Free fight: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Bob Sapp at PRIDE Shockwave 2002

In 2002, Bob Sapp was one of the scariest human beings on the planet – and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was just beginning to establish his reputation as one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of MMA.

At PRIDE Shockwave 2002, the two powerhouses collided at Tokyo National Stadium, and the ensuing clash remains one of the most memorable in the history of the legendary promotion. From the opening moments – when Nogueira shot forward, only to be power-bombed to the canvas – to the dramatic ending, with “Big Nog” locking in a fight-ending armbar that brought a capacity crowd to a fever pitch, the contest showed the essence of PRIDE.

While Sapp’s combat sports career would take a rather downward turn in the years that followed, his size and power were something to behold as he first burst on to the scene. Meanwhile, Nogueira was already the reigning PRIDE heavyweight champion entering PRIDE Shockwave 2002, but this gutsy effort became a huge part of his legend, and a defining contest in terms of his durability and grit.

You can watch a replay of the fight in its entirety in the video above, courtesy of UFC Fight Pass.