Opportunities in the fight game, like in any other business, come more easily to those with connections. But in the fight game, like in any other business, you succeed or fail on your own merits. Let’s break down the best…and the rest… of seven big-name MMA brothers.
Antônio Rogério Nogueira (18-3, 1-0 UFC)
(Big Nog, Anderson Silva, and Little Nog.)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s twin brother holds international wins over name fighters Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Alistair Overeem, Guy Mezger and Vladimir Matyushenko. His UFC debut was breathtaking, a first-round knockout of Luiz Cane at UFC 106, and he’s overcome a broken ankle that forced him off UFC 109 against Brandon Vera to prepare for a meeting with former light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 114 in May.
Aleksander Emelianenko (15-3)
(Aleks beats on Eric Pele. Props to Bodog.)
Fedor’s younger brother Aleksander is a two-time Russian national and two-time world SAMBO champion in the absolute divisions. He remains dogged by rumors of carrying Hepatitis B and remains unsanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission, which prohibits him from competing for Strikeforce or anywhere in the United States.
Murilo Rua (18-10-1)
(Props to this site.)
Younger brother Mauricio “Shogun” Rua has a rematch with light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 113. Murilo’s claim to fame is his place as the first Elite XC middleweight champion and a reputation while in PRIDE as one of the strongest fighters in his weight class. He was a knockout victim of Benji Radach’s flying knee during his lone national television appearance (CBS) in 2008, and has since competed overseas and will face Falaniko Vitale at Shine Fights 3 in addition to the upcoming Dream 13 event.
Jason Guida (18-21-2)
(Props to the Houston Chronicle.)
Clay Guida’s older brother has failed to follow in the footsteps of the UFC’s sparkplug and gatekeeper of the lightweight division. Jason’s competed for EliteXC, World Extreme Cagefighting, Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, Adrenaline MMA and Ironheart Crown, but washed out during tryouts for The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 when he failed to make the 206-pound weight limit. Guida has been sidelined since lower back injury that forced him from a Carolina Crown 2 fight against TUF 8 alum Vinicius Magalhaes.
Mark Hughes (6-2)
(Mark & Matt gettin’ ready to shoot stuff. Props to Cage Today.)
Mark defeated twin brother Matt in the finals of a high school wrestling tournament. That was the pinnacle of his athletic career. He retired to the family farm and the Hughes Construction Company in 2003.
Nick Serra (4-3)
(Matt & Nick. Props to Combat Athlete.)
Nick’s older brother Matt is forever etched in UFC lore thanks to his shocking upset of Georges St-Pierre and reign as welterweight champion. Like Matt, Nick was awarded an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt by Renzo Gracie. While he’s earned numerous awards competing for Gracie’s Competition Team, “The Mad Monkey” was last seen on the undercard of Elite XC’s Saturday Night Fights show on May 31, 2009. Overcome by exhaustion, Serra was disqualified from his bout with Matt Makowski when he refused to stand up from a guard position.
Lance Evans (3-3)
Rashad’s younger brother was last seen during a failed audition for The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 when a rib injury forced him from his qualifying bout against Magalhaes.
Comments are closed.