Sherk announced the matchup on Thursday in an interview with wicombatsports.com.

Sherk (33-4-1) was stripped of the lightweight title in 2007 after testing positive for steroids and has gone just 1-2 since returning to action, earning a win over Tyson Griffin last October while suffering losses to BJ Penn and, most-recently in May, Frankie Edgar.

Oliveira (9-2) had his three-fight winning streak stopped in his UFC debut in September, suffering a unanimous decision to Nik Lentz at UFC 103.

UFC 108 is headlined by a matchup between heavyweight contenders Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez and also includes Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva, Junior dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga, and Carlos Condit vs. Paul Daley.

For the latest UFC 108 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.

Pictured: Sean Sherk

According to Sherdog, which reported the replacement on Wednesday, the former lightweight champ Sherk recently suffered a shoulder injury while training that will sideline him for approximately four weeks.

Neer (25-8-1) has alternated wins and losses since returning to the Octagon last year, picking up wins over Din Thomas and Mac Danzig while dropping a split decision to Nate Diaz last September as well as a hard-fought unanimous decision to Kurt Pellegrino early last month at UFC 101.

Tibau (17-6), 5-4 since joining the UFC in late-2006, holds wins inside the Octagon over Jason Dent, Jeff Cox, Terry Etim, Rich Clementi, and Jeremy Stephens while losing bouts to Nick Diaz, Tyson Griffin, Joe Stevenson, and Melvin Guillard. He had won back-to-back fights over Clementi and Stephens, before losing to Guillard in his most-recent bout in June.

Late last month, the matchup between Sherk and Tibau was shifted from the UFC 103 prelims to the UFC 104 main card, but Neer-Tibau is likely to be demoted to the undercard and replaced by Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer or Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen on the pay-per-view broadcast.

For the latest UFC 104 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.

Notable additions to the card include middleweight contender Yushin Okami,  a winner of three-straight and 7 of his 8 UFC fights, who meets Chael Sonnen on the untelevised UFC 104 preliminary card, as well as former lightweight champion Sean Sherk, whose fight against Gleison Tibau has been shifted from UFC 103 to the UFC 104 main card.

The official fight card for UFC 104 now features:

MAIN CARD

• Lyoto Machida (c) vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
  UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
• Sean Sherk vs. Gleison Tibau
• Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
• Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Antoni Hardonk vs. Pat Barry
• Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
• Jorge Rivera vs. Rob Kimmons
• Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
• Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
• Chase Gormley vs. Stefan Struve

For more UFC 104 coverage check out MMAFrenzy.com’s UFC 104 section.

Pictured: Sean Sherk

Sherk became the UFC’s lightweight champion in late-2006 by winning the vacant belt with a victory over Kenny Florian. Sherk successfully defended the title in July 2007 with a win over Hermes Franca, but tested positive for steroids after the fight and was stripped of the title and suspended for six-months. “The Muscle Shark” returned in May 2008 and immediately challenged BJ Penn for the lightweight belt, but suffered a third-round TKO. After winning “Fight of the Night” honors in an October win over Tyson Griffin, Sherk was defeated by Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision at UFC 98 in May.

Tibau, 5-4 since first-joining the UFC in late-2006, holds wins inside the Octagon over Jason Dent, Jeff Cox, Terry Etim, Rich Clementi, and Jeremy Stephens while losing bouts to Nick Diaz, Tyson Griffin, Joe Stevenson, and Melvin Guillard. He had won back-to-back fights over Clementi and Stephens, before losing to Guillard in his most-recent bout in June.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Junior dos Santos is expected to co-headline UFC 103 alongside a main event featuring Rich Franklin against an opponent to-be-announced. Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann, Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg, and Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller are also rumored for the card.

For the latest UFC rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com MMA rumors section.

[Pictured: Sean Sherk]

Main event loser Rashad Evans, who suffered a second-round knockout to Lyoto Machida, is suspended until July 23rd for precautionary reasons.

The longest suspensions were issued to winners Drew McFedries and Kyle Bradley as well as loser Pat Berry, who must be x-rayed and cleared by doctors or be suspended until December 10.

Receiving medical suspensions were:

• Rashad Evans (defeated by Lyoto Machida via R2 KO) — Suspended until July 23 with no contact until July 8 for precautionary reasons.
• Drew McFedries (defeated Xavier Foupa-Pokam via R1 KO) — Right wrist must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10.
• Xavier Foupa-Pokam (defeated by Drew McFedries via R1 KO)  — Suspended until July 8 with no contact until June 23 for precautionary reasons.
• Sean Sherk (defeated by Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision) — Suspended until July 8 with no contact until June 23 for precautionary reasons.
• Pat Barry (defeated by Tim Hague via R1 guillotine submission) — Right foot must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10. Minimum suspension until June 23 with no contact until June 14.
• Phillipe Nover (defeated by Kyle Bradley via R1 TKO) — Suspended until June 23 with no contact until June 14 for precautionary reasons.
• Kyle Bradley (defeated Phillipe Nover via R1 TKO) — Right hand must be X-rayed and cleared by a doctor or suspended until December 10.
• Andre Gusmao (defeated by Krzysztof Soszynski via R1 TKO) — Suspended until July 23 with no contact until July 8 for precautionary reasons.
• Dave Kaplan (defeated by George Roop via split decision) — Suspended until June 23 with no contact until June 14 for a nose laceration.

[Pictured: Drew McFedries punches Xavier Foupa-Pokam at UFC 98]

Evans, the former UFC light heavyweight champion who was defeated via second-round knockout by Machida, earned $200,000 for the bout. Machida received $140,000 for his main event victory.

Rivals Matt Hughes and Matt Serra took home $200,000 and $75,000 respectively for their matchup, which Hughes won by unanimous decision.

The official salaries for UFC 98, as reported to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, were:

• Lyoto Machida ($140,000 – includes $70,000 win bonus) def. Rashad Evans ($200,000)
• Matt Hughes ($200,000 – $100,000 win bonus) def. Matt Serra ($75,000)
• Drew McFedries ($34,000 – $17,000 win bonus) def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam ($6,000)
• Chael Sonnen ($50,000 – $25,000 win bonus) def. Dan Miller ($15,000)
• Frankie Edgar ($40,000 – $20,000 win bonus) def. Sean Sherk ($40,000)
• Brock Larson ($42,000 – $21,000 win bonus) def. Mike Pyle ($15,000)
• Tim Hague ($10,000 – $5,000 win bonus) def. Pat Barry ($7,000)
• Kyle Bradley ($8,000 – $4,000 win bonus) def. Phillipe Nover ($10,000)
• Krzysztof Soszynski ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. Andre Gusmao ($5,000)
• Yoshiyuki Yoshida ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Wolff ($3,000)
• George Roop ($16,000 – $8,000 win bonus) def. David Kaplan ($8,000)

In addition to the above salaries, Machida, Hughes, Serra, and Larson each took home $60,000 fight night bonuses.

[Pictured: Rashad Evans knocked out by Lyoto Machida at UFC 98]

Evans offered little offense in the bout, while Machida controlled the fight throughout, using his famous (or perhaps infamous) unorthodox style to score a knockdown late in the first round before eventually connecting with a barrage of punches midway through the second that first staggered Evans before ultimately collapsing him cold to the canvas.

Evans falls to 18-1-1 with the first loss of his career, while Machida remains undefeated, upping his perfect record to 15-0.

In the UFC 98 co-main event Matt Hughes picked up a controversial unanimous decision victory over Matt Serra in the highly-anticipated bout between the welterweight rivals.

Hughes survived an early onslaught by Serra in the opening frame to take both the second and third rounds en route to the decision victory. Despite the judge’s views on the bout, most spectators scored the third frame in favor of Serra following a surprising takedown and outburst of offense in the closing minute. Even Hughes was apparently swayed in favor of Serra, raising his opponent’s arm following the conclusion of the contest. However, when the only scores that matter were handed down the judges awarded the close, albeit controversial decision to Hughes with 29-28 scores across the board.

The future hall of famer Hughes improves to 43-7 on his career after bouncing back from back-to-back defeats, while Serra goes to 9-6 following two-straight losses.

Drew McFedries rebounded from back-to-back losses with a 37-second knockout of Xaview Foupa-Pokam that could send “Professor X” packing from the UFC, while Chael Connen topped Dan Miller and Frankie Edgar scored a unanimous decision over Sean Sherk in other main card bouts.

Brock Larson, Tim Hague, Kyle Bradley, Krzysztof Soszynski, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, and George Roop were victorious on the evening’s preliminary card.

The official results for UFC 98 were:

• Lyoto Machida def. Rashad Evans (c) via KO (punches) — Round 2, 3:57
  UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Matt Hughes def. Matt Serra via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Drew McFedries def. Xavier Foupa-Pokam via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 0:37
• Chael Sonnen def. Dan Miller via unanimous decision(30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Frankie Edgar def. Sean Sherk via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Brock Larson def. Mike Pyle via submission (arm-triangle choke) — Round 1, 3:06
• Tim Hague def. Pat Barry via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 1:43
• Kyle Bradley def. Phillipe Nover via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 1:03
• Krzysztof Soszynski def. Andre Gusmao via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 3:17
• Yoshiyuki Yoshida def. Brandon Wolff via submission (guillotine choke) — Round 1, 2:24
• George Roop def. Dave Kaplan via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 30-27)

The official weigh-in results were:

• Lyoto Machida (204) vs. Rashad Evans (c) (205)
  UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Matt Serra (171) vs. Matt Hughes (170)
• Drew McFedries (185) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (186)
• Dan Miller (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (186)
• Frank Edgar (155) vs. Sean Sherk (156)
• Mike Pyle (172*) vs. Brock Larson (171)
• Tim Hague (263) vs. Pat Barry (237)
• Kyle Bradley (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (156)
• Andre Gusmao (206) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (206)
• Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
• George Roop (154) vs. Dave Kaplan (156)

*Due to the late notice replacement of Chris Wilson by Pyle, Pyle was allowed an extra pound at the weigh-in.

[Pictured: Rashad Evans (left) and Lyoto Machida]

Sean Sherk

Lightweight opponents Sean Sherk and Frank Edgar and welterweight rivals Matt Serra and Matt Hughes have all tested clean in drug tests administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission ahead of UFC 98, which takes place on May 23rd in Las Vegas.

NSAC executive director Keith Kizer today confirmed the results to MMAFrenzy.com via email.

The tests were part of the NSAC’s in-training drug testing, which tests fighters before an event, instead of only on event night, to reduce the possibility of fighters cycling off performance enhancing drugs and avoiding detection. Though any fighter can be tested under the policy, headliners and past offenders are most commonly required to undergo the tests.

In other UFC 98 news, MMAjunkie is reporting that Mario Yamasaki will referee the event’s headlining bout between light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and challenger Lyoto Machida.

Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC 98 news and stop back next weekend for complete UFC 98 coverage.

Sean Sherk

Lightweights Sean Sherk and Frank Edgar will square off in a featured bout at UFC 98 on May 23rd in Las Vegas, according to MMA Mania.

Sherk (36-3-1), a former 155-pound title-holder, earned three straight victories over Nick Diaz, Kenny Florian, and Hermes Franca between 2006 and 2007, but was stripped of the lightweight belt and suspended after testing positive for steroids following his win over Franca in July 2007. Sherk immediately challenged champion BJ Penn for the title upon returning to the octagon last May, but suffered a third-round TKO. He rebounded from the loss with a unanimous decision victory over Tyson Griffin in the “Fight of the Night” at UFC 90 in October.

A four-time collegiate wrestling national qualifier at Clarion University, Edgar (9-1) began his UFC career with three straight wins over Tyson Griffin, Mark Bocek, and Spencer Fisher, but suffered his first career loss to Gray Maynard last April. He bounced back from the loss in July with a unanimous decision victory over former 155-pound challenger Hermes Franca.

For the latest UFC 98 rumors check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.