Following his devastating knockout loss to Roy Nelson back in April at UFC Fight Night 39, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira spoke to MMAFighting.com this week and revealed that he tore his ACL days before the fight in Abu Dhabi.
“I had surgery four weeks ago, and I’m doing fine now. ACL surgery takes at least five months to return to fighting. I’m doing physical therapy now. I know the limits of my body. I won’t get myself injured again. I can do other things. I ride bikes and work out every day, but I can’t train yet.”
The 38-years-old Pride legend knows he’s in the tail end of his career, but he still thinks he’s got what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“I still have what it takes. I will return next year. I have plans to be in shape and fight again, for sure. I want to recover first, and then I will see how I feel.”
Nogueira has lost 3 out of his last 6 fights, suffering submission losses to Frank Mir and Fabricio Werdum and KO losses to Roy Nelson and reigning UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.
