Heavyweight contenders Cain Velasquez and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will likely meet in a featured matchup at UFC 108 on January 2 in Las Vegas, according to Tatame, which cites a report from Nogueira’s manager Ed Soares.

Velasquez is coming off a second-round knockout of Ben Rothwell at last month’s UFC 104, while Nogueira earned an impressive decision over Randy Couture in August.

UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who headlined Saturday’s UFC 104 event in Los Angeles, topped the pay-per-view event’s disclosed $922,000 fighter payroll, according to figures released Tuesday by the California State Athletic Commission.

Machida earned an event-high $200,000 for his controversial main event win over Rua, while “Shogun” received $155,000 for his efforts. Other top earners included Joe Stevenson ($94,000), Cain Velasquez ($70,000), and Chael Sonnen ($54,000).

The “Machida Era” was extended in controversial fashion on Saturday, as light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida was awarded a questionable unanimous decision win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event of UFC 104 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Cain Velasquez dominated Ben Rothwell in the UFC 104 co-headliner, while Gleison Tibau, Joe Stevenson, and Anthony Johnson also earned main card wins.

All twenty-two fighters who will be in action at Saturday’s UFC 104 event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles hit the scales today to weigh in for their bouts. Light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida (202.5) and challenger Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (204.5) successfully made weight for the UFC 104 main event, as did co-headliners Cain Velasquez (238) and Ben Rothwell (265).

Anthony Johnson, Josh Neer, and Gleison Tibau were the only fighters who failed to make weight, but their fights will go on as scheduled.

The UFC will hold a press conference on Tuesday at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles to promote its October 24 “UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun” event, which takes place at the Staples Center in LA.

Though most of the focus at the press conference will be on UFC 104, White headed to Los Angeles on Monday with hopes of finalizing a deal with an undisclosed network to air a November event headlined by BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian. If finished, the deal could be announced as early as today.

Following news earlier Thursday that Shane Carwin was being pulled from his UFC 104 matchup against fellow heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez to headline UFC 106 in November against champion Brock Lesnar, Ben Rothwell has been tapped to replace Carwin and take on Velasquez at UFC 104 on October 24 in Los Angeles.

UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will defend his title against Shane Carwin in the main event of UFC 106 on November 21 in Las Vegas, according to MMA Madness and Fighters Only.

Carwin had been scheduled to fight fellow heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez at UFC 104 on October 24 in Las Angeles, but that bout has apparently been scrapped in favor of Lesnar-Carwin, with Velasquez then set to fight the winner, Fighters Only reports.

Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez and Matt Hughes vs. Mike Swick could co-headline UFC 103 on September 26 in Dallas if current rumors are accurate.

A potential bout between heavyweight contenders Carwin and Velasquez began to be discussed after Velasquez’s UFC 99 victory over Cheick Kongo earlier this month, which cemented his status as a contender for the heavyweight title much like Carwin did with a UFC 96 win over Gabriel Gonzaga. Both Velasquez (6-0) and Carwin (11-0) are undefeated and in line for a title shot, though each needs one more victory over top competition before fighting for the belt.

11 of the 24 fighters who were in action on Saturday in Cologne, Germany at UFC 99 have been issued medical suspensions, including main event winner Rich Franklin, co-headliners Cain Velasquez and Cheick Kongo, and Mostapha Al-Turk, who suffered a controversial eye poke from eventual winner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

The complete list of suspensions is provided after the jump…

In a clash of former champions, Rich Franklin defeated Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision on Saturday in Cologne, Germany in the main event of UFC 99: The Comeback. Cain Velasquez, Mirko "Cro Cop", Mike Swick, Spencer Fisher, and Dan Hardy also picked up main card victories at the event.

All 24 UFC 99 fighters, including headliners Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin, successfully made weight on Friday at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany for their bouts, which take place at the venue on Saturday and air live on pay-per-view.

Heavyweight Cheick Kongo has been tapped to replace an ill Heath Herring and take on undefeated up-and-comer Cain Velasquez in the co-headliner of UFC 99 on June 13th at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.