Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
It will be just over seven months past when former UFC heavyweight champ Antônio Rodrigo ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira (33-7-1, 1NC) steps back into the Octagon after having had his arm snapped in a loss to Frank Mir last December.
The big Brazilian has undergone surgery to repair the arm, as well as extensive physio and will apparently be ready to step back into the cage this summer after today’s official announcement pitting him against French striker Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) at UFC 149.
The bout was made official by the promotion at UFC.com earlier today.
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Two feared heavyweights will return to the cage this summer in Calgary, as verbal agreements are in for Cheick Kongo and former champ Minotauro Nogueira to do battle July 21.
UFC 149 is expected to take place on July 21, 2012 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The two will most certainly do battle on the evenings pay-per-view card.
Nogueira is 1-2 in his last three, having lost to Mir by technical submission last December at UFC 140. The win came in August of last year, a first round knockout of Brendan Schaub at UFC 134 in Brazil.
Kongo also enters the bout with a loss in his last fight, a TKO defeat at the hands of rising fan favorite Mark Hunt at UFC 144 this past February. The defeat ended a four fight undefeated streak for the French fighter.