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From backstage, Rafael Feijão talks about
the excitement regarding UFC Rio.
We stayed in the same locker room. Rodrigo (Big Nog), Anderson Silva.
So, when he (Big Nog) left to fight, we were really tense.
Big Nog's announcement
It is very hard to see a teammate, a partner, almost a brother
because we are like a family here.
I spend more time with them than my own family.
So, when he left to fight, it was a really exciting thing.
We stopped to watch the fight.
When he won by knockout...
he deserved it.
It was quite an accomplishment for Rodrigo.
Celebrating Big Nog's victory.
All that emotion right after the fight. I cried.
I think everyone cried in the locker room.
Anderson (Silva) was also very touched.
I forgot that he was going to fight later.
Then I remembered and said to him:
“stop it, control yourself you are still going to fight.”
But it was really exciting for us.
It was wonderful!
Big Nog is an icon in this sport.
He is an example for me and for everyone.
Especially for me and Anderson
Because we owe everything to him.
If we’re here today it is because he helped us to get here.
An athlete who recently had 3 lesions
3 major surgeries
comes back and wins against
the supposedly top five heavyweight champion
as everyone was saying that his only chance to win
would be if he took him to the ground.
He proved, once again, that everyone was wrong.
Nogueira Team. Everybody excited!
I think the UFC in Rio really shocked everyone.
The crowd singing the Tropa de Elite (Elite Squad) song
We had an idea of what it was going to be like
because of how the crowd reacts in soccer games.
The only thing missing was the audience falling in love with MMA.
And it happened.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiit’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime
For those of us who fight, who are in the front line
I guess there is no greater satisfaction
than being recognized in our own country.
Shogun, Shogun...
I think it was a show. Like Dana White said
it was the best crowd he’s ever seen.
For us, fighters, who make a living out of this
and push this sport forward all the time
it was wonderful!
Edited by Camila Rizzo
Special thanks to Ana Hissa and Gesias Cavalcante
You are the champion, you are the champion!