UFC 161 has been hit by another major injury.
This time, it’s Antonio Rogerio Nogueira who has been knocked out of the promotion’s Winnipeg debut. Brazil’s Globo first reported the news. MMA Fighting has since confirmed the change with a UFC official, who added that the organization was hunting for a replacement to square off with his intended opponent, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Nogueira had just returned from a lengthy injury layoff earlier this year, when he upset Rashad Evans at UFC 156. That return was from a knee problem. According to Globo, this time it was a back issue that forced Nogueira out of his scheduled contest.
Nogueira’s manager Ed Soares told MMA Fighting there is no timetable yet for the return of Nogueira (21-5), who turned 37 on Sunday, but that he could be able to fight in as little as 8-12 weeks.
The promotion will have less than two weeks to find a replacement for him.
Rua has alternated wins and losses in his last eight fights. The former light-heavyweight champion last competed in December, when he dropped a unanimous decision to ranked contender Alexander Gustafsson.
UFC 161 lost its original headliner just two weeks ago, when interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao was forced out of a defense against Eddie Wineland.
In its place, a scrap between Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson was promoted to the main event.