Nogueira vs. Matyushenko to headline Jan. 24 Affliction undercard on HDNet
November 13, 2008 by Sam Caplan
A light heavyweight tilt between veterans Vladimir Matyushenko and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will headline HDNet’s special pre-PPV telecast of Affliction’s undercard on Jan. 24, according to a report by Josh Gross of SI.com.
The telecast will serve as a prelude to Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning” pay-per-view telecast that will be headlined by WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko defending his title against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
Matyushenko, 21-3, was the first and only light heavyweight champion of the International Fight League and is scheduled to compete for the first time since a second round TKO over Jamal Patterson during the IFL’s April event in East Rutherford, N.J.
A former UFC veteran, Matyushenko has won eight consecutive fights and was 6-0 during his two-year IFL stint, which marked his return to full-time competition.
Nogueira is the twin brother of interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The former PRIDE superstar is 15-3 in a pro MMA career that dates back to 2001. The talented grappler and boxer holds notable victories over Kazushi Sakuraba, Guy Mezger, Alistair Overeem, and Dan Henderson.
Nogueira and Matyushenko have fought once before during a UFO event in 2002 in which Matyushenko was declared the winner via unanimous decision.
Can somebody tell me why Matyushenko is not still in the UFC? He seems to have a very good record and judging by the fights I saw him involved in while in the IFL, he’s talented. Is the general consensus that he’s just not an exciting fighter or is there some other reason?
He was fighting at Heavyweight (and possibly LHW too) in the UFC and my guess would be that he left to make more money cause his losses are all to top fighters. Lil Nog better bring his A game cause Matyushenko is a tough SOB.