Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, one of the greatest heavyweights in mixed martial arts history, announced his retirement Tuesday at a press conference Rio de Janeiro, exiting the sport at the age of 39.
Nogueira (34-10-1, 1 NC) leaves a career that spanned 17 years and stretched across several different eras of the sport, from its NHB infancy to its place today among the global mainstream.
Along with continuing to captain the successful Team Nogueira fight team, "Big Nog" will move into a professional capacity with UFC in Brazil, aiding social projects and helping to discover new talent for the organization.