when he has to concentrate on the dancing competition. Nog was up front when he said he trains five hours a day and has the rest of the day to concentrate on other activities which includes dancing. Nog said his primary motivation for joining the show was to increase exposure to MMA. Big Nog is already big in Brazil to fight fans but will be able to reach a bigger audience through the show.

I like Nog as a fighter but the way he came off last night on UFC Primetime did not look good. He seemed bitter at Frank Mir for breaking his arm when he was the one that refused to tap. I can understand JDS wanting to get revenge for Big Nog since he is his mentor but for Nog to openly hate on Mir for breaking his arm is ridiculous. Everyone knows when they are caught in a submission, especially someone of Mir’s caliber, they have to tap. Big Nog was so arrogant and proud of his black belt status that he refused to tap to Mir and so he paid the consequences. Mir didn’t want to hurt Nog, but if Nog isn’t going to tap, Mir had to break his arm to get him to tap–its as simple as that. Nog has a tough matchup against Kongo coming up. I am not sure dancing on a show is such a good idea but he is definitely a model employee for the UFC by helping to increase its exposure. I am sure he will be compensated nicely for doing that. He might be compensated by Kongo in July as well if he is overlooking him in their fight.

Update 6/16/2012: Maybe Big Nog had too much on his plate. Nog pulled out of his UFC 149 fight with Cheick Kongo with an undisclosed injury. It is believed Nog has not fully recovered from his surgery several months ago. Or perhaps he has been doing too much that he isn’t prepared. Either way Shawn Jordan will replace Nog against Kongo.