In danger of losing the second of three scheduled headliners, the cursed UFC 161 card seemed to catch a break Monday when sources reported that UFC was planning to book buzzworthy fighter Chael Sonnen on the show.
Sonnen was to step in against veteran light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who was left without an opponent after Antonio Rogerio Nogueira pulled out of the show.
The Sonnen plans ultimately fell through, however, and UFC announced Monday evening that “Shogun” will not compete on the show.
UFC had already scrapped its scheduled main-event between Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland; with the Nogueira-Shogun bout off the card, the only remaining headline fight is Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans.
With UFC unlikely to add another marquee fight to the show, a bout between Ryan Jimmo and Igor Pokrajac will move to the main card.
