Alexandre Nogueira Honoring His Suspension According To Management

Brazilian website TATAME reported yesterday that “Pequeno” Alexandre Nogueira (13-5-2) was in negotiations with his management for a return to fight in Japan at World Victory Road’s Sengoku. In the article Nogueira stated, “I’m negotiating with my manager [Alex Davis] We’re focusing Sengoku, to come back to fight in Japan.”

A return to fight in Japan on the part of Nogueira would be a direct violation of the one year suspension handed down by the California State Athletic Commission back in June.

Nogueira debuted for Zuffa’s World Extreme Cagefighting 1 June in Sacramento when he faced rising featherweight  Jose Aldo (11-1). To the surprise of many analysts, the veteran Nogueira lost via TKO in the second round of the bout.

Nogueira’s WEC loss proved to be a prelude to an even bigger surprise for the talented Brazilian fighter.

Following the fight, the California State Athletic Commission announced that Nogueira was being fined $2,500 and suspended until May 2009 as a result of a positive test for performance enhancing drugs. In response, WEC dropped Nogueira soon after the suspension. 

In the TATAME article Nogueira explained, “The [WEC] contract was finished because of the [CSAS] suspension.”

Fighters.com talked to Nogueira’s manager Alexander Davis In light of the recent report by TATAME. Davis respectfully silenced rumors of Nogueira’s potential return to fight in Japan before the CSAC suspension is fulfilled. 

“I have advised Nogueira not to violate his suspension,” explained Davis. “He did not appeal the commission’s ruling in the first place. And to violate [the suspension] would not be a smart thing for him to do. Davis continued, “We will be looking to take Nogueira back to Japan after May 2009 when his suspension is up.”