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Anderson Silva expands on his close relationship with both the Nogueira brothers. He partially credits them with his continued MMA success.

Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira recently concluded filming for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

The two heavyweights will meet in June, but Werdum will always be respectful of thankful for his time on the reality series with the former interim UFC heavyweight champion.

“I’ve heard people talk about how great a person ‘Minotauro’ is, but over these 50 days, I had the opportunity to get to know him,” said Werdum to Sherdog. “Guys like him just don’t exist. One day, I was backstage suffering with hip pain, and he offered me his physiotherapist. What do you say about a guy like that?”

While Werdum knows a win over Nogueira would likely position him right in line for a title shot, the current schedule may not allow for that.

UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez fights in late May against Antonio Silva, while fellow contender Junior dos Santos is also set for that card.

“I think whoever is champion will have to fight one more time before I have a right to a title shot – if I win,” he said. “Right now, I’m focused on my fight with Rodrigo, who’s a tough opponent. If I beat him and need to fight another fight before a title shot, no problem.”

Werdum’s willingness to not sit and wait for a crack at the belt is refreshing in this day and age. He appears to just be happy to fight as often and as needed by the UFC.

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 is now available for online streaming, complete with English subtitles. The program airs on TUF.tv after the series airs on Globo TV in Brazil.

Coaches are Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum, and the two heavyweights will collide in June at UFC on FUEL TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum from Brazil.

The season features 28 welterweights seeking a contract with the UFC. The first season had two tournaments and boasts Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches.

The current season airs on Sunday nights.

Many consider former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir to be the best in the division when it comes to jiu-jitsu.

Mir, however, tips his cap in the direction of another fighter when making that statement: Fabricio Werdum.

Werdum will face a foe familiar to Mir in his next fight, as the Brazilian is set to meet Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The two will first coach on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter from Brazil.

“People put me down as one of the best submission artists, but as far as jiu-jitsu artist, I think Werdum is probably the best jiu-jitsu artist in the heavyweight division,” said Mir, during a recent interview with Fight Hub TV.

As for the upcoming bout between Werdum and Nogueira, Mir believes his former adversary could be in trouble.

“I think it’s going to be a difficult fight for Nogueira,” said Mir, who owns two wins over “Big Nog.” “I don’t think there’s any shame in going out there and losing as long as he puts forth a good performance.”

As for Mir, he will return to action in April when he faces Daniel Cormier. He has not fought since a loss to then-UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in early 2012.

Fabricio Werdum has positioned himself for a future UFC heavyweight title fight – if he can get past Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The two heavyweights will meet in June after coaching the next season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.

“Yes, if he wins, he will have the next shot,” UFC president Dana White told Tatame recently during a Brazilian news conference.

Werdum (16-5-1) returned to the UFC earlier this year and has defeated Roy Nelson and Mike Russow. He is 5-1 in his last six, with the lone loss coming by decision to Alistair Overeem.

Werdum’s previous stint with the UFC ended in 2008 after a first round knockout loss to current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

UFC heavyweight contenders Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum have decided upon coaching staffs for their upcoming Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2 experience.

According to the Brazilian news source, Globo, Nogueira will bring in his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Everaldo Penco, Eric Albarracin, Sheymon Moraes and Vitor Miranda.

Werdum, meanwhile, will incorporate Wanderlei Silva, Rafael Cordeiro, Rubens Cobrinha, Kenny Johnson and Felipe Werdum. Silva was the head coach – opposite Vitor Belfort – on the first TUF: Brazil season.

Filming is expected to begin early in 2013, with the two set to square off in the summer.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/STRIKEFORCE

Heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum will be the next Ultimate Fighter: Brazil coaches, according to a report by SporTV.

TUF: Brazil 2 is expected to begin in March with welterweights competing. The first season of the reality show from Brazil featured two weight classes and Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as coaches.

Nogueira (34-7-1) is a former interim UFC heavyweight champion who recently defeated Dave Herman in his return fight. “Minotauro” suffered a gruesome arm injury in a loss to Frank Mir in 2011.

Werdum (16-5-1) has went 4-2 during two stints with the UFC. He has earned back-to-back wins over Roy Nelson and Mike Russow.

Former interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fought Dave Herman at UFC 153 with a fractured rib.

Nogueira, an ex-PRIDE champion, suffered the injury a week into training for the short notice bout with Herman in Brazil.

“Fractured my rib three weeks ago on my right side,” said Nogueira, in an interview with SporTV. “I went to the doctor, took a local anesthetic to be able to train.”

Nogueira (34-7-1) rebounded from a submission loss to Frank Mir last year by submitting Herman. In the Mir bout, “Minotauro” suffered a nasty arm injury that kept him on the sidelines for several months.

Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports

After beating Dave Herman at UFC 153, Nog claims to only be interested in fighting The UFC’s top talent.

Former PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira doesn’t plan on leaving MMA anytime soon.

Despite being forced to the sidelines for several months due to an arm injury, Nogueira returned Saturday night to submit Dave Herman in Brazil at UFC 153.

Nogueira, who has spoken in the past about a desire to work his way back to contention in the UFC’s heavyweight division, is willing to face anybody out there – minus UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos.

I want to fight a Top-10 guy. I want to fight the top guys in the UFC. I can’t ask for the belt because my buddy (dos Santos has it) and I’m going to help him in the next few weeks in his camp to fight Cain (Velasquez).

Nogueira also told the post-fight show on Fuel TV that he “wants to help the sport in Brazil.” Several of his Team Nogueira fighters took part in the event Saturday from Rio de Janeiro, including Knockout of the Night winner Rony Jason.

Photo credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog