Rua-Evans Slated for UFC 129 in NJ
Mike Whitman Dec 14, 2010
Rashad Evans | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Rashad Evans will finally get his shot at Mauricio “Shogun” Rua's light heavyweight championship on March 19, when the two clash at UFC 129 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The news was first reported by Sportsnet.ca on Tuesday, and Sherdog confirmed the report with sources close to the bout. Also rumored in the Sportsnet report is a light heavyweight confrontation between Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Sherdog has not yet confirmed the second matchup.
The bout was originally expected to take place at UFC 128 on March 19 in the United Arab Emirates. Neither UFC 128 nor UFC 129 has been officially announced by the promotion.
Evans has won back-to-back contests inside the Octagon since losing the light heavyweight championship to Lyoto Machida in 2009. The Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts-product responded to that loss with victories over Thiago Silva and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in 2010. His latter victory garnered Evans the No. 1 contender slot for the 205-pound title that now belongs to Rua.
“Shogun” has battled knee problems for the last several years, and his most recent injury has kept him sidelined since May. The Brazilian has won three of his last four, and his lone loss was a controversial unanimous decision to then-champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 104 in 2009. Rua avenged the defeat in the rematch the following year, knocking Machida out in the first round of their UFC 113 contest to capture the title.
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