Sherdog.com is reporting that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will headline UFC Fight Night 10 on June 12 or be the featured main card bout on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale on June 23.
His likely opponent is Justin McCully, who most recently upset fellow heavyweight Antoni Hardonk at UFC Fight Night 9 on April 5.
Here’s the snip:
“Kicking off a busy summer for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the organization heads back to Florida in mid-June with a main event rumored to include recent heavyweight acquisition Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. While a fight between Nogueira and Justin McCully is believed to be in the pipeline, McCully’s agent Ken Pavia declined to comment on the status of the bout except to say nothing is signed. Sources inside Nogueira’s Brazilian Top Team camp said that the former PRIDE champion’s debut UFC debut is also possible for June 23 on the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 5.”
Over the weekend, we passed along some speculation that “Big Nog” would make his Octagon debut at UFC 73, which would have put a nice card over the top with superstar talent.
Now it seems the UFC is content to showcase its prized PRIDE FC free agent acquisition in front of a national televised audience for free. And since the Brazilian has settled in Florida, he would without a doubt have some “hometown” support in the stands if he were the marquee attraction at UFC Fight Night 10.
It’s hard to argue with that logic.
But McCully?
Leading up to this point, UFC President Dana White intimated that “Minotauro” would be in against a “top guy.”
And with just one UFC win, during which he almost had his arm torn off, McCully doesn’t seem to fit the bill.
Then again, with 2007 being the year of the upset, who really knows what the hell is going to happen.
Stay tuned for more updates.
36 Comments »
What happened to Vera ? Why not put him in with someone who will challenge him ?
Dana’s trying to educate the US fans by throwing a piece of meat to one nasty lion. McCully doesn’t stand a chance!
hmmmmm….does it sound like dana is scared to put big nog against a top tier heavyweight? do you think it has anything to do with CC getting knocked out? we were promised a big fight.
this shit is weak!!!
Or maybe he’s just sick of seeing his prized free agents get thier collective asses kicked
If Hardonk had any ground game whatsoever he would have tapped McCully in the first round. Big Nog will do to McCully what Couture was doing to those tools on Pros vs Joes.
I’m going with McCully by KO (spinning back fist). Why not? Nobody’s safe these days.
Hey after what happened to Cro Cop who the hell knows anymore…I guess by that logic McCully by armbar…
If it’s McCully I could see it being on a Fight Night. If he fights a bigger name I think the chances are it goes to a UFC card.
Antoni Hardonk is not much of a BJJ practitioner and he came as close as humanly possible (at least it appeared that way) to locking an armbar and Justin “I like to let my arm hang across your chest” McCully.
NO MORE FREAKISH UPSETS! Big Nog via armbar or triangle.
McCully might actualy put up a decent fight… now that he is training full time and doesnt have any other jobs. Nogueira should indeed rip him to peices… but if McCully can do what Gonzaga did, use the Octagon to his advantage -elbows too, might be a good fight.
don’t forget - McCully is Tito’s puppet- and if Burkman was out partying with Tito, McCully probably was not far behind.
Big Nog in 2 mins or less…..
i think Nog is a different kind of animal…who wont lose to guys he shouldnt lose to…theres logic behind every upset so far…Gomi was exposed, Sylvia was exposed and Randy is amazing, turns out Serra and Gonzaga are better than GSP and CroCop thought….i dont see Nog making any of these mistakes…Nog by submission
[quote comment=”47178″]don’t forget - McCully is Tito’s puppet- and if Burkman was out partying with Tito, McCully probably was not far behind.
Big Nog in 2 mins or less…..[/quote]I dont know man, he is a single dad, and from his recent rep… he is a hell of a worker. Not saying that he wasnt, but its not logical, and if he was… he needs to rethink his role in life, and the UFC.
dana is scared to give him anyone that might have a chance to beat him, he can’t have all his big money new hws losing, mcully was decent in his last fight, but he won’t be in this one, but still, this is more reason to go see the show in person, big nog live…
[quote comment=”47160″]hmmmmm….does it sound like dana is scared to put big nog against a top tier heavyweight? do you think it has anything to do with CC getting knocked out? we were promised a big fight.
this shit is weak!!![/quote]
I agree the fight is weak, but the Nog/Vera fight was a dream. I don’t think Dana has the fear of Nog getting exposed like CC, I feel that he doesn’t want to lose one of his HW. In a Nog/Vera fight one is getting knocked right out of the mix. With Nog being the big free agent, and Vera being the young talent it’s a big risk. We discussed this back at the Nig/Vera blog. Besides all new top fighters get a tune up fight. McCully would definetly be a tune up. Even in the year of upsets I don’t see Nog losing to McCully. Glad we will get to see Nog’s first fight for free but I was really hoping for him to be on a major card fighting Vera.
This fight is ridiculous! Mcully look like crap his last fight. I know there has been some crazy upsets lately, and Dana don’t want to lose another high priced HW. My problem is why don’t they put top ranked guys against other top ranked guys. Regardless of who wins its not like it is as embarrassing as losing to a unknown fighter (Gonzaga). If they would do that it wouldn’t throw the rankings off all crazy as well. I think the UFC needs to focus on building solid number 1 contender spots instead of giving top fighters match ups against unknowns. Let the best fight and the winner will be the number 1 the loser will be number 2. If the number 1 contender then loses to the Champ then the number 2 contender gets the next shot.
Dana’s doing the same thing he did with Cro Cop in his first UFC match… Give him a weak fighter to basically make a highlight reel for fans that haven’t seen Nog fight yet. For someone who talks all about making the greatest fights in history and wanting to put on the best shows ever, tries even harder at protecting his stars and making the biggest profit. Dont get me wrong its a business and thats the best business move, but at the same time stop giving us the “its for the fans” shit. Hopefully, Nog doesn’t get an easy pass then look shell shocked in his second match like Cro Cop…
I thought Dana learned his lesson by now. He was ontrack with Werdum, no one blames him for losing to Arlovski, but what a joke it would be if Nog lost to this bum.
Yikes…
I don’t know how much involvement Dana has with putting the match ups together. He talks like he has a big say in the process, but Joe Silva is the match maker. I guess I should be upset with him more so then Dana. I just don’t don’t know why they just can’t put the best VS the best? If they would their PPV sales would be through the roof. I am a die hard UFC fan, but match making is one thing I always thought Pride did do better. But, what do I know Pride went bankrupt and the UFC is a money making machine.
Pride fighters are 0- fer since the merger, right ?
This is ridiculous look at the type of fighters Big Nog is used to fighting I mean what the hell is this about,what kind of drive can he have to train hard with a match up like this,and that is exactly how major upsets happen.
I hope Dana stops doing this shit and starts giving us some real fights.Why not fukin Vera he hasnt moved up the division realy anyway has he.
Crawford what your saying I totaly agree with about Dana.
I agree this is a weak business move. Its so obvious that Big Nog is being set up to win. Anyone who has any doubts about this fight is still wet behind the ears. Maybe the fans should pull a GSP and get on their knees and beg for better matchups.
PLEASE JOE SILVA, PLEASE.
damn man this is kinda wack…upsets can happen yea but i think dana is just hating on punishment athletics lol and wants them to go downnnn…McCully is on a high after his first win and he wants them all to go down…i agree with crawford 100% as well
[quote comment=”47213″]I thought Dana learned his lesson by now. He was ontrack with Werdum, no one blames him for losing to Arlovski, but what a joke it would be if Nog lost to this bum.[/quote]
You know what your right with Werdum. He threw him right after with Arlovski. And although the fight sucked it was the mutual respect that slowed it down. When you have a fight this good it’s gonna go one way or the other. It’s going to be slow because of respect, or somebody’s getting knocked the hell out quick. Best man that night will take it. No one blames werdum for losing regardless of how the fight went. I think we would have similar feelings if UFC gave us Nog/Vera which would be great. There treating Nog like CC with the tune up fight. I just hope he doesn’t get knocked out while working his way up to title contention. I would like to see Nog get a shot regardless of who it’s against in the future (Couture,Gonzaga,AA)Werdum didn’t get the grand entrance like CC or Nog so that should of tipped us off.
[quote comment=”47221″]Pride fighters are 0- fer since the merger, right ?[/quote]
Well, was the merger before or after Crocop put down Eddie what’s his face? Quintan Jackson actually came over from some other thing WFA or something. I think they should be putting more resources into Pride rather than bleeding fighters out of it. Pride’s last event had Monson and who else? Looks like Pride has been pillaged.
[quote comment=”47234″]I agree this is a weak business move. Its so obvious that Big Nog is being set up to win. [/quote]
Well what if it were Nog-Vera and Vera manages to drop him with a head kick? All the money and hype they are pumping into Nog would be for naught. THAT would be a weak business move.
[quote comment=”47217″]…Joe Silva is the match maker. I guess I should be upset with him more so then Dana. I just don’t don’t know why they just can’t put the best VS the best? If they would their PPV sales would be through the roof.[/quote]
Their PPV sales ARE through the roof because they carefully groom the cards and keep people hungry for the best vs the best. These guys come from the boxing world and they understand how fan interest works.
[quote comment=”47159″]Dana’s trying to educate the US fans by throwing a piece of meat to one nasty lion. McCully doesn’t stand a chance![/quote]
Joker is right dude. It’s alright I guess, as long as they don’t milk it, have him kill McCully, that’s it, after that lets see him in the mix. McCully did NOT look good in his last fight, he was horrible, its just that that clown he was fighting was even worse. The upset will be if he makes it past the 2 min mark.
This isn’t just like the best Vs. some guy, its like the best Vs. the worst. I will watch this for the same reason I watch Randy on pro’s vs. joes.
at least if nog fought vera and lost it would be to rising contender. i think if he was upset by mccully-wich i dont personally think will happen- it could be even more devastating to dana. big nog is a seasoned vet he dosent need a warm-up fight.
Nog always trains hard so don’t confuse him with “small chin” Cro Cop who needs to be humiliated to get motivated. What Dana tried to do with Cro Cop will work with Larger Nog. Nog will rip McCullys arm all the way off this time and play it like an air guitar then chuck it into the stands.
[quote comment=”47248″][quote comment=”47217″]…Joe Silva is the match maker. I guess I should be upset with him more so then Dana. I just don’t don’t know why they just can’t put the best VS the best? If they would their PPV sales would be through the roof.[/quote]
Their PPV sales ARE through the roof because they carefully groom the cards and keep people hungry for the best vs the best. These guys come from the boxing world and they understand how fan interest works.[/quote]
Yeah right exactly,they come from the boxing world,
so take a look whats happened to boxing
watch what you say mccully took hardonk on 2 weeks notice wait till his next fight shut all ya up big talkers you get in the ring with mccully then talk
[quote comment=”122267″]watch what you say mccully took hardonk on 2 weeks notice wait till his next fight shut all ya up big talkers you get in the ring with mccully then talk[/quote]
What up old school ya grove s.t fool you know its on and poppin in atown G
your all gonna lick nuts after the insane one puts it down again oh ya ill be there too get some woooooooooooooo!!!!