Forrest Griffin vs. "Lil' Nog" Nearly Set for UFC 113 in Montreal

According to Tatame.com, a light-heavyweight showdown is nearly set between former UFC champion Forrest Griffin (17-6) and longtime PRIDE fighter Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira (18-3).

"Lil' Nog" had this to say:

"It’s almost set, we’re negotiating, but it’s not 100% yet. It’s not confirmed by the UFC yet."

"Minotoro" is, of course, fresh off of a first-round TKO victory over fellow Brazilian Luiz Cane (10-2) at UFC 106, which was also the slighter Nogueira brother's UFC debut. On that same night, Forrest won the main event fight by split-decision in his hard-fought rematch against Tito Ortiz (15-7-1).

If confirmed, the fight would join a card that is stacked full of great matches at UFC 113 in Montreal on May 8th. The card will be headlined by perhaps the most anticipated fight of 2010-- Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio Rua II. Even in the absence of their local hero Georges St-Pierre (19-2), Montreal fans appear to be in for another great show on May 8th.

Complete rumoured card for UFC 113:

• Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (for Light Heavyweight Title)
• Paul Daley vs. Josh Koscheck
• Forrest Griffin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
• Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet
• Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. Matt Mitrione
• Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote
• Jeremy Stephens vs. Sam Stout
• T.J. Grant vs. Johny Hendricks

Montreal's UFC 113 Gets A New Date; Avoids Scheduling Conflict With Mayweather Fight

The UFC announced today that UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun II has been moved ahead one week to May, 8th, from its previously rumoured date of May, 1st. The main reason for the shift appears to have been avoiding direct competition with a recently-announced boxing PPV card headlined by Floyd Mayweather (40-0) vs. "Sugar" Shane Mosely (46-5-1).

This move was not entirely expected, however, because UFC 113 would likely have fared well against Mayweather vs. Mosley given the high anticipation for its main-event rematch between UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida (16-0) and returning challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (18-4)

Interest in this fight stems from the fact that many observers feel "Shogun" already rightfully became the first to ever slay "The Dragon" last October via a five-round barrage of leg kicks that earned Rua only a unanimous decision loss. Of course, others argue that Machida won the first three frames and only drastically tailed off in the fifth round, thus creating the appearance of a rout for Rua by leaving the lasting image of "Shogun's" relentless, final-round, leg chops in viewers' minds. Machida's fans also point out that Lyoto was more clearly attempting to finish the fight throughout. While most media and fans appear more sympathetic to "Shogun," the entire MMA world is curious to see if Mauricio Rua can be as effective in the rematch, either with the same strategy or with a new one. Many are also eager to learn if Lyoto Machida has come up with an answer to the "lumberjack" tactic employed by "Shogun" in their first fight.

Serving as the co-main event at UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun is a potential welterweight title eliminator bout between UFC veteran Josh Koscheck (14-4) and the octagon's upstart KO machine Paul "Semtex" Daley (23-8-2). Canadian UFC fans, in particular, will find lots to love at Montreal's UFC 113, which features our own Patrick Cote (13-5), Sam Stout (15-5-1), TJ Grant (15-3) and Jonathan Goulet (22-10). Internet sensation "Kimbo Slice" (4-1) is also rumoured to be on the card.

In the end, Mayweather vs. Mosley may not be the "Fight of the Century" that Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2) would have been, but it was apparently enough to warrant moving MMA's most anticipated rematch to a later date. It is looking more-and-more like the UFC is serious about peaceful co-existence with professional boxing.

Kimbo Goes To Canada?

Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (4-1) has been strongly linked to a potential fight against fellow The Ultimate Fighter 10 heavyweight competitor Matt Mitrione (1-0) at UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun II on May, 1st in Montreal, Quebec. Though nothing has been signed at this time, FiveOuncesofPain.com is reporting that individuals close to the situation have confirmed the likelihood of the match-up.

It should be noted that, according to Sherdog.com, Mitrione himself is skeptical of the rumoured match-up given the fact that "Kimbo" fought last at a catch weight of 215lbs. Still, the majority of "Slice's" fights have been held at HW so this rumoured match is not out of the question.

Those who followed Matt Mitrione's antics on TUF 10, saw one of the best "heel" performances in the show's history-- Mitrione went from being labeled "The Snitch" to being accused of playing-up a head injury all in six weeks. Outside of that drama, Matt Mitrione also found time to defeat Scott Junk (6-2-1) in the opening round, before being choked out by James McSweeney (4-4) in the quarterfinals. On the show's live finale, Mitrione, a former NFL player himself, defeated former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 1st round draft pick Marcus "The Darkness" Jones (4-2). Many picked the physically larger Jones, who is a BJJ specialist, to submit Mitrione that night, but Matt proved his mettle by knocking "The Darkness" out cold just ten-seconds into the second round.

After a brief stop-off in small-time MMA, "Kimbo" became the unlikely star of the now-defunct EliteXC. Even as he more-or-less blazed through his carefully-picked opponents, many had already began questioning the EliteXC's characterization of "Slice" as a world-beater when Seth Petruzelli (11-4), a light heavyweight and a last-minute call-up, knocked "Kimbo" out in the first round at EliteXC Heat in October, 2008. Petruzelli also put the final nail in the entire EliteXC promotion that night. When the dust cleared, Kimbo bravely accepted a spot on TUF 10, where he was eliminated in the first round by the show's eventual winner, Roy "Big Country" Nelson (14-4). At the live finale, "Slice" impressed many critics by winning a decision over Houston Alexander (9-6). That said, Alexander is fairly small compared to "Slice" and is just 1-5 in his last six fights, including a TKO loss this past weekend at 5150 Combat Leagues's New Year's Revolutions event.

If it occurs at UFC 113 as is rumoured, "Kimbo Slice" vs. Matt Mitrione represents a fairly solid match-up between a pair of consummate brawlers. Of course, any fight involving "Slice" would undoubtedly gain the attention of "Kimbo's" legions of passionate fans and help sell a card as a result...not that the stacked UFC 113 appears to need any help in that department.

The Entire Rumoured Card At UFC 113: Machida Vs. SHogun II (May1st, Monteal. QB):

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua II (Light Heavyweight Title Bout)
Paul Daley vs. Josh Koscheck***
Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet
Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. Matt Mitrione
Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote
Jeremy Stephens vs. Sam Stout
TJ Grant vs. Johny Hendricks

***Though all these fights remain unofficial, Koscheck vs. Daley is particularly likely not to materialize due to a known injury to Josh Koscheck that may not heal in time for a full training camp.