Brazilian legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will meet the unbeaten Cain Velasquez in the UFC 108 headliner on Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC on Tuesday announced the showdown, which will determine a future challenger for the promotion’s heavyweight crown.
Velasquez, arguably the fastest-rising star in mixed martial arts, blew out one-time International Fight League strongman Ben Rothwell in the UFC 104 co-main event in October. Based at the American Kickboxing Academy, he has finished six of his first seven opponents. Velasquez was a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State University.
The Nogueira-Velasquez victor will likely meet the winner of the upcoming bout between UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. That fight has been postponed twice, as Lesnar recovers from mononucleosis.
A light heavyweight matchup pairing former champion Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva was also announced for UFC 108.
Evans, a coach on the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, has not competed since he surrendered his title to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 in May. Silva, meanwhile, will enter the pivotal 205-pound tilt off his technical knockout victory over Evans’ teammate, Keith Jardine, at UFC 102.