Former UFC Interim and PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira will face once-beaten prospect Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub at UFC 134: Rio on August 27th. The bout was first reported by Sportsnet.ca and officially announced by the promotion today.

Nogueira has dropped two of his last three bouts, both by stoppage, and his once infallible chin has begun to wear down after 12 years of competing in the sport. Schaub, meanwhile, has won four straight fights and is coming off of a knockout win over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović in March.

Nogueira (32-6-1, 1 NC) has competed sparingly since making his Octagon debut in 2007. The former PRIDE star captured the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship from Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia in February of 2008, but lost the title ten months later. Since that time, he has fought just twice, and was most recently knocked out by current champ Cain Velasquez at UFC 110; nearly 15 months ago. The bout with Schaub will be the jiu-jitsu ace’s first fight since the loss due to injuries.

Schaub (8-1-0) holds six first-round knockout victories and stopped another PRIDE legend, Filipović, two months ago. He has now won four fights since losing in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 to final IFL champion Roy “Big Country” Nelson. The Colorado native campaigned for the bout with Nogueira and got his wish. Should he be able to defeat the much more experienced Nogueira, Schaub will add another big name to his résumé.

UFC 134: Rio takes place on August 27th at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

UFC 134: Rio Fight Card (to date; subject to change):

– Anderson “The Spider” Silva vs Yushin “Thunder” Okami (UFC Middleweight Championship)
– Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs Forrest Griffin
– Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira vs Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub
– Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. vs Ross “The Real Deal” Pearson
– Luiz “Banha” Cane vs Stanislav Nedkov

– “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs TBA
– Spencer “The King” Fisher vs Thiago Tavares
– Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares vs Alexandre “Cacareco” Ferreira
– Paulo Thiago vs David “Daudi” Mitchell

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)