If I ever had to show my brand new lanky little nephew Diego Raphael Avila how to finish a fight, my prime example would be footage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He is a true superman of MMA and represents a spirit of positivism, intelligence, and non-maliciousness. He seems like the type of guy who would never get into altercations due to ego or lack of self-confidence. He also seems like the type of MMA athlete who avoids beating on drunks, unlike a few idiots who are still struggling in this very tough sport. He is not only a complete well-rounded fighter, but he also seems like a truly congenial character, a sincerely nice guy. Of course I'm only speculating, since I've yet to meet him in person, but my sources confirm a truly warm genuine man.

After the last round of Pride Critical Countdown, the image, which constantly flashes into my head, besides Semmy's face, is Nogueira spinning under and cranking on Heath's neck, as his face flowered red and his veins bulged big and blue. Heath eventually tapped, and still looked pretty, unlike his teammate, although he also got peppered in the stand up. Remember when you were a kid and got into fights? It was all about making the other guy give up, and that was enough to prove who was superior. Although sometimes, fighting on the concrete carried its own risk of concussions. Unfortunately a couple of the fights on this night wound up very ugly. Of course I'm mainly speaking of Schilt, and I suppose he could have tapped sooner, or his corner could have saved him, or the referee's discretion. Anyways my point here is that Kharitonov's choice of a finish was not the most eloquent one he has displayed so far. I remember when he finished off LA Giant with a beautiful arm bar in Osaka. Of course I'm not going to criticize Kharitonov on his choice of a finish. He is a great well-rounded fighter who might undoubtedly take out one of the other big boys.

Thus Nogueira

There seems to be a pattern evolving in the Pride Heavy Weight GP. So far, pound for pound, minute for minute, move by move, it has consistently been Nogueira who has given the fans world wide the greatest spectacle. I believe it is because he is always willing to test his new skills and shows variation throughout each bout. It is as if the real fight ring is the only place where he can try out new ideas, moves and skills. For example, first tormenting Heath with the stand up landing heavy punches, and then reversing it by finishing with a submission, which lately has usually come in the second round.

Walk The Line

It seems that Nogueira puts a lot more on the line than Kharitonov with his heavy frame and punching power, or Fedor and Ogawa with their quick submission skills. Although he did beef up a bit since his anorexic first round, he is still the lightest man standing, and don't forget that he has consistently taken the biggest risks in post modern MMA, since Royce Gracie. Every Nogueira fight is a great fight, and it is extremely rare that the judges decide. I can only think of two recent instances. Fedor, and his comeback fight after that, which is his lowest point to date, and way before that with Heath.

The Build Up

When Nogueira is fighting, one always feels one's own adrenaline pumping, and he always takes you to the edge of a heart attack. He is not a fighter for the weak of heart, because he builds his game slowly. He raises the tension by testing his opponents in the standing game, especially now with the Cuban rhythms to accompany the Samba. After maybe taking some punishment, from giving up positioning while attempting submissions, he always finishes with a cutting edge move.

The Masters

For people who are not familiar with working the guard it is truly baffling how this dude works it, because he usually succeeds with that submission he's been trying to set up throughout. No one works it like he does, constantly taking chances, giving up position, and demanding a submission masterfully. The same way a Sandro Boticelli painting makes every other artist of his period or any other seem dark and dull, Nogueira is a true Master in the Art of Submission. Any fighter in the same show as Nogueira pales a bit. All these dudes are great fighters, but not every show band rocks as hard as the next. The Who will always kick the Grateful Dead's ass even in the grave.  

Fedor's Problem – Pounding It

Emelianenko actually has no problems, he's just finishing too fast for us fans. Where is the build up, the intrigue? Although In the last couple fights he did get pounded around a bit first. Besides Randleman pounding him in the ring "Rampage Style" Fedor only got pounded in a car accident weeks before the fight, the same day Kevin's father passed away. These boys were also pounding the vodka down together in Roppongi, and the results were the same as in the ring. Fedor, you have to keep the spectacle going longer, you are way above everyone, except maybe you know whom; although you did beat him in a decision once upon a time.

Fedor as always achieved his lightning fast submission, after Randleman attempted the second KO slam of the night, while Kharitonov painted a different and grim portrait, it's a good thing no elbows are allowed. This Russian showed tremendous power and balance as he mounted Semmy up high, and showed that he had the mind to reverse the initial danger the Dutch tower brought on.

Prime Example

The bottom line is that Nogueira is a great contrast and relief in his own aesthetic pursuit of MMA. Of course if a fight lasts longer, it doesn't necessarily add up to better. Take any meandering drug induced Dead Jam, and contrast that to My Generation, basically a two chord two minutes plus gem. So Fedor and Ogawa should be admired perhaps for the quick finish, but Nogueira is a surrealistic suspended upside down superman, defying every conventional notion of the fight. He is a John Coltrane, sophisticated and improvisational, able to adapt to any situation. He is a lesson for every judge who is making a decision in any MMA event in the United States and everywhere else.

Forget The Missionary View

I'm tired of the repeatedly inconsistent and uneducated decision-making so many events seem to be marred with. Who cares if the powerful wrestler had control from the top, what if he didn't do a damned thing? Maybe some day they will have these fights without gravity, in a circular globe where the fighters could move within in a 360 degree radius. No corners, no nothing, just space to fight in. Somehow, I think I would put all my bets on this lanky Brazilian, who flies upside down on his back like an anti-superman, always looking up.