Nogueira’s Trainer Luiz Alves Dies

Luiz Alves, the long-time trainer of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, died Friday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was 53.

Considered alongside Rudimar Fedrigo as the two most important representatives of muay Thai in Brazil, Alves suffered a stroke on Jan. 26. Doctors induced a coma to control the pressure on his brain. On Friday the pressure increased, leading to a hemorrhage that caused his death.

Nogueira had considered Alves his good luck charm. The trainer accompanied “Minotauro” to all of his fights since 2001, except for Nogueira’s two stoppage losses to Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. Alves’ daughter was getting married the day of the Mir bout, and he had already suffered the stroke by the time Nogueira fought Velasquez.

Alves’ death is seen as a great loss to the Brazilian MMA community. He was the leader and founder of Boxe Thai Academy and the Brazilian Confederation of Muay Thai.

His funeral will take place in Nova Russas, Brazil, and on Sunday afternoon friends and family will have a ceremony at Memorial do Carmo in Rio de Janeiro.