Antonio Nogueira Wins UFC Heavyweight Title in UFC 81 - Breaking Point
UFC 81 Betting Results: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira chokes out Tim Sylvia!
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira made history in UFC 81 Saturday night by beating Tim Sylvia with a guillotine choke early in the third round in front of 10,583 fans in Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira became the first mixed martial artist to become a champion in both the UFC and Pride heavyweight divisions. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira record now stands at (31-4-1, 1 NC)
Tim Sylvia with a record of (24-4) professed his desire before the fight to be the first man to knock out the former Pride heavyweight king, and Tim Sylvia came within a punch or two of doing so. Tim Sylvia cracked Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira early in the first round with a right hand that sent the 31-year-old Brazilian Antonio Nogueira to the canvas.
The opening round ended with Antonio Nogueira, nearly 25 pounds lighter than Tim Sylvia, scoring a nifty takedown. Brazilian Antonio Nogueira’s success in the second ended when Sylvia staggered him again with a sizzling right hand. The Pat Miletich-trained Tim Sylvia followed up with the same punch, but Antonio Nogueira managed to ride out the round.
Going in to the third round, Antonio Nogueira pulled guard just as American Tim Sylvia landed another right hand. With Tim Sylvia on top, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira swiftly swept him and scooted to complete side-control. Sensing time was running out, Tim Sylvia desperately scrambled to return to his feet. As he did, Antonio Nogueira locked his arms around his adversary’s neck and applied an arm-in guillotine. Tim Sylvia tapped almost immediately while Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira applied a tremendous amount of leverage.
“He is a true heavyweight,” Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Antonio Nogueira said of Sylvia. “He’s a giant. I got many hard punches in this fight. I was waiting for a good opportunity to put him on the ground.”
The next big main event in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts will be a fight between Kimbo Slice vs. David “Tank” Abbott for Elite XC MMA in Miami, Florida, on February 16.
To bet on Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott, visit the UFC and MMA Sportsbook.
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