Chael Sonnen vs. Shogun Rua Headlines UFC on FS1 1 in Boston; Several Bouts Announced

Chael Sonnen offered up his services to fight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua when the Brazilian’s UFC 161 co-main event opponent, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, had to drop out of the fight due to back problems.

Shogun immediately accepted, but the fight isn’t going to happen at UFC 161 on June 15 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It will instead be the headlining bout at UFC on FS1 1 on Aug. 17 in Boston.

Sonnen announced the bout on Tuesday night’s edition of UFC Tonight.

“Shogun and I are going to be the main event on FOX Sports 1 on Aug. 17. We were going to fight in Winnipeg, and they pulled it,” Sonnen proclaimed before getting his digs in at his original target, Wanderlei Silva.

“I like Shogun. I admire him a lot,” he continued. “I wanted to fight Wanderlei. He’s the worst fighter in the UFC. I couldn’t get him. I figured I’d get the guy who destroyed Wanderlei in the practice room for all these years.”

The Sonnen vs. Shogun main event was just one of several bouts announced for UFC on FS1 1 in Boston.

Top 10 bantamweights Michael McDonald and Brad Pickett will square off, each trying to get into the title picture, although both UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and interim champion Renan Barão are currently injured.

In further bantamweight action, former WEC champion Urijah Faber faces Yuri Alcantara. Both of these fighters are also trying to solidify a shot at the belt once there is a champion to challenge.

Last but not least, light heavyweights Cody Donovan and Ovince St. Preux will each be making his sophomore start when the two fight in Boston.

For more on the UFC on FS1 1 fight card, stay tuned to the MMAWeekly.com UFC Rumors section.