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Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira slated for UFC on FOX 12

3K views 44 replies 30 participants last post by  Sportsman 2.0 
#1 ·
Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira slated for UFC on FOX 12





Fresh off a victorious return to the UFC and an upset of Phil Davis, Anthony Johnson (17-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) will meet fellow light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at UFC on FOX 12.

UFC officials today announced the bout, which is the first for the card, following an initial report from FOXSports.com.

UFC on FOX 12 takes place July 26 at SAP Center in San Jose. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Although it won’t be the main event, Johnson vs. Nogueira is slated for the main card.

Johnson is ranked No. 6 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. Nogueira is ranked No. 12.

Johnson recently picked up his seventh straight win after re-signing with the UFC and posting a shutout unanimous-decision win over top contender Davis. Johnson, who went 7-4 in his first UFC stint but consistently struggled to make the 171-pound welterweight limit, has found a new life in heavier weight classes. He especially excelled with WSOF, where he defeated Mike Kyle, Andrei Arlovski and D.J. Linderman to set up his recent UFC return.

He now meets the oft-injured Nogueira, who’s won two straight, though his decision win over Rashad Evans came in February 2013 and his TKO of Tito Ortiz came all the way back in December 2011. The 37-year-old PRIDE vet, who suffered back-to-back decision losses to Ryan Bader and Davis before the victories, has dealt with back and other ailments during the recent gaps in competition.
http://mmajunkie.com/2014/05/anthony-johnson-vs-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-slated-for-ufc-on-fox-12
 
#4 ·
Not a good matchup for Nog. But he may fare better than Phil with the TDs. Phil is a goof who shoots from 20 feet away. He has no confidence in his TD attempts. Nog would use the cage and clinch similar to Big Nog. Which is more effective vs. an athletic powerful striker who can use a knee or a kick at any time to hurt you. But Nog will probably struggle getting take downs, if he even tries at all. Nog has very good hands within the pocket could box AJ up. But this won't be from the pocket and sometimes you can't account for the gap in athleticism, explosiveness, and power.

Not a good matchup for Nog. Hate to downplay Nog as he a good fighter. But the matchup is AJs to lose. Add in how old Nog is. Add in his lack of activity. I want to say the UFC is manufacturing a contender.
 
#9 ·
Apart of me wants to see Johnson win this just because Lil Nog is incredibly inactive and not exactly young either. I know injuries have plagued him and it's not his fault, but come on.. Two fights in 2010, two in 2011, ZERO in 2012, and one in 2013. It's gotten to the point where I don't even care about his modern career anymore because even if he does beat a top guy, he will just get injured and be out for a year again. He must be the most inactive top 10 fighter in the world. Only reason I consider him top 10 is because of his win over Rashad, although I'm not sure if you can even rank him currently considering he rarely actually fights.

Who knows if he will even make it to this fight. If he doesn't, he should think about retiring. These injuries can't be doing his health any good. Be safe Lil Nog!

That being said, I think Anthony will win. His wrestling is solid enough to keep this standing, and his athleticism and power should make a difference. I don't exactly expect Lil Nog's boxing to be in top form. If he does happen to out strike Johnson, I could see Anthony taking him down. Nog's bottom game hasn't looked great in a while.
 
#16 ·
I whipped out my calculator and did the MMAth. Lil Nog lost to Phil, Rumble beat Phil, Rumble should beat Nog.

That being said (in a joking manner) we never know with the Nogueiras. In the UFC both of em tend to beat the people that they on paper should lose to and lose to the people that on paper they should beat.

Rumble is looking great and although I hope Im wrong and would love to see some sick jitz and boxing from Lil Nog dominate the fight, the smart $$$ is on Rumble via control. Phil Davis beat Nog by simply laying in his guard for a few rounds. I think Rumble will be relatively more violent.
 
#17 ·
Hum. It's only a step down for Rumble because they gave him a top top fighter in Phil Davis in his returning fight to UFC, which was basically BS.
Anyway, I could totally expect him fighting someone lower in rankings on his next fight.

To say Rumble will finish Lil Nog is kind a vague forecast. Lil Nog was stopped only one time in his career, and he'd been to atrocious wars.
His boxing is sharp, I say way above Rumble's on paper, so that should be a very entertaining fight to say the least.
 
#30 ·
Yea "atrocious wars" when? 9 years ago??? Nothing in the UFC has really been some striking frenzy. Rashad, Tito, Bader, Phil, Brilz, Cane? Not one of those are some brawl. Nog is 37, injured, and very inactive. Dan Henderson had never been stopped by strikes until he was old, slow, and met Vitor. Anderson had one of the better chins I have seen, then he gets dropped in both Weidman fights. Dropped by a not flush punch from the clinch. He got old, slower, hit by a very strong dude.

I hope I am wrong. But I just see a guy like Rumble having his way. Like people said, if Nog starts boxing him up, Rumble will probably take him down. Yea Nog beat Rashad, but what did that fight prove?? Win over Tito?? Before that he arguably had 3 losses in a row. I like Nog but he hasn't shown me much of anything in the UFC. I thought he would be more effective.
 
#21 ·
I think it's a good fight. Now they've realised that Johnson is actually a top contender, they're in the process of building him up. Nog's a very good fighter, and his boxing is excellent. Johnson should smash him, but Nog's tough, and is not one to be slept on. Rashad will know that better than anyone, and should be able to set Rumble up to perform well.
 
#24 ·
Except every wrestler Nog has ever faced who wanted him on his back put him there and Rumble will be no different, to fast, to young, to powerful, to explosive. Rumble won't play that stupid ass hand game Rashad played. I think the biggest crime in judging in MMA history was Jason Brilz vs Lil Nog, there may have been worse decisions but not bigger crimes as that stole away what would have been the pinnacle of Brilz career. The guy will never be champ but he could have been the guy who took the fight on short notice and shocked the world by beating Lil Nog.
 
#23 ·
If Nog is beating him on the feet, he'll just mix it up and wrestle Nog. Jason Brilz managed to dominate Nog with his wrestling, so a monster like Rumble will be able to ragdoll him. Johnson should win this fight, but it's not going to be the dominant, easy fight a lot are expecting.
 
#25 ·
Agreed. Was so sad when that fight finished and they gave it to Nog. Everyone that watched that fight, other than the 3 judges, had Brilz winning. If he'd got that win, his career could have gone a completely different direction. Was so harsh.
 
#28 ·
I really wish they would've done a Evans Lil Nog rematch. Both of those guys owe it to the fans after playing paddy cake for 3 rounds and they know it.

Where is Evans anyways? He hasn't fought since last November or something. If Johnson takes this fight it seems as they will have to fight at some point. Yes I know they're both Blackzillians. I don't think that's gonna matter.
 
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