Big Nog Out of UFC 149, Shawn Jordan Steps in As Replacement

If you are a fighter competing at UFC 149, it’s probably best to avoid black cats or walking under ladders.

The upcoming fight card in Calgary has suffered another change due to injury as former heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will be unable to compete, and has been replaced by former Strikeforce big man Shawn Jordan.

Jordan will now face Cheick Kongo at UFC 149 in a heavyweight showdown.

UFC officials announced the new pairing on Saturday.

At 13-3, Jordan is a solid prospect coming out of the Greg Jackson camp in New Mexico. The former LSU football standout has won his last two fights in a row including his UFC debut back in March as well as a submission victory over Lavar Johnson in September 2011.

Now he takes a major step up in competition as he faces the always heavy handed Cheick Kongo in a feature bout on the UFC 149 main card.

As for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, reports have surfaced that the long time Brazilian Jiu-JItsu practitioner was still recovering from the broken arm suffered at the hands of Frank Mir from UFC 140 last year and just wasn’t ready for the July date for UFC 149.

Nogueira will continue to rehabilitate the injury and look to return later in 2012.