Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Returns to Training, Targets May or June UFC Fight

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on Wednesday revealed that he has returned to training with hopes to fight sometime in May or June.

Nogueira issued a release on Monday, noting that he returned to training, hitting mitts with boxing coach Edivaldo Badola.

The UFC had wanted to match Nogueira with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC Fight Night 37 on March 8 in London, but a lingering back injury kept Nogueira out of the fight. Gustafsson will instead face Jimi Manuwa. If the Swede wins, he is guaranteed a rematch with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones if Jones wins his next fight.

It was the second time that the UFC tried to pit Nogueira against Gustafsson. They were supposed to meet the first time in April of 2012, but Nogueira also had to withdraw from that fight due to injury.

Returning to training now, however, Nogueira plans to work his way back into shape to be ready for a late spring or early summer return against “anyone the UFC wants.”

The UFC doesn’t currently have Nogueira scheduled, but after several months out of action due to the injury, Nogueira wants to use the next several months to return to top form before he fights again.