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MMA Weekly breaks the bad news:
MMAWeekly.com confirmed with sources close to the fighter’s camp that Griffin injured his shoulder and had to withdraw from the co-main event fight.
This is bad news as it was a very good fight. Griffin’s bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was a clash between two top ten light heavyweights and a win by “Lil’ Nog” would have propelled him into the title picture.
Nogueira was forced out of his scheduled bout against Brandon Vera at UFC 109 with an ankle injury. Given the fact that he hasn’t had a fight since UFC 106 it is likely that the UFC finds him a replacement opponent for UFC 114.
The rumored light heavyweight tilt between Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been moved from the previously reported UFC 113 event to UFC 114. UFC 114 is expected to take place in Las Vegas, NV on May 29 and feature the long-awaited match up between Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans.
Bloody Elbow has more details on the switch.
In a light heavyweight bout that was initially rumored for UFC 113 in Montreal, Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will instead do battle a few weeks later in Las Vegas on the UFC 114 card. The shift isn't all that surprising given the fact that Josh Koscheck vs. Paul Daley was given "co-main event" status at 113, and the 114 card needed another feature bout.
Stay tuned to SB Nation for more UFC 114 fight announcements.
That is a horrible fight for me. I have trained with his brother a little bit, so he already has the ‘inside scoop’ on me, he’s a southpaw, has got a good chin, and has good power. Plus he is pretty solid on the ground. The only place I would have an advantage would be wrestling… and my wrestling is not that good. So yeah, that’s a tough match up for me. I’d do it, if that’s what they wanted, but being straight up, there are other guys I’d rather fight.
- Forrest Griffin in MMASportsMag.com
This would seem to be perfectly in line with reality. The angular striking of Nogueira along with the fact that Forrest can’t have any trustworthy success on the ground should make for a nightmare fight for Griffin.
Brazilian site Tatame is reporting that former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin will meet Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 113 on May 8. The fight has been talked about for a little while now and remains a very important fight at the top of the 205 pound division.
The impressive way that "lil Nog" blasted Luiz Cane really made a mark on a lot of people. If he can touch Forrest Griffin's rather questionable chin with one of his hard left handed shots he could put himself directly into the title hunt.
When released the odds should lean fairly heavily in favor of the Brazilian given that his boxing technique is more refined than Forrest's and, while Griffin has very underrated jiu-jitsu skills, the Nogueira brothers possess some of the best skills on the ground of anyone in the MMA game.
Still, the skills and experience of Forrest should not be overlooked. He was able to take a decision from 'Rampage' Jackson and displayed a very strong ability to stick to his gameplan and gain the title through a very blue collar performance. Should he be able to avoid the power and work a patient game, maybe he can work his way to a three round decision.
Jason Brillz Fills In For Forrest Griffin At UFC 114, Will Fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
One man's loss is another man's gain. At least that's what I've been told.
Just a day after Forrest Griffin had to pull out of his co-main event fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Jason Brillz has stepped up on less than four weeks notice to take the bout.
MMAjunkie.com has more on the story:
I got to give respect to any man who is willing to step up and accept a challenge as stiff as Nogueira is with less than a month to prepare, but it's gonna take more than a miracle for Brillz to pull off this upset.
May 05 12:49p by James Kimball - 0 comments