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Fan favorite Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 119.
The bout will serve as the co-main event for the currently headline-less September show in Indiana, MMAWeekly.com reported today. Contracts should be signed shortly.
Rumors have circulated in the past few weeks that Nogueira would face Quinton Jackson at UFC 119, however, President Dana White put those thoughts to rest, saying that Rampage still has unfinished business promoting his film, "The A-Team," overseas.
Nonetheless, Nogueira will still have his hands full with a wrestler when he takes on the undefeated Bader.
Bader (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is coming off of a third round knockout victory over Keith Jardine at UFC 110 last February. He sustained a hand injury and was out of competition for six weeks, although it was rumored that he would take on Thiago Silva at UFC 116. However, he squashed those rumors, stating that he would return to the Octagon in September.
In order to take another step up the light-heavyweight ladder, Bader will have to beat Nogueira (19-3 MMA, 2-0 MMA). The former Pride star specializes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, and will be a tough test either standing or on the ground. While his UFC debut against Luis Cane did not leave the first round, his sophomore fight proved to be much tougher. Nogueira took on Jason Brilz, who was a late replacement for Forrest Griffin, and while Nogueira won a split decision, it was largely considered a controversial win, with most seeing Brilz as the true victor.
UFC 119 will take place on September 25 in Indianapolis, IN. While not officially announced, other match ups on this card are rumored to be Matt Mitrione vs. Joey Beltran, Sean Sherk vs. Evan Dunham, C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen, and Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens.
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