Categories: MMA News

UFC Pulls “Shogun” Rua from Card After Chael Sonnen Fight Falls Through

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.

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.

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Brian Cantor