Nogueira vs. Velasquez Headlines UFC 108 in January With Title Shot on the Line
A recently-reported matchup between heavyweight contenders Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez will headline UFC 108 on January 2 in Las Vegas, the UFC announced on Tuesday, with the winner guaranteed a title shot against the winner of the upcoming fight between champion Brock Lesnar and challenger Shane Carwin.
The UFC also confirmed that Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva will co-headline the pay-per-view event.
“Nogueira vs. Velasquez is a great matchup between the present and the future of the heavyweight division,” said UFC President Dana White in a press release announcing the card. “Nogueira showed in the Couture fight that he still has plenty left to offer at the top level of the game, and Velasquez was devastating in his win over Ben Rothwell, so with both guys in top form, we’re definitely going to see a number one contender emerge from this fight to take on the winner of the Brock Lesnar vs Shane Carwin title fight.”
Tickets for the event, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, are priced between $50 and $600 and go on sale to the general public this Saturday, November 14 through Ticketmaster.com.
For the latest UFC 108 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.
Tags: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Cain Velasquez, Rashad Evans, Thiago Silva
Loading ...
I just got this ad in my e-mail account a few hours ago. It sucks that they couldn’t pull anything else out of the hat. Compared to the last three years, this is a rather weak headlining event, but this has already been stated a million times on this site. Without a doubt, Rampage had a serious domino effet.
With this being said, it looks like post 108 will have some serious cards to look forward too. All five champs should be ready to go and have fought by May 2010.
Rather weak for the “year end” event that is.
indeed
BigNog and Velasquez at 108 for a “guaranteed title shot”?
Sounds good, but I have just one question.
Title shot guaranteed by whom, exactly?
Dana White, the same guy that swerved both Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson out of publicly granted title shots because Anderson Silva told him to, thru his mouthpiece Ed Soares?
Fighter, please.
Just ask Pat Miletich what Dana White’s guarantees are worth.
Now that Dana has illustrated that in some cases the tail wags the dog, champions will be fighting whoever the fu<k they please.
If Lesnar doesn't feel like facing the winner of BigNog-Velasquez, he won't, and as Anderson Silva has clearly shown, there isn't fu<k-all Dana will do about it, aside from scramble to find another opponent, even if he has to troll for one in another promotion and weightclass, coughcough, Vitor Belfort.
Hopefully I'm wrong, and the winner of this 108 throwdown won't get Hendo'ed out of his so-called guaranteed title shot…
Hey Jcohl,
I gotta agree with you, but must also state that IMO, Lesnar losing to Carwin in a bulit up Carwin ad (as what was seemingly tried in there original ad aired on Spike) was smart. Lesnar (love or hate, I am neutral, nor cheer for the hard working beast) is one of those “super athletes” that lives to make it to that next big thing for his high personal ego of “I can do whatever, no matter what”. Regardless, Lesnar (undoubtiebly) is a super human being. With that being said, I see him as someone who finds a new toy, and bullies the nieghbourhood kids on how he is superior.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS… quote me that this guy (is smart enough? debatable) that he will walk away on top and move on to something else. Seriously, if this was 1995, do you really think failing of Brock Lesnar in the NFL would pull Brock Lesnar’s attention the way it did to such guys as (despite then gen. pub.’s opionion of them) Mark Coleman, Dan Henderson, and Rnady Couture (you know the list goes on, and so forth).
You have to hope Zuffa would have had their “champion clause” on this guy, but even at that point I can still see him walking away going… Been there, done that (as the champ, I am done with the sport as it reached its peak?). “I still would have beat such and such but I didn’t need to waste my time”. – These are obvious fake quote, judge from how this man carries himself.
… Sorry to those who see it 180 degrees.
I LOVE the UFC and Dana White (most of the time) but a “almost, or close to” monopoloy should watch itself before they invest enough time and money
Continued…
I LOVE the UFC and Dana White (at least Dana White most of the time) but a “almost, or close to” monopoloy should watch itself before they invest enough time and money into a guy who has walked away from every sport he has once conquered and laid (or at least tried to).
Isn’t possible that us as MMA fans are getting out done by our own demands? I honestly believe that UFC 108 is a serious weak event compared to what we have been spit at in the last few years (66, 79, 92).
But why? Isn’t is possible that we are DEMANDING this sport to be grown at a pace where it is getting out of hand? Are we as fans growing demands more possible than the sport itself has grown to?
Look at UFC 100? How similar is it to UFC 73? Almost identical, just take away the star power. I was blown away at 73? Mayben Zuffa fed us too much and shot themselves in the foot? Maybe they got so desperate for casual fans, they didnt’ think far enought to see how dedicated fans would respond.
Regardless, we could all sit here and argue a million things (which in theory we all do) but it is getting to the point that us as a consumer are going to ruin the sport. Aren’t we all part of this same site? Frenziers, so to speak? (Sorry I don’t log in every post, but keep the same name).
Sit back and think about it.
MMA is getting to the point where we as a consumer will demand a show AT LEAST once a month (I know for one I’d watch it pretty much every weekend, or at least tape or PVR it) yet we are the one’s demanding these high profile cards everytime around.
Regardless, as per usual with my only posts on here, I am on a rant with no edits (spoken trun from the heart.)
But for real, aren’t we all on this site for the same reason? We love this sport. I checked this site when it was ufcdaily.com just for a rumour to find out who “might” fight next, and look how far it has come. Passionate fans like us (yes you reading, regardless of whether you agree with me or not) is what keeps this sport fueling.
So step up, and realize that as “pro whatever” (be a fan of anyone/anything, just be a fan!) it is you that makes this sport. We are here and we are frenzied, and I for one am sick of the arguement of the minorities. Let’s keep this sport as far from a trend as possible, although the trendies here and there can pay the extra bills.
Also to DBIZ, opionions may defer, a ton of people like this sport as much as you do. Educate them, don’t bash them. Oh and yes, you made my rant, so are you proud?
Keep this sport growing, because since the UFCDAILY days, there has been too much argueing…
If you are on this site, you most lkely have a passion for this sport. Keep it up, and keep is simple. We all love the sport and want to see it prevail!!! Opinions are just like…
Hope most of you’s can agree with me.
I wonder if this “guaranteed ” title shot is more like the one Hendo got or the one Marquardt got?
I certainly hope not…. Velasquez already got screwed over once.
Remember, not too long ago Cain was promised a #1 contender fight vs Shane Carwin, which was later scrapped and Carwin was handed a title shot vs Lesnar while Cain then had to go through Rothwell and now Nogueira.
My apologies for forgetting to reference Cain Velasquez in my above post about Dana swerving fighters out of title shots…
No worries… seems they are becoming so common nowadays it really is hard to keep track of them all.
I don’t know what ticks me off more. Fighters getting screwed out of title or contention fights they were promised or fighters being handed title shots on a silver platter, without earning it.
Great match-up! I have Nog winning this one by submission. Cain has impressed the he!! out of me in his last few fights although. I don’t believe Cain’s sub defense will be good enough to get past Nog.
Hey the fighters will atleast have a nice paycheck coming to them whether its for a title or not. So all this getting screwed talk is ridiculous. Get your paper on, pay your bills, feed your family and when its their time, its their time. They will shine! Patience my friends.
In my eyes this will be Cain’s first real test. Let’s see if he can live up to his hype!?
what! cains 1st test kongo is no joke and neither is rothwell…they no NOG but they aint easy pickings man
Why is Griffin v Miller not on the main card yet. Tyson deserves it.
Card is Ok The last three years were better
My biggest problem with Dana promising title shots then denying them or changing them is.. once we see a fighter emerge from a “number one contender” fight, we get excited as fans and start talking about that fights.. only to realize later it is not going to happen.
My time spent bull****ting about MMA online is PRECIOUS and NOT TO BE ****ED WITH by some bald dude who dosn’t stick to his word.