Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has had plenty of legendary battles throughout his illustrious MMA career, with some of them coming against the great Fedor Emelianenko, whom “Big Nog” believes should be retiring instead of fighting again in 2017.
"If he got to the UFC five years ago, maybe seven years ago, something like that, he'd be in his prime," Nogueira said to Submission Radio. "But now, it's not his time go anymore. If I'm in his place, It's time to retire. I mean Fedor is prepared for this fight, he's fighting more, he's been in shape. But a fight's a fight, you never know. The last fight, Fedor and Maldanado, you know, Maldonado surprised him. So you never know. A fight is a fight but Fedor's got everything to win this fight."
Nogueira retired himself after suffering a decision loss to Stefan Struve at UFC 190. While Emelianenko did retire once for three years, but returned in late 2015 to defeat Jaideep Singh at Rizin FF I.
Emelianenko and Nogueira fought a grand total of three times throughout their careers, with Emelianenko winning twice at PRIDE 25 and PRIDE Shockwave 2004, they also fought to a no contest due to an accidental cut at PRIDE Final Conflict 2004.
