Tim Sylvia (24-3) and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira (30-4-1) will fight for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 81: "Breaking Point" on February 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The official announcement came during the UFC 79: "Nemesis" pay-per-view (PPV) event during a promo between fights. It's a match up that has long been rumored since "The Maine-iac" stopped Brandon Vera in November via unanimous decision.
Of course, it couldn't have been made possible without the high-profile resignation of former division champion Randy Couture earlier in 2007. However, the Nogueira-Sylvia clash will be for the "interim" not "vacant" championship.
Perhaps there is still some wishful thinking that Couture will honor his contract.
Sylvia is the former titleholder who lost his belt to Couture at UFC 68: "The Uprising" back in March. He underwent back surgery to repair herniated discs and returned to get a win over "The Truth" in Cincinnati. That was enough to earn him another crack at the coveted strap.
Nogueira barely escaped his Octagon debut, surviving an early knockdown during his fight with Heath Herring at UFC 73: "Stacked" in July to earn a unanimous decision. "Minotauro" is the former Pride FC champion and will look to capture similar glory under the UFC banner.
UFC 81 also features the heavyweight showdown between former division champion, Frank Mir, and former professional wrestling superstar, Brock Lesnar.
For the rest of the rumored "Breaking Point" fight card click here.