Former PRIDE heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures), one of the world’s most popular Brazilian fighters, will make his return to the ring this Sunday at PRIDE 31 against Japanese Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures).

Following a down 2005 in which “Minotauro” fought just once (a stoppage victory against Pawel Nastula (Pictures)), the Brazilian Top Team heavyweight spoke with Sherdog.com and talked about his plans for 2006.

That trek begins on Feb. 26 in a rematch of a contest Nogueira won by submission six years ago in RINGS. The Brazilian said he expects the same result.

Sherdog.com: Why did you fight only one time in 2005?

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures): Actually, my plan at first was to fight at least three times: in June, which I actually fought, and then in October and December. At the beginning of July I had surgery on my two elbows. I had an injury there and it was bothering me a lot. In the fight against Pawel Nastula (Pictures) my arm was destroyed; I couldn’t even fight, but I decided to honor my agreement. I hurt myself at the beginning of my training and didn’t manage to train hard, and then I had surgery right after. In October I was not recovered, so I had to postpone to December. In December, there were some disagreements between my managers and PRIDE relating to my possible opponents. PRIDE offered one we didn’t want. When we agreed, the guy hurt himself, so there were a lot of things and I didn’t have the opportunity to fight. Now I will fight in this next event and I expect to fight in 2006 more times than I did in 2005 — three or four times at least.

Sherdog.com: And what is the expectation for 2006?

Nogueira: This year there will be a Grand Prix, so it is going to be exciting. I’m a competitor and I like to compete. Since my jiu-jitsu years I used to do well, almost all the time I won the competitions or placed second, so I do really well in competitions. I like to do more than one fight per day. This thing stimulates me a lot and I think that when we have a competition we are more valued, the training is more intense, the motivation is bigger. So this year is going to be great.

Sherdog.com: What do you think about this Open Weight Grand Prix that PRIDE will produce?

Nogueira: It is more competitive. In other Grand Prix events they used to put three or four [fighters in the field] only to complete the field. This year only the better ones will enter the tournament. The heavyweight GP will be bolstered by the middleweights and there will be also the little ones. Probably Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Dan Henderson (Pictures) will fight.

Sherdog.com: What is your opinion about these two fighters?

Nogueira: Dan Henderson (Pictures) I know is tough, but a heavyweight is a heavyweight. A middleweight comes close to 100 kg and then cuts to 93 kg. But a guy who weighs 85 kg or 75 kg, like Gomi, it is hard for him. A big man is a big man, a little man is a little man, and it is hard to mix it.

Sherdog.com: What are you expecting for your next fight, against Kiyoshi Tamura (Pictures)?

Nogueira: It is going to be a rematch. I won against him six years ago. He is much better now, is trading better in the stand-up game, the ground improved a little bit. I was seeing his fight against Hidehiko Yoshida (Pictures) and he was doing damage, catching the back. But in the end was submitted. I also saw another fight of his against a judo guy. It was a closer fight, but he ended up winning the decision. The guy improved a lot, but I think that from six years to now I improved more than him. My stand-up technique improved. My ground work is better. I am eight kilograms heavier than that time, with a quicker muscular quality. I am much better than before. I think that from my part and from his part too, we can do a much better fight than that one that we did in RINGS. It is going to be a good fight. He is little, is technical. I am also very technical. So I think we will do a very beautiful fight.

Sherdog.com: In that fight you submitted him with an armbar, right?

Nogueira: Yes. In that time he was submitted and this time, with faith in God, he will be submitted again.

Sherdog.com: PRIDE 31 will have some interesting fights, mainly for the fact that fighters from different weight categories will face each other. How is your expectation for this event?

Nogueira: All PRIDE shows have different themes and this time it will be the mix between heavyweights and the lighter fighters. So they want to know who will be classified for the first round of the May show.