Following UFC 161 scratch, 'Shogun' Rua anticipates UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 slot

With opponent Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5 MMA, 4-2 UFC) injured, and short-notice volunteer Chael Sonnen (27-13-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) no longer available, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (21-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC) won’t fight at next week’s UFC 161 event.

But the ex-light-heavyweight champ told Brazilian website Tatame that UFC officials have given him another date to fight against a yet-to-be confirmed opponent.

“UFC asked me to keep training, that I would fight on August 17 [in] Boston,” Rua said, referring to UFC on FOX Sports 1, which takes place at TD Garden and serves as the UFC’s debut show on the new sports channel.

Sonnen appears poised to take the rescheduled bout, though MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was unable to confirm whether he will stand opposite Rua on the summer card. A rep for the three-time title challenger said an announcement on his future should be made tonight.

Nogueira was forced to withdraw when he injured his back in training.

Rua said he was ready to fight Sonnen next week and expressed disappointment at not being able to appear at UFC 161, which takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. But he said the extra time won’t quell his motivation.

“I was crazy to fight,” he said. “I had already changed my strategy. I was ready to get in action, but the UFC told my manager that Sonnen had problems to get a visa to fly to Canada. That’s why they canceled the fight, and that’s a shame. I’ll have to wait a little longer to fight again, but my will is only getting bigger.”

A light-heavyweight fight between Ryan Jimmo and Igor Pokrajac is now part of UFC 161's pay-per-view main card while a heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Stipe Miocic serves as the co-main event.

Rua most recently appeared at UFC on FOX 5, where his stock tumbled with a decision loss to current contender Alexander Gustafsson.

Since a pair of wins over Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman, Rua has been unable to put more than two wins together despite a brief reign as UFC champ. After winning the title in a rematch against Lyoto Machida at UFC 113, he injured his knee and lost the belt in a return bout against Jon Jones at UFC 128. While he was victorious in high-profile bouts against Forrest Griffin and Brandon Vera, he suffered losses to top-tier opponents such as Dan Henderson and Gustafsson.

Sonnen, meanwhile, is fresh off his third unsuccessful try at a UFC title, which came in April at UFC 159. After a lopsided loss to champ Jones, he contemplated retirement but later appeared to reverse course by calling out Wanderlei Silva.

For the latest on UFC on FOX Sports 1 1, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.