Fresh off of one of the biggest wins of his UFC career, former PRIDE legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira will have a chance to avenge his first stoppage loss when he faces Frank Mir for the second time at UFC 140 on December 10th in Toronto, Ontario. Verbal agreements are now in place.
UFC officials announced plans for the Nogueira-Mir rematch earlier today. Mir became the first man to ever knock out Nogueira when the two first met for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship at UFC 92. Mir has been victorious in three of five fights since, while Nogueira has won two of three.
Nogueira (33-6-1, 1 NC) once possessed an infallible chin, but the years of wars against many of the sport’s top fighters have taken their toll and the Brazilian submission specialist has slowed down in recent fights. Following his loss to Mir, Nogueira suffered a second knockout defeat at the hands of current UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and some felt that his August 27th fight at UFC Rio could be his last. Instead, he shocked many by knocking out Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub in the first round and he will look for his second straight win when he faces Mir for the second time.
Mir (15-5-0) was also once on the brink of retirement following injuries suffered in a serious motorcycle accident, but he has battled through adversity to win six times in his last eight fights. While best known for his ground skills, Mir has demonstrated improved striking in recent fights and he dropped Nogueira multiple times before finishing him in their 2008 bout. Mir knocked out another PRIDE legend, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, one year ago and is coming off of a one-sided decision victory over TUF 10 winner Roy “Big Country” Nelson. A second victory over Nogueira could put Mir back in the title hunt.
UFC 140 is targeted for December 10th at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)