Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Booked for UFC on FOX 12


(Photo via Getty)

Fresh off his three-round domination of Phil Davis at UFC 172, light-heavyweight contender/inspirational comeback story Anthony Johnson has been booked to return to the Octagon on July 26th at UFC on FOX 12: San Jose vs. Stockton, Bitch (tentative title). As first reported by FOX Sports, Johnson will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, one of the most frequently injured fighters currently “active” in the UFC.

Lil’ Nog has only fought twice since his decision loss to Phil Davis in March 2011, TKO’ing Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, and out-pointing Rashad Evans at UFC 156 in February 2013. He’s been sidelined since then due to a back injury.

The matchup seems tailor-made to give “Rumble” another high-profile win before he’s launched into title contention. Or, to put it another way: This looks like a damn squash match. Sure, anything can happen in an MMA fight, but when you put one of the UFC’s most powerful 205-pound contenders up against a guy whose body has been steadily disintegrating before our eyes, it’s pretty obvious what the promotion would like to see happen here.

No other fights have been booked for UFC on FOX 12, which will take place at San Jose’s SAP Center.


(Photo via Getty)

Fresh off his three-round domination of Phil Davis at UFC 172, light-heavyweight contender/inspirational comeback story Anthony Johnson has been booked to return to the Octagon on July 26th at UFC on FOX 12: San Jose vs. Stockton, Bitch (tentative title). As first reported by FOX Sports, Johnson will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, one of the most frequently injured fighters currently “active” in the UFC.

Lil’ Nog has only fought twice since his decision loss to Phil Davis in March 2011, TKO’ing Tito Ortiz at UFC 140, and out-pointing Rashad Evans at UFC 156 in February 2013. He’s been sidelined since then due to a back injury.

The matchup seems tailor-made to give “Rumble” another high-profile win before he’s launched into title contention. Or, to put it another way: This looks like a damn squash match. Sure, anything can happen in an MMA fight, but when you put one of the UFC’s most powerful 205-pound contenders up against a guy whose body has been steadily disintegrating before our eyes, it’s pretty obvious what the promotion would like to see happen here.

No other fights have been booked for UFC on FOX 12, which will take place at San Jose’s SAP Center.