The Ultimate Fighting Championship is quickly filling up it’s upcoming August UFC 133 event with the addition of a couple more big names to the Philadelphia show.
Verbal agreements have been made for a light-heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Rich “Ace” Franklin (28-6, 1NC) and Antônio Rogério “Minotoro” Nogueira (19-5).
“Verbal agreements are in for what should be an amazing fight as former Pride superstar Rogerio ‘Minotoro’ Nogueira will take on former UFC World Middleweight Champion Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin in a light heavyweight bout,” said UFC president Dana White.
UFC 133 is expected to take place on August 6 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and includes a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Franklin who has floated between 185 lbs and 205 lbs in the UFC, last fought at light heavyweight in his last bout, losing a unanimous decision to former champ Forrest Griffin at UFC 126 last February. “Ace” record over his last three fights is 1-2, having earned a knockout victory over Chuck Lddell in “The Iceman’s” final bout at UFC 115, and losing to Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 by TKO in a 195 lb catchweight fight.
Nogueira suffered his second straight loss recently, losing a unanimous decision against Phil Davis at UFN 24. The twin brother of Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, had been set to meet Tito Ortiz at the event but an injury forced him off the card, with Davis stepping in at the last moment. The other loss was to Ryan Bader, also by decision, at UFC 119 in September of last year. That loss ended a seven fight win streak, which included the Brazilian’s first two UFC appearances, wins over Ryan Bader and Luiz Cane.