By Guilherme Cruz

Photo courtesy of DSE

On the beginning of this month, TATAME broke the news that twin brothers Rodrigo Minotauro and Rogério Minotouro would fight on the same night on UFC 119, on September 25. It will be the first time the Nogueira brothers will fight together on UFC, but that’s not a new thing for the Brazilians. Together, the twins have 62 fights on their career, and they got into action on the same night five times, with seven wins and only three losses.

UFO (August 8 of 2002): Minotauro wins, Minotouro loses for the first time

It was August of 2002 when Minotauro conquest his 16th win by knockout over Sanae Kikuta. The event, UFO, which took place in Tokyo, Japan, was not that good for the family. Fighting for the fourth time, Minotouro ended up being beat by Vladmir Matyshenko on the judges round card decision. Rogério’s revenge came seven years later, when he knocked Vladmir out on Affliction.

- Minotauro knocks out Sanae Kikuta on R2

- Minotouro losses to Vladmir Matyushenko by decision

Pride 24 (December 23 of 2002): Brazilians shine on Pride

Four months after their first fight together on the same night, the brothers won on the same night for the first time on Pride. The first one to fight was Minotouro, and beat Guy Merzer on the judges round card decision. Among the main events of the evening, Minotauro gave a show and submitted Dan Henderson on the beginning of the third round.

- Minotauro submits Dan Henderson on R3

- Minotouro beats Guy Merzer by decision

Pride 25 (March 16 of 2003): Fedor stops Minotauro’s reign

Rodrigo was the king of the heavy weight of Pride, but on March 16 of 2003 he suffered the first loss of his career on the Japanese event. Facing Fedor Emelianenko, Minotauro was beat on the on the judges round card decision and loss his heavyweight belt. On the same event, Rogério compensated his brother’s result with a win by submission over Kazuhiro Nakamura.

- Minotauro loses to Fedor Emelianenko by decision

- Minotouro submits Kazuhiro Nakamura on R2

Pride Critical Countdown (June 26 of 2005): Minotouro goes down on Pride’s GP

Two years later, the Nogueira’s brothers were back on the same event. In action on the GP of the middleweight division, Minotouro had one of the best fights in all history with Maurício Shogun, but loss on the judges round card decision. His brother got into action against Pawl Nastula and got the win by TKO yet on the first round. 

- Minotauro beats Pawl Nastula by TKO on R1

- Minotouro losses to Maurício Shogun by decision

Pride Critical Countdown Absolute (July 1 of 2006): Two more wins for the brothers

After submittin Zuluzinho, Minotauro went for the quarterfinals of the Pride Openweight’s GP and had to face Fabrício Werdum. The win over Werdum on the judges round card decision guaranteed the party of the family from Vitória da Conquista, Brazil, who also watched Rogério beating the Dutch Alistair Overeem by TKO on the second round.

- Minotauro beats Fabrício Werdum by decision

- Minotouro beats Alistair Overrem by TKO on R2